Too short?

[danseur]

I was wondering, how much does height matter if you want to dance in a company?

I am five foot one and a half inches tall. Don't companys look for dancers that are about the same height? Does being short give me of a worse chance of dancing in a company?

[born2bprima]

I am 15 and 5'3.... if I was to stop growing,which I think I am still growing, is that way too short?

[Victoria Leigh]

Dancers, it is way too soon to be worrying about height when you have not finished growing! Also, there is really nothing you can do about your eventual height. However, if you become a good enough dancer, you should have a chance to dance, but you if you are exceptionally short or exceptionally tall you will need to be a very exceptional dancer, as you will not fit in the corps de ballet of many companies. So, put your energy into becoming an incredible dancer, and not in worrying about something you can't do anything about!

[danseur]

Thank you for your help!

[Claude_Catastrophique]

That's a very wise answer. May I add, that it really depends on the company. In countries like the Netherlands, where people generally are taller, they have also "taller" companies and in countries where people are rather short (for example Japan) the comany is shorter too.

[FouetteFanatic]

My nurse used to be a professional dancer. I asked her the same question and she said what Ms. Leigh said, that it will just take you a few extra years more than a taller dancer because you have to skip the level of corps and go to soloist. In those extra years you must get exceptionally good. This just shows that us shorties have to work two or even three times harder than those that tower over us!

[Guest kcbdancer01]

What is the average height range for a corps dancer? I'm between 5'3" and 5'4" and hoping I'm not too short because I already have bad enough problems with my turnout, extension, and feet exspecially.

[Guest TinyDancer1205]

Ms. Leigh took the words right out of my mouth! Leeways can be made for exceptional talent. I'm about 5' 4" maybe closer to 5' 5" and i have no idea how many, or if any, growth spurts i have left in me...only time can tell with these sorts of things!

[Marenetha]

My cousin is a professional dancer. She was with Boston Ballet II for a few years and now she's at Kansas City.

 

Anyway, she told me that from what she had seen, 5'2"-5'8" was perfect height for a female ballet dancer, but that dancers are increasingly both taller and shorter (within reason.)

 

I'm a little under 5'7", myself.

[danseur]

Thanks everyone! That makes me feel better!

[lildancingchick722]

Marenetha

If you don't mine giving away this information, how tall was your cousin that was in Boston Ballet 11?

[Guest Soccerbeamgurl]

Just found out I grew two inches since last year!

currently 5'7 (or 5'6 and 3/4)

I was just researching some company auditions and some companys don't have height requirments so don't give up!

[Guest tigger_fan_ann]

I think it's the other way around for me. I feel like I'm too tall. I know 5'6 1/2" isn't really TOO tall but given that I'm located in the Philippines where girls are usually around 5'3" and most boys are around 5'8", i don't think i'm given much of a choice...most especially if the only guys who're willing to take ballet professionally are shorter than you! It's quite difficult also for me to fit in corps because I usually tend to stick out like a sore thumb because of my height.

[sparkles]

I'm really really tall like 5'8"ish and I wanted to know what companies liked taller dancers. I really don't like being the tallest...

[danseur]

I grew. now I'm 5'3".

Tall, I know.