Hi! I am a late starter in ballet and dance. I did do it when i was 4-6, but really it doesn't count for much. I then did acting, and then Drill (Marching!) Marching is a world away from ballet. Ballet is soft, marching is stiff and upright.

So I started right at the end of 2005, when i was almost 14. I started in grade 3 ballet, and grade 4 jazz. I didnt do very much, but enough to receive a "best new starter" trophy at the end of that year!

Unfortunately we had to move house, so i had to leave that dance school. I arrived at a new school, with just 1 term (10 weeks) until exams started. The teacher at this school is so nice, and let me take as many classes as i liked, including little kid classes, to improve. I was officially in Grade 4 ballet, and Grade 5 jazz. But i decided it would be best to take grade 1 jazz exam, but still took the grade 4 ballet exam. I got Honours Distinction for jazz, and Pass Plus for ballet. I also had a solo that year at comps and in the concert.

The next year (2007), I skipped a level in jazz, putting me in grade 3, and decided to take grade 5 ballet exam. I got Honours for jazz, and Commended for ballet. I also did a Demi Charatcer solo and a modern solo.

The next year (THIS year), i decided to take more exams (4!) I took Grade 6 ballet (my very first senior exam!), grade 4 jazz, grade 5 jazz, and grade 1 hip hop. I got Honours Distinction for both jazz grades, Honours for hip hop, and Pass Very Good for ballet. I got the jazz exam trophy (highest in the school). I also did a modern solo and a jazz solo.

Next year in January i'm going to Summer School. Next year I plan on taking my Elementary jazz exam, as well as minor solos for jazz and ballet, maybe hip hop grade 2 and 3, but not ballet. I need 2 years for pre elementary.

I feel so pround of myself. DDN has really helped me get to where i am now. All of the advice you can get from here, all of the help, when your feeling down, when you are feeling great, people are always here to lend a hand!

Congrats!
I think hearing stories like this is really inspiring to the dancers who started late. I know there's a lot of people that say they can't start now...but you did! Congratulations again!!

tiny

Congratulations on your accomplishments! I am a late starter myself, and hope to achieve as much as you have in such a short time. Good for you. Keep dancing,

Marie

Congratulations on your achievements you have done so well

Zoe & Jess
xxx

That is quite fantastic, congratulations! And i am wholly jealous because i have a similar situation with my dance and so want to just be fantastic, again CONGRATULATIONS!!

thanks for sharing your story! Very inspiring! I'm a late starter, and this really helped me! thanks again!

Very inspiring ballet can be quite hard

Thats brilliant, congradulations I love ballet but haven't done it for nearly 10 years lol. God i'm getting old.

pxx

Wow it sounds like you have worked hard to be where your at, and I'm glad things are going well for you. I love working my way to the top whether its in dance, work, or just life in general. Its so fulfilling.

Wow, thats fantastic. Thanks for sharing your story and wishing you all the best for the future.

That's great! I'm going to bookmark this page! I started ballet in February, (I used to do it for a yr when I was 5.)When I was five, the ballet teacher was so strict that I ended up crying and quitting ballet. I'm now almost 14, and I hope I can achieve a lot too!

Wow, that's so cool:) I'm still finding the courage to go for actual ballet lessons instead of at school:)