Q&A for How to Become a Ballet Dancer

It's really your teacher's decision as to when you're ready to go on pointe. It does require many, many years of training and strengthening your footwork, calves, and feet. There are many factors that determine when you can go on pointe, including your age, the size of your feet and toes, and your level of strength.

I recommend wearing flat ballet shoes with elastics, a leotard or fitted dance t-shirt, and tights. If you are cold, try adding a crossover cardigan. Avoid wearing baggy clothes like sweatpants or an oversized T-shirt. Your instructor needs to be able to see the lines of your body to make sure you're performing the moves correctly. In addition, baggy clothes can affect your movement and could create a tripping hazard as you dance.

Practice, dedication, and time. You also need to be prepared for challenging classes, and sometimes fun. As a dancer, you sacrifice a lot of time with your friends for more time practicing your ballet.

Ballerinas start pointe around age 12, but some start earlier and some start later. It depends on the ballerina's individual maturity, technique and physical growth. Talk to your ballet teacher to determine the best age for you to start pointe.

Stretch daily, including doing the splits. Go over the exercises you did in class for practice and do lots more if you have an exam coming up.

If you work very hard and practice consistently, you can develop the skills you need to be strong, flexible, and graceful as a dancer.

You can work at a studio and study, practice and network to find good work.

Yes, the age to begin dancing spans far into adulthood. It is never too late to start.

You'll have to realize that you can't just 'be' flexible -- most people are either born with the ability or start stretching themselves out at a very young age. Some things that will help make a difference though, would be stretching every day and increasing the distance when you feel necessary. The key point is to push yourself. It's going to hurt to begin with, so it's important to have a set goal and motivation. You might not be able to compare yourself to the most flexible people in the world but that way you'll definitely improve. If it helps, you can think of it like a sport that you have to practise every day.

The ballet teacher will help you with your splits. First, you just need to do warm-ups, stretching and cool down.

If your dance teacher says you can start pointe, then you can (if you want to). Most pointe dancers start on pointe at 11 and up. Your ankle strength needs to be really good before you can go on pointe. Listen to your instructor, and if she says you're not ready, ask what you can do to improve.

Glasses most likely won't affect your ability to do ballet.

If you want to pursue ballet as a career then you should be doing it roughly 3 hours a week to begin with. As you get closer to the professional levels or companies, then it should be a couple hours a day but always with a teacher or experienced dancer.

No, it's not too late. Find a class and sign up. How quickly you advance depends on the time and commitment you dedicate to your training.

Consider going to dance school early after school and do some of your homework there. If you have a test coming up, you can get your friends there to test you. You could also sometimes do homework at lunchtime. Keep reading for quiet times at dance school, such as waiting for your turn or waiting to be picked up.

Though a lot of elite dancers are very thin, achieving a certain body type should not be your goal. You can be an excellent ballet dancer without potentially hurting your health by trying to be too skinny.

People can do it their whole lives, and some only do it for a year or two.

No you don't, as splits are not very common in traditional ballet. It would be a good to learn how to do the splits, however, so that you can do other things, such as: leg holds, tilts, and pointe jumps.

It is possible to teach yourself ballet through watching video clips etc. It is best to have a proper dance teacher, however, because she can give you corrections that will make you a better dancer. Also, it is very easy to injure yourself in ballet if you are not doing to steps correctly; a teacher will ensure that you are doing them correctly.

You should know all the basics definitely, along with a few routines to be able to shout out on call. You may also want to know some of them on pointe.

Yes. It's never too late to start. Anyone can start ballet if they are really determined.

Middle splits require a high level of flexibility. You don't need to be able to do them to be a good ballet dancer. However, as you stretch and progress in your ballet studies, you may find that you will be able to do middle splits. Keep stretching but do not push your body beyond its natural limits.

It doesn't matter at what age you start, as long as you think you can make up for the years you have missed out by training hard.

Anywhere $30,000-$50,000 on average.

No, but it is best to have a flat stomach in order for your ankles to carry as much of your weight as possible.

Just practice! Look up positions and practice pirouettes. Flexibility will help you as well.

Yes, you can. Look at nearby studios and find out which ones accept your age.

Of course. You are never too old to start ballet. Most professionals start young, but it is not unheard of for a 16 year old to go all the way. Or you could just dance on your own.

Most professional dancers come from good schools, but for now you could work at ballet at home. There are dance classes on YouTube. For example, Kathryn Morgan has some that are really good. Talk to your parent or guardian about driving you to a school if there’s one in a city near you. And if you can’t drive to a school right now, once are old enough you may be able to take yourself.

That would probably put too much strain on your body. If you want to become a professional ballerina, then maybe a few classes a week, and if you realize ballet is what you want to do for a living, then up it to about five days a week. But don't put too much strain on your body, or you could seriously injure yourself.