How much?

[Guest Medora]

Hi everyone, I have some decisions to make as to how many hours a day I dance, soon here coming up I could have the opportunity to dance almost twelve hours a day, but something's telling me that's too much, so what I want to know is, hour many hours a day is healthy, and how many is too much? I know it must depend a lot on how strong you are, but maybe if anyone could tell me how many hours a day is a good day? Thanks!

[Victoria Leigh]

Medora, there is no definitive answer to that question in terms of a number of hours. The quality of the hours is more important than the number. I feel that one really strong technique class, and one pointe class should be sufficient for a student. Some days there might also be a modern or a jazz class, or some rehearsals. So, two and a half to three and a half hours of classes, or two classes plus rehearsals should be quite enough. Professional dancers work up to seven and a half hours, but, they are not still in school and they are adults! Lots and lots of classes can be more detrimental than helpful, as there is such a thing as overkill

[Guest Medora]

Ahh, I see. Well, I'm already getting a good 1 1/2 hour technique class followed by a 1 hour pointe class five days a week. Then I work with my teacher for 30 mintues twice a week, have two 1 hour jazz classes a week, and another one hour ballet class. So I'm averaging 3.5-4 hours a day, except Sat, which is just 2.5 hours. I was just wondering if this compares at all to the time I would have been putting in at the summer intensive, so I could do more if need be. Although, I must say that my evenings are whooping me pretty well! Thanks!

[Victoria Leigh]

Oh, sorry, Medora, I did not realize you were talking about summer! In the summer most intensive programs have at least 3 hour and a half classes, but one will be in jazz or modern or pilates. The top levels ususally have the 3 classes plus a couple of hours of rehearsal for a performance at the end, so they are dancing about 6.5 hours. But not during the school year, just for the SI. I was wondering how you had 12 hours a day available! <---me

[Guest Medora]

Well, I take all of those classes I just mentioned at my home school. Then, at the other one in Norfolk where I go on Saturdays, they have these performance workshops, one week summer intensives. There are two of those for beginning and intermediate students, and they go from 9:30 - 4:30. Then, there is the two week summer intensive for the int/adv students in Augest which I know I'm doing. So, I was comtemplating whether the two one week workshops would be a good idea or would I be over exerting myself, doing all of that.

[Victoria Leigh]

Just be sure you have SOME vacation time before school starts again!