Career: Questioning am I good?

[dancerchik]

I've been asking myself this question alot lately, am i any good???? sometimes im just not sure if im any good, and i feel guilty because my parents are spening alot of money for me to dance and im not sure if i'll ever be able to make it into a company.

[vrsfanatic]

Judging by your previous posts in the Young Dancer's forum, you are still quite young. It is always good to explore and question, but try not to let it interfere with your self-confidence level. Your teacher would be the best person to speak with regarding your future possibilities in the ballet world, but please remembe there is no crystal ball. Only time, good teaching and hard work will tell. Please also realize that the competition level in ballet has risen quite a bit. There are very many unemployed very good dancers out there. Employment level does not necessarily say whether or not someone is a good dancer.

[Rhapsody]

AMEN

[Balletgrl4evr]

It's funny that you say that. I just registered for Ballet Talk to write exactly what you put down. The only difference is that you seem to be younger. I am almost 18. But still I question, "Am I any good". My parents have sepnt so much money over the past 8 years on ballet. I was in Miami City Ballet for 1 year even. Don't give it up just yet...

Even if you don't end up a professional dancer, I truely believe that it forms us into extraordinary human beings.

[Victoria Leigh]

The school of Miami City Ballet, not the company, right Balletgrl4evr?

[euphorialsadness]

Questions like that are very subjective-- everyone has a different idea of "good," and here on the internet those of us who haven't seen you dance can't really answer for you.

That said, I used to ask myself that question every day-- in fact, I *still* ask myself that question and I have been dancing professionally for four years (I know that is not a long time at all-- my point is that even four full years after I signed my first contract, I sometimes still wonder if I'm actually worth my paycheck). But in my mind, you can't really grow as a dancer (in terms of technique or artistry) if you never question your abilities. As my ballet teacher used to say, there is always room for improvement.

So-- go to all your classes, and really take in every correction-- bring a little notebook, even, and write them down. Ask one of your teachers for an honest assessment and what s/he feels you need to work on the most.

Best wishes!

 

(P.S. Sorry, I know this still doesn't answer your actualy question.)

[Swanilda]

It's very difficult to know. Good markers to look for are acceptances to top summer courses, casting and good results generally from auditions. That said, I never got into SAB, never danced Clara as a student (though I have as a professional) and was usually the "understudy" for the lead parts growing up. Never the "star" of the studio, but considered a "good" dancer and a very hard worker. I am now dancing solo roles in a very well respected professional company. If you had looked at my class when I was 14/15, I doubt you would have picked me out as the one who would "make it". If you are young, try not to worry so much about how things will turn out and focus on getting the best training you possibly can and working hard everyday.

[vrsfanatic]

euphorialsadness and Swanilda very encouraging and inspiring posts. Thank you for your input.

[Magdalena]

I've been taking dance lessons since I was little, but I didn't take it seriously at all until I was already about twelve or thirteen, and I wasn't going to a very good school until I was fifteen. Now I am seventeen and I would really like to go to college as a dance major and become a professional dancer when I graduate. I still have trouble with some fairly basic things, though, like I seem to lose my turnout on difficult moves, I forget combinations, I get lost in fast or complicated combinations, I struggle with turns because I'm not good at spotting, I sometimes don't hold my arms right,I can't do frappes or fast tendus and degages very well and I have really bad extentions. I am obviously working to overcome these things and have been improving considerably over the last couple of years, but now I really need to be auditioning for college dance programs and I don't have much time left to improve. Do I have any chance of making it as a ballerina?

[Victoria Leigh]

Hello Magdalena, welcome to Ballet Talk for Dancers.

 

Since we cannot see you, we really have no way of knowing whether you can make ballet a professional career or not. It does sound like you are a bit behind the curve in terms of training and accomplishment for your age, but that does not make it totally impossible.

 

Would you tell us a bit more about your training, like how many classes a week you take, how long are the classes, what SI's have you attended and at what level, what level are you in your own school, etc. Anything that will help us know a bit more about you would help.

[Magdalena]

Well, I have technique classes four days a week, plus pilates, but that has just been recently. Last year I only did three. All of my classes are an hour and a half, except that on Saturday I have a second class, which is only an hour long. At my school, I am in the Apprentice class, where most of the other girls are about thirteen. I just got moved up to that level, and am a bit behind the rest of the class. I have never been to a summer intensive but I have auditioned for the Kansas City summer intensive twice and got accepted the first time. I haven't done much pointe because I didn't start until I was 14 and then gotten taken off pointe when I switched schools, but I am doing pointe now and, in terms of pointework, am not too far behind most of the other dancers who started several months before I did.

[Victoria Leigh]

Thank you for the added information, Magdalena. I think you do realize that you are a "late starter", especially with pointe work, but, I also do not think you are getting enough classes. You need a technique 6 days a week and AT LEAST 4 separate pointe classes, if you have any hope of catching up and being ready for a good college program. As I said above, not impossible. However, you do have a long and pretty hard road ahead of you. What are the chances of delaying college auditions and spending a year in much more training?

[Magdalena]

I don't really want to give up at least trying out for a college program this year, but maybe, assuming I don't get accepted, I could go to a college near home where I could dance here for another year, and then transfer and change my major. Does that sound like a plan that could work?

 

I'm not really sure if there is any way I can get more classes, although if I could, I'd love to. I go to all the classes available for my level, and I spend a lot of time practising at home, too. I know that practising isn't the same as being in class, though.

 

Thank you very much for your helpfullness.

[Victoria Leigh]

Magdalena, if you do not get accepted to a good dance program this year, then staying home and studying while going to a local college is an option. However, I would hope that you could find some place to get some extra training this year. Is there another good school anywhere that you can get to, even if you have to travel a bit?

[Magdalena]

I'm not really sure, there aren't really many dance schools in my entire state. I'm hoping that I can go to more workshops and things like that this year, but that doesn't really make up for having days off in my regular schedule. If you have any advice for where I could get more training, I would appreciate it, but I realize that you probably aren't familiar with the area where I live.