Too Old to Start Ballet - Don't Underestimate Yourself



Posted: Wednesday, December 03, 2008

by
http://www.balletshoesandpointeshoes.blogspot.com/

The discussion about when you're too old to start ballet is ongoing. If you want to do ballet, don't underestimate yourself. If you have no dire medical condition, and are under 75, I say go for it. Many things in life are about finding the appropriate challenge. If you can find the right ballet classes, dance and enjoy!

I hear the same concerns from 14 year olds and 30 year olds. "Am I too old to start ballet?"

Properly taught, ballet is precise, and not dangerous in any way. Many dance studios have adult ballet classes or classes for older teen/adult beginners. Most adult ballet classes include some floor work with ab crunches and other core muscle exercises. Many teachers include them hoping that their students will practice them at home, so the classes can concentrate on ballet. Other teachers may just recommend core muscle exercises, Pilates work-at-home DVDs, or anything that will help adults or older teens to do ballet with more strength.

If you really love ballet and want to progress to more advanced classes there are ways to do that. The internet provides download ebooks with illustrations, photos and videos of correct ballet positions, ballet technique, and ballet movements. These sources of information can give you the opportunity to see and hear details over and over again, which you just do not get out of a ballet class.

For example, if you feel you need to gain an extra advantage so that you can get ahead, you could focus on strengthening your foot muscles. This will result in less muscle cramps, and better ballet positions and movements. Eventually, if you progress to an intermediate level, and acquire an accurate technique, you may dance ballet in pointe shoes. The muscles in the sole of the foot play a major role in pointe work.

DVDs are also available for increasing your flexibility. Yoga is excellent for stretching and avoiding injuries. Classical ways to stretch are also easily obtained in a well-illustrated series of strengthening and stretching routines.

Even though the opportunity to be a professional ballerina may have passed you by, learning ballet for the sake of elegance and grace is made accessible by those ballet studios which offer adult dance classes. So don't underestimate yourself, and don't assume you're too old to start ballet.

Dianne M. Buxton was led by her career teaching professional ballet dancers, to write about dancing in pointe shoesl, muscle stretching exercises, dance/sports nutrition, and the mind/body connection. She is published at Ballet Shoes and Pointe Shoes and Health Nutritional Supplements. (no personal information is collected if you click on these links).
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