tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895438231989381381.post9086885994987152276..comments2023-09-08T06:36:47.792-07:00Comments on The Dance Life: Guidance for the Young Dancer 1Daisyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00191229302716197378noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895438231989381381.post-53346604340082209112012-07-23T11:48:34.070-07:002012-07-23T11:48:34.070-07:00No worries! I plan on writing a second part to thi...No worries! I plan on writing a second part to this post to elaborate more. Dance is an extremely expensive and time-consuming dream - you don't get any training in normal school (not professional-quality anyway), lessons can cost quite a bit (around $15 per class and more for teams I think!), and lessons are all after school, which takes away from both social and study time. There isn't much payback either, professional dancers are known to hold an average of 4 other jobs to support themselves.<br /><br />I'm not only the first dancer in my family, but the first artist as well. Both my parents are engineers, and most of the rest of my family is in some kind of science or math-related industry. I've seen how it can be confusing, and it's hard for parents who are completely new to the sport to guide their children. <br /><br />Of course it's possible to have a career without being en pointe! In fact, I'd say that most dancers never use their pointe experience, even if they have been trained. Only professional ballerinas and some other contemporary ballet companies use the skill. If she is already inclined towards lyrical dance, she can have a perfectly sound career without ever having to perform on pointe. Of course, no skill is ever wasted - it could help her at some auditions or help her to get into performing arts middle/high schools and certain colleges if she chooses to do so. My mom was worried about pain and damage as well, for good reason (I weakened and caused the dislocation of a small bone in my foot from pointe). However, I personally feel that my training was worth it, even if I am still not that skilled en pointe. That would be a milestone for her (hopefully) much later in her career that she can discuss both with you and her teachers. Hope this helps!Daisyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00191229302716197378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895438231989381381.post-14406706817601193332012-07-23T07:54:55.987-07:002012-07-23T07:54:55.987-07:00Just saw this after replying back to your previous...Just saw this after replying back to your previous reply, lol! Thanks so much for writing this post and for your guidelines and advice offered here. I am relieved to hear of the dancers/choreographers you mentioned who started at a later age. It makes me feel better about not being able to financially support competition dance at the age of 9 to the tune of $10,000-$12,000 a year. As a mom without a dance background it becomes very confusing in navigating the way for my daughter to pursue her dance dreams. When money tightened up I knew if all else fails I must keep her ballet up...but it's good to hear recommendations for the "hierarchical importance" of other forms of dance. I have one more question after reading though...is it possible to have a dance career without ever going on pointe? My daughter may one day want to, and I wouldn't deter her if she did, but as a mom I worry about the structural changes it causes to the feet and the pain she'd experience later in life and just would like to know if it is a necessity in the dance world.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12844747900722515470noreply@blogger.com