Here are some common questions adults may have...please feel free to add as I know I can't think of them all!

1. Am I too old to start?
If you can dance, physically, then no. I wouldn't recommend it if, due to your age, you have arthritis in your knees or osteoporosis or something, or if your doctor doesn't recommend it, but due to your age alone, you can't be "too old."

2. What are some advantages/disadvantages of starting as an adult?
As an adult, you'll likely "pick up" the dances and techniques faster. You're more likely to be able to pay attention in class. You're more likely to be dedicated (I find this is true. I have far more perseverance as an adult than I did as a kid...so as much as I sometimes wish I'd found dance earlier, I also know it's highly possible that I would've quit after spending not much time at it anyway). Depending on your lifestyle, you may have less "pull" between dance and your other activities--no homework or after-school clubs, for example. You make your own dance schedule and priorities, rather than being pushed by a parent. You're not growing anymore, so don't need to learn to compensate for that. Your muscles and skeleton are mature, so there is not the risk of injury that comes with overtaxing still-growing muscles or still-hardening bones.

However.

Your body IS older, and you may find you don't have the flexibility or ability to avoid injury like when you were younger, so you might need to work at a slower pace. Again, depending on your lifestyle, you may have MORE pull between dance and your other activities if you have children and/or aging parents to care for, a job that makes you work long hours, a home and yard that requires a lot of maintenance, etc. your growth is more likely to be horizontal than vertical, and keeping weight off may become an issue. Your muscles and skeleton may be VERY mature!

3. What are competitions like for an adult dancer?
It depends on your area. Some people live in an area where they see several other adult dancers. Some people live in an area where they're the only one. And some have found "18 and Over" or "21 and Over" age groups! It's quite likely that, at least in the levels below Premier, you'll be in an age group that is "10 and Over" or "12 and Over" or some such. Yes, this may mean you'll be dancing against kids half your height and/or young enough to be your offspring. You might feel awkward. So what? You're there to have fun! If you were worried about your image, you wouldn't be out in public in a kilt and jacket/waistcoat or a poofy white dress or aboyne anyway!

I'll admit a few folks here have had the unfortunate experience of being told by parents that their dancing is taking something away from the kids...so what? That experience is very rare, anyway.

You may feel embarrassed if your age is published in the dance program (some comps do this) or someone feels the need to tell you how impressed they are that "someone your age" is doing this...oh well.

4. What about family support?
You may or may not have it. As an adult, you probably won't have a bunch of family members cheering you on. Frankly, I bring my mom to some competitions because she enjoys it. I don't bring my partner to any comp that isn't attached to a Highland Games because...well, he doesn't enjoy it--it CAN get boring!

So. Your significant other and/or friends may come to watch. They may not, feeling like an adult doesn't need a "cheerleader." I've gone to competitions both ways--by myself, and with my mom or partner. The former allows you to just concentrate on yourself and practice and get in the mindset and interact with other dancers; the latter gives you someone to keep you company in those parts in between your dances and to help carry your stuff . Neither is bad.

At any rate, your friends and coworkers will likely think it's cool and enjoy hearing about and seeing pictures of your comps, even if they don't go. And the ones who think you're weird for doing what they consider "kid stuff"...well, they'll probably be outnumbered by the other kind. And you can just tell them: it's excellent cardio, and more fun than jumping rope, so why not?

5. What if I win...or don't?
I always see this as a double-edged sword, in relation to dancing against kids: if you do well, people might say "oh, it's just because s/he's a grown-up." If you don't do well...you just got your heinie handed to you by an 11-year-old. What can you do. Did you dance your best, regardless of your placing?

6. What about finances?
In some ways, this can be easier than it is for kids: as long as the bills are paid, no one is telling you "we're not spending that much on a kilt/lessons/going to a competition." It's your money, and you do as you like with it! Unfortunately, if you're a younger adult, you may not have as much disposable income as the older parents of child dancers. But other than that, I don't see a discrepancy. Adults have bills to pay before they can spend on fun stuff. And ultimately, it's adults who pay for dance expenses, whether it's for themselves or their child(ren). So really, kid dancers probably don't have any more money at their disposal than adult dancers (and possibly less than adult dancers who don't have children to take additional money--only needing to pay for doctor visits, clothing and food, etc. for myself means I have more disposable cash to spend on dance than someone who has to pay for themselves AND one or more kids before they have leftovers for dance--unless, of course, you dance and your child[ren] do too!), AND they're not the gatekeepers for the money. So IMO (and some may disagree with me on this), adult dancers are the winners on this one. It just may not feel like it when you're hoping for something to be left over after the rent/mortgage, car insurance, and student loans are paid and it seems like the kid dancers only have to withdraw from the Bank of Mom and Dad, but someone has to worry about those things for the kid dancers as well...it's just not the kids themselves to have to.

7. How do I find a teacher?
Sites like Highland Island have listings of teachers, or you may already know of one. Call them and ask if they accept adult beginners and what the time beginner class is. Some may not accept adults, period. Others may have a class time that doesn't work with your work schedule--during the day on a weekday, for example (I have yet to figure out how these class times work for kid dancers with working parents, either). I found this to be the case when I was looking for a teacher. However, ask if private lessons with the teacher would be acceptable instead, if it's within your budget. My teacher doesn't give classes at all. In fact, I don't even take regular lessons with her--it works out well for both of us, with her demanding grad school schedule and as an adult, I find I don't need to have skills drilled into me every week like a child dancer might, so we meet whenever I feel I need to work on specific skills with her guidance that I'm just not getting on my own or learn new dances. You may feel the same and might schedule lessons for every other week or once a month, if your teacher will allow it, and then work on the skills on your own in between, or you may find that weekly lessons help you keep on course. It's between you and your teacher.

8: How do I find time to practice?
The same way you find time to do anything! It is admittedly more difficult for adults who usually work at least 8 hours a day and don't get winter/spring/summer break like child dancers, who spend less time in school. And it's usually harder to make yourself practice than to have your parent harping on you to do it! I practice at the gym; I go and do my lifting or some cardio, and then spend 15 or 20 minutes practicing dance; longer if I feel like it. It's very convenient, as otherwise I'd be practicing in my apartment: 2nd floor & hardwood floors (to make the neighbors hate me), not as much space, and no mirrors. Sure, some people might look at me weird, but I know I don't look any more funny than the guy over there making faces and grunting while he lifts, or the woman lying on the floor with a big inflatable ball between her feet, or anyone else at the gym. Sure, some people may ask what I'm doing but largely they're quite interested--I met one older guy who immediately knew what I was doing because his wife used to do Highland! And if nothing else, the questions are amusing, like the girl who made her boyfriend come ask me because apparently she didn't want to, or my partner's former coworker who, instead of asking me while we were both at the gym, called HIM to ask what his girlfriend was always doing at the gym. And meanwhile, I have mirrors and a larger area to practice in. If you belong to a gym, or have always wanted an excuse to join one, you might consider this. I wouldn't have joined just to have a space to dance, but it's a perk on top of my other fitness activities.

9. What about outfits?
If you need or want to buy used, this will be more difficult than for children, just for the obvious reason that adults don't outgrow their outfits and therefore don't sell them secondhand as often.