too old??

[*~i surrender~*]

i absolutely love dancing, but never really got into anything serious when i was younger, n i know ur never too old to dance(!) and im only 17, but to do it more seriously, is that an option? not like tap or swing or anything like that tho. i know so little about stuff like this!! any advice would be much appreciated! x x

 

[Multi-Elis]

It is still an option but: unless you start now you will have a hard time getting into professional ballet companies. It isn't too late to be a ballet teacher. If you want to go into contemporary dance, you are at the perfect age to start, any younger wouldn't have been much better. If you develop strong personality and stage presence with it, you shouldn't have too much problem (in comparison) in getting into a dance company. If you are more the Jazz or hip hop style, again, it isn't too late to start. The best hiphop dancer I've ever seen started somewhere aroung 18-19-20.

Expect, however, that you will only be a good dancer in ten years, though after six years you should probably have enough to start doing stuff. This shouldn't put you off, just think about having a job on the side or a double major in college untill you get good enough to do anything with it. Actually, when things get tough, just keep your eyes on the 10 year mark. It comes inevitably. Or so I was told by a contemporary dancer who went through some really hard times in his training.

As to the kind of program you should follow: even if you decide you want more of one style dancing than another, it is best to do a little bit of everything, contemporary will help you in ballet, and ballet will give you strength and precision faster than what most conceptial contemporary dance can give you. Both of these will be extremely helpfull in Jazz

And of course, the ideal is 3 hours of training a day on average untill you get to a professional teaching program. If you are really motivated and have a lot of potential but not enough time, perhaps 2 hours a day on average will do. (That is the amount I do. I started at 19 and 3 years later got accepted this year at a 4 year program for contemporary dance, but I painfully turned down the offer. Perhaps I'll go next year. I didn't however get accepted to two other schools I tried out for, I didn't have enough coordination, nor perfect enough pirouettes, nor enough years in Jazz.)

 

[SteepleChase2T47]

I don't have any advise, but I just wanted to say that I'm in the same situation. I've been dancing around my house since I was young, but I've haven't done anything professionally. I haven't taken any lessons either. But I like doing it on my own. I have done dance stuff for my church. That was perty fun.

 

[much_loved]

I'd love to start dancing!

 

[HeyJupiter]

Hey your NEVER too old to start dancing, ok u might not be able to go do it professionally but just for recreation no one is ever to old no way

 

[ladydeana]

i am not in my 30's anymore...lol but i am learning ballroom dancing...it is very hard and tiring and i love every pain of it ...it is awsome...!!!!

 

[WITNESS8]

You're never too old to start dancing, but the longer you wait you may have to work harder...You can do it though.

 

[pjay]

My dance experience may not be exactly what you're looking at, but it might help with the "wondering if too old"... (I don't think you are)...

I started learning to dance socially when I was 17... and at the time had no intention of doing anything serious with it... just trying something different... did about 16weeks of social ballroom classes (1 evening a week), and really enjoyed it, however other things in life stopped me from continuing...

When I turned 20 I started doing a style called ceroc (could widely be classified as swing)... again this was just a social thing and I had no intentions other than dancing...

3 years later I moved countries and into a city where ceroc had be being taught for only 1 year, and immediately I ended up as one of the most experienced dancers in the scene... within a year I started teaching and 5 years later continue to do so regularly...

In my love of dance I've also tried various other forms including a little latin, contempory, swing and ballroom.

Currently I teach ceroc, am in a performance troupe specialising in Lindy Hop, and am a beginner at modern ballroom (doing bronze).

I have only ever consider dancing to be a hobby for me.

 

[Crono]

If you're just dancing for fun, you're never too old to start. Dancing is well worth whatever time you put into it, and I know dancers who have started at all ages.

If you're wanting to dance professionally, it probably depends on what dance you want to do. Generally, the earlier you start dancing, the better your potential for it. However, I seriously doubt that 17 is too old to become good at most dances. Ballet comes to mind as a possible exception, but you could probably get into it if you really wanted to.

I'm a swing dancer, and it seems that most of the best dancers started somewhere in the 18 to 25 age range. If you think you might be interested in it, you could actually get a head start on it. However, I know quite a few excellent dancers who started at an even later age. For example, Bill Borgida, who is arguably the best lindy hop instructor in the country, didn't even start dancing until he was in his 40s.

 

[symphonyb]

Yes,with ballet it needs to begin at youth.Other styles of dance-wow,people can begin at almost any age.I think swing and jazz are wonderful art don't rule them out.tap also. can I ask what is inspiring you to begin?