JellyfishXxx

16 hours ago, ArucariaBallerina said:

@JellyfishXxx I'm still young - I'm only 14 - but one day I really really really hope, wish, work for, dream to be a ballet dancer. I would love to dance Giselle for the Royal Ballet, but accept that, if I do 'make it' *crosses fingers and toes* that it might well be in some unknown touring company in Scandinavia dancing as a Wili for the rest of my career. I would equally still love it though. I love dancing, I want classical ballet to be my life. I started so very late, at 12, and cannot turn out so naturally as i could have if I had started years before. It is coming though, as teachers at school comment I stand like a ballet dancer! And I automatically stand straight. But it took 2 years of constant exercises and conditioning, stretching, intense lessons and practice practice practice! And it was and is such hard work, physically and emotionally. 

Nothing is impossible. Very very very almost impossible, but not absolute. But we're talking, if you really want classical ballet, something like two or three hour and a half-two hour ballet classes a day every day, body conditioning like Pilates and lots of stretching, holiday courses... Etc! Presuming you have a natural ballet body and a huge amount of natural flexibility, particularly in the hip joint and feet. And then, if it did happen, you would probably be in a minor or amateur company. Never give up, work as hard as possible... 

Read some ballet history, it's very interesting and insightful. Take inspiration from other arts- music, nature, painting... And start ballet classes now!

I wish you the best!

Since you are a ballet dancer, can you say how you stay prepared for ballet during the summer, too? Most schools have summer break and I wonder what one can do then.

5 minutes ago, Picturesinthefirelight said:

 

A dancer never ever finishes their training.

Before they can join the company, that is.

On 2017-6-9 at 22:56, ArucariaBallerina said:

@JellyfishXxx oh bless you. Nothing is impossible- there's a minuscule chance. Perhaps you might be the oldest starting professional ballerina? Who knows! If you work really really hard, have money and time and an exceptional teacher(s)...and prodigious natural talent and passion. Bear in mind that the 'late starter' in ballet would be age 9-12 maybe... There have been cases such as Misty Copeland of course, but these are very rare. I myself started late (age 12) and you must strive and work your hardest every single day in every way... Ballet isn't a hobby, it's a lifestyle, for those who want it! Should say those who it wants!

You absolutely must have a 'perfect ballet physique' though.... Slim, long legs in proportion to torso, long neck, elegant and graceful, strong flexible and high arched feet, good flexibility... And musicality. Have you done ballet/dance before? Or played sport competitively/seriously? This may help you slightly. Do you play any musical instruments/sing? This too will help. 

Get into classes and dance! And perhaps broaden your dreams to beyond the Royal Ballet... There are hundreds of companies in the world! At the moment, work as hard as you can, enjoy it and the rest will follow.

best wishes!

Where can I find such an exceptional teacher? I am thinking of going to Brighton Ballet School, is that good enough?

I have heard however that they don't employ dancers who have only finished their training at 30 though in companies, because there are lots of younger ones with previous company experience. Do you dance ballet? Is there really no chance do you think, if you are good?

2 minutes ago, Harwel said:

Everyone is being very polite here and the facts have actually been perfectly well laid out.  A professional ballet career, starting at 23 is not going to be possible - as for asking about the royal ballet company, well I can't comprehend how you can think that is possible.  I really don't mean to be rude, and I apologise if this is coming across that way but please have a look at the company in class, look at the students who train there, in fact look at any of the full time students training in our top ballet schools, you will never be able to compete and 90% of them can't get a professional ballet contract. 

 

I am all for people following their dreams but reality has to be a factor.  Put your passion and energy into something realistic.  Ballet has to have been started young, bodies with masses of potential have to moulded. You are simply too late for a professional ballet career. 

So what do they do if they completed the training but do not get a contract? How can they still dance classical ballet?

Just now, alison said:

 

Most corps de ballet dancers seem to have given up by the age of 30 or so.  Some Royal Ballet principals go on until their early 40s.  Character artists go on for longer, but the current Director seems to want to phase them out, I understand.

So what do they do once they leave? They have the ballet school behind them, not university etc.

And another thing is, up to which age do regular dancers in the Royal Ballet really dance professionally? Probably their whole lives?

26 minutes ago, Jan McNulty said:

Sir Matthew Bourne started his professional training around the age of 22.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Bourne

 

There are other forms of dance/MT where a background in ballet is useful and where an older starting age may not be insurmountable.

 

Where are you based Jellyfish?  I am guessing you are not in the UK.

I am based in the UK, I was only asking.

My question is, is there any way at all to perform in ballet as an older/late-start dancer? And can you get paid for it? There must be some way.

I am not that interested in contemporary dance, at least for now.

1 hour ago, Kate_N said:

Jellyfish, sadly, and bluntly, there is no chance that you would ever become a dancer with the Royal Ballet, starting at 23. Ballet training to get you to that elite level (one of THE best companies in the world) needs to begin at age 8 or 9, but must be combined with the right kind of physical facility, and the ability of an performing artist to communicate.

 

There are many ways you can dance as an adult beginner, however. There is lots of discussion of these opportunities on this forum - there are open classes in dance studios across the country (I'm assuming you're in the UK), structured syllabus classes for adult beginners in various locations (RAD and Morley College are two that spring to mind), and then when you have a bit of learning under your belt (or in your feet!) you can participate in various amateur dance companies - again, a search of this forum will give you some ideas.

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of adult ballet students!

Hi, thanks for the reply. So which amateur companies are these in the UK and can you actually earn a living as a performer in these? Do they take into account finished exams from a ballet school of another country, too?

I really think that it is strange and not good that a professional company would not take you on as older. There are reasons why someone with good potential may not have begun as a child.

You say it may be possible to join it as older and I am interested in the requirements?

So, I am 23 and will only be starting. When I complete my training I will be at least 30. So until when can one join the Royal Ballet and also up to which age can one stay in the Royal Ballet? There must be a way to enter later?