Dealing with Weight and Parents

[UF.Areona]

I need help or advice. I'm 16 years old and I'm 5'3 and X pounds. I've been dancing at a studio for about a year now, but I've danced in school and church throughtout the years. When my parents talk to me about college, I tell them I want to major in dance. But, they always ignore me and try to persuade me to pick something else. It makes me feel like they don't believe in me.

 

In order to study dance in college I have to pass the audtions and my mom is holding me back from getting the training I need for the audtions. Right now I'm in Jazz Production and Hip Hop company and I'm trying to convince her to let me do ballet, but her excuse for not letting me do it is because she doesn't want me hanging around the studio that much because of school.

 

This last year I have proven to my parents that I can handle dance and school work by making honor roll and that still doesn't seem to help. Then on top of that they think I'm not physically able to have a career in dance. Yes, I know I need to watch my weight since I'm short, but I also need their encouragement to help me. I just don't know what to do right now. I love dance with a passion and I can't imagine doing anything else. But, I can't make it unless I get the training I need. Sometimes I feel like giving up and just change my career plan to medicine because my parents want me to be a peditrician.

 

I see my friends who are great ballet dancers and they are already in pointe and I'm no where near getting to ballet 2. It's really hard for me to keep my dream alive because my chances of doing this seem slim. I just need help from anybody out there who understands my situation or just has advice for me. Thanks :/

[Clara 76]

Welcome, UF.Areona!!

I edited your post because the numbers on a scale mean nothing without the body in front of us, and I don't think that at your young age you need to be as concerned with numbers.

 

I do think that you need the best possible training if you wish to have something to do with dance, and I also think you need to be as healthy as is possible! Suggest a trip to a nutritionist to your parents and see how that is received. Especially if they wish for you to be a pediatrician, you will need a background in nutrition, so what can it hurt?

 

As far as your dance training- that's going to be left up to you. You may have to get a job or babysit, along with being sure to do your at-home chores and keep up with academics to show your parents you're mature enough to make decisions for yourself.

 

Good luck and keep us posted!!!!!!!!