I am a 34 year old mom of two kids. I have always loved ballet and took classes when I was in 6th grade. My family always moved alot so I didnt get to stick with it. I have been taking ballet lessons again for about 2 months now, and loving it. I might not be super gracefull and spotting is still a big problem, but I know with practice it will all come together. Your never to old to do anything so if you want to dance, dance!

ok... so I am REALLY new to ballet and I am 38 and I read your post.... and I just have to say... IT WAS AWESOME! I am a girl who likes people to say EXACTLY what they are thinking.... with no bubbles and sugar... your post was very direct, real and ENCOURAGING!!!

I am SO AWFUL.. and it is funny... but I do not care what anyone thinks... I will just keep going to my classes until... I am ok, better, really good, and so on! Thank you for 1. saying "stop asking" and 2. saying YES you can do it!!!

You are honest and precise!

thank you!

i like the way you see things. i just recently started ballet, at the age of 18, and while it has been pretty tough being so bad when most women my age are extremely seasoned, i feel that i'm picking up on it rather quickly. so, while i'll never be as amazing as i'd like, after just a year, my teachers have noted my drastic improvement. so i'm totally with you. tho, again, if you want to be the best, starting early is generally your best bet.

Hey, I would have to disagree with the fact that it might be too late to dance professionally. My experience might be a little irrelevant since I'm not a ballet dancer.

I started learning Bharatnatyam (an Indian form of dance) when I was 5. But by the time I was 12, I got bored, so I quit. I started again when I was 16 but two years later, I moved to Mumbai to pursue modeling and ignored dancing again.

Now I'm 21, I've just started learning Kathak (another Indian form of dance) and my teacher tells me that I have the potential to start performing professionally in a year or two, when it normally takes about 7 years to reach that point.

I don't know about ballet, I've never learnt ballet, but dance is dance, and the same basic principles apply to all forms.

So, basically, what I'm trying to say is, if you have the talent and if you are willing to work hard, its never too late, ever! Just go for it! Pursue your dream, because if you don't, you only have yourself to blame. Don't listen to anyone who says you're too old, because you're never too old! There are zillions of dancers who started late, and are quite successful today! Just google it!

Just go with what your heart says.

Well, let me tell my story either.
I started dancing two years ago and I started taking ballet classes a year ago.
I must say that I have never had minds like that "Am I to old to start" or "I will never became a professional" and so on.
Moreover, it turns out, that I have good turnout and extraordinary arch, so my teacher noticed me and made me work even harder that I could.

I cannot say that I have wonderful progress but at least I have some. Now We are preparing to our St.Patrick's show, and I take part in four of our numbers, it is wonderful. So, I completely agree that it is never late to start ballet or dancing in general.


P.S. sorry for my English. I'm working on it and I hope I will improve it one day)))

I started learning ballet one and a half years ago, when I was 16. I went on pointe after 3 months. I went for the trial class and teacher told me to start at grade 6. One month later I went to grade 7 and im in intermediate now I changed school to one which constantly has productions and I'm currently the lead in Cinderella anything's possible!
of course, alot of determination and practice needed!
I'm 17 now and I've a competition in 5 months!