Hi.

I took ballet, tap, acrobatics and gymnastics from age 6-7. Stayed in gymnastics for another year or two. Then nothing until I saw the movie Fame and at age 13, I returned to Ballet with a Passion! Well, I made it en Pointe muuuch sooner than most do (after practicing my heart out EVERY DAY for three months). Got to int/adv Pointe, and danced 4-5x a week, performed in recitals, nursing homes,etc happily from age 13-till age 17 or 18 when I dropped out due to being in love.

Well, I am now age 42 and desire to return to Ballet (AND return to Pointe). I am still slim (XXX lbs, 5 ft 2) and have energy and want to do it for fun, exercise and if I can even display (or posses) any decent talent, wouldn't mind performing in recitals, little things like that.

Well, I did return to Ballet, and had to take it with 10 yr olds due to their being no adults taking Ballet classes in my city (Wichita, KS). I was enjoying it, getting back into shape slowly taking 3x a week.

Then I had to drop out due to a loved one we live with being terminal and could not risk bringing any illnesses home, etc.

I intend to return in Jan, but meanwhile just find time to practice on my own.

My favorite Pointe shoes used at the time were Nicolini's size 2 B. They no longer exist so I need a comparible shoe to that one. I am currently slowly breaking in Capezio Aerials, not sure I'm gonna like 'em tho. Help?!

Question: I got many 'looks' from some of the teachers and office staff, even the dance store owners for doing this..am I really doing something that is so obviously a 'mid-life crisis' joke or something? Am I missing something? It makes me feel sort of uncertain and that maybe I should not take classes (tho I was getting along with my classmates and the teachers teaching the class, as far as I could tell).

So, I'm not alone in what I am doing, right? SO glad to see a place here for those my age, lol!

Ballet40

No, you're not alone, there are quiet a lot of us more mature dancers out there

Oh goody, thanks for your reply:) So...do many of you adults take classes with the younguns too, then? Taking with the 10 year olds re MUCH better than taking with the teenagers, they are soo...staring and judgmental, lol!

I hope to return in Jan. I'm also thinking of adding Modern, because my favorite type of Ballet is Contemporary Ballet.

And...is there a snowball's chance...that eventually if/when I got back up to more advanced, that I could be allowed to take Pas De Deux classes or am I just fooling myself?

Thanks!:)

I restarted ballet at 43, now I'm 49. My teacher allowed me to go en pointe six months after I restarted and I haven't looked back since. I have done pas de deux and had the opportunity to perform many times. I'm so happy for you that you have brought dance back into your life! I have posted many times about the looks I have gotten over the years from people. It was disheartening at first but I've learned to ignore the looks and go about dancing my heart out. I suggest you do the same. Happy dancing!

I'll be 50 next year and have been dancing for 7 years now (after 20 years away).

Just do it because it makes you happy.
Just tell those naysayers that AGE is JUST a number!

Again, I'm so happy to see others that have done the same thing! It can be sooo like some of you have said, disheartening especially when you are the only one. I mean, I'm the age of the TEACHERS, and even THEY are kinda giving me looks. Can't really figure out why, either. I mean, I'm the right size/shape (well my hips are a bit in need of toning up, which is part of WHY I'm taking Ballet in the first place). I even look about 5-10 yrs younger than my age (so people tell me). So...at first, I almost wanted to melt into the floor, like I was some wanna-be having a mid-life crisis in the form of reliving my Ballet teenager-hood and they all knew it or something, lol. Didn't help that my FIRST class (for evaluation of where I would be placed) was an Intermediate Pointe (me on flats of course) for teens, Boy did I get stared at! Well after that, they have placed me on Ballet II with ten yr olds (who are MUCH nicer and less judgmental btw). I (was) taking 3x week, but will now add Modern maybe since I REALLY want to do/perform more Contemporary Ballet (and in Pas de Deux eventually). Shoot, I figure I'd be GREAT for doing that (eventually? maybe?) since That kinda Ballet is best performed by...mature women and men, ya know? (Like Complexions?) AND..I've got a few choreographies to certain musics in my head.

I figure, I will restart (after the first of the year, since my loved one is doing a bit better). And/or just practice on my own and make my own little dance vids and go from there.

Thanks for the encouraging words, you guys! And that's awesome that they let you back en pointe, gives me hope, then!

Ballet40

Look on Youtube for videos to practice with too. I am in a tap class, and I couldn't figure out the time step for the life of me (I'm in the advanced class, but I haven't taken a tap class in a long time!), so I got on Youtube to look up videos to practice with during the week.

And the opportunities for Pas De Deux probably depend on the studio. At my studio we only have one guy that can partner (the hip-hop instructor) so we don't do any pas.

I am in a highland dance class with several 8 year olds. They are cute to watch and we are good buddies now. I brought them coins and keychains from Scotland. I find the class goes much sloooooower than if I was in with a bunch of adults but I will take what I can get. There aren't many resources where I live. I haven't been able to convince any of my friends to dance-they all want to do yoga instead. Oh well, I am having fun and my legs have never looked better!

I will be 51 on June 29th and just returned to dancing a little over a year ago after 30 year absence. The open adult ballet class that I take usually only has maybe 2 or 3 other dancers in it who are in their 20s. I live in a college town. Most of the time though, I am the only one in class. When we are on break, the studio owner lets me take class with the teenagers. I don't really enjoy the teenagers because they have no dance etiquette. I got hurt really badly last summer trying to avoid one obnoxious dancer while I was airborne and she decided to cut me off. Anyway, I am just thrilled to be dancing again and I am ecstatic that there are other mature dancers out there to share with.

I'm not a formal (trained) dancer but I'm 58 and currently coordinate my church's praise dance team (and dance too), sometimes with flags and without flags. I love gospel music and love to listen to, sing and develop favorable movements that honor God.

I'm not a small person but have recently joined a walking group as part of a weight-reduction discipline.

Your far from alone! Actually our stories are quite similar. Never let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do! Everyone has different capabilities. Just keep dancing.

Ignore the looks. You're not tutu old!

Sometimes you can find Nicolini's and other discontinued pointe shoes (new, dead stock) on Ebay.

Good Luck, and (don't) break a leg!

TUTUFUN