I'm new! too late to dance?

[scotjames]

Hey, I'm new here and I just wanted some feedback.
Basically, I've always wanted to dance, ALWAYS, and used to back in the day. However, I'm now almost 17 and, to be honest, not in the greatest of shape... but recently I've been getting really frustrated and want to dance again. I mean, I can dance, but it's nothing compared to being professionally trained.
Anway, my question is, do you think it's too late to start? and actually become good?

Thanks in advance.

[pygmalion]

Hi maksimate! Welcome to the forums. :D

As far as your question, my answer is a clear no and it depends. :roll: :wink:

The it depends part: For certain dance disciplines, such as ballet, it may be be late to start if you want to become a professional dancer. The no part: Wait until you see some of the other dance forum members' responses. Lots of active dancers here started dancing in their teens, twenties, thirties or older. I started in my thirties. And while I'll never be a world class dancer (probably, there's always hope LOL) I can be a very, very good dancer, and better yet, enjoy dancing for the rest of my life.

Best of luck with the dancing maksimate. :D

[HothouseSalsero]

What pygmalion said is right: it depends on whether you have in mind a form of professional dance that requires starting early (like ballet).

For social dancing, you are certainly not too late. I am pretty sure the same is true for competitive ballroom dancing, though others more familiar with that discipline might have more to say about that.

[SDsalsaguy]

For social dancing, you are certainly not too late. I am pretty sure the same is true for competitive ballroom dancing, though others more familiar with that discipline might have more to say about that.
Many successful ballroom dancers have started later on. Certainly those who started younger have that much more of an opportunity to develop their skills and advance to world class status but, while the rare exception, the reigning World Pro. Latin Champion, Camen Vicenj, didn't start her ballroom dancing until she was 17.

[jenibelle]

maksimate:

NO NO NO NO NO it is not too late!
I am seventeen years old and I began to dance in september...you won't believe the feedback I am getting from all the wonderful people out there. Though veteran dancers (ones who dance since they are 5) have an advantage in a way, and I can't do the splits or anything (YET!) I really feel that I can measure up to the others. So my advice to you : start dancing and you'll love it. Though you go through some rough areas (everyone does), stick to it and you'll be amazed at how fast you improve...besides, 17 isn't exactly over the hill is it?

Out of curiosity what dance are you planning to do?
Jeni :)

[scotjames]

I don't really know what kind of dance I want to do.
Ballet is so beautiful, but I'm not sure if it's my passion... I think I'm leaning more toward jazz/modern. I wanna try everything though. bah decisions!

Also, like I mentioned earlier, I'm really not in the best of shape AT ALL. I rarely exercise, however flexability is not really an issue, I have plenty. but anyway! do you think it would be better to work on getting in shape before dancing, or dancing to get in shape? Obviously dance alone wouldn't do it and I'd do other stuff too, but would it be easier to jump into dancing once I'm in better shape?

sorry if that was confusing, but yeah
thanks for all your help guys!

[Danish Guy]

If you are dancing a day or two weekly for 5 hours, running on water, you will not only get in better shape, but will be able to loose some weight too. (If that is some of the problem). Find out what is possible in the area you live in, and go for it. You will never find out if not trying.

The most important are you thinking it’s fun. That’s the drive. Exercising in my opinion is boring, however it can give you at satisfying feeling afterwards.

Get started and see where it gets you.

If you want to try everything, put salsa on the "to try" list.

HAVE FUN

[pygmalion]

The list of salsa enthusiasts here is quite long, maksimate, so be careful. You may find yourself sucked into the world of salsa nuts ... er, enthusiasts ... before you know it. :shock: :lol: 8) :D

[Danish Guy]

The list of salsa enthusiasts here is quite long, maksimate, so be careful. You may find yourself sucked into the world of salsa nuts ... er, enthusiasts ... before you know it. :shock: :lol: 8) :D

Yeah. Be careful. It can be very addicting. :oops: :oops: :oops:

Find something that’s alive in your area, try it, and go for it if its feels like fun.
:wink:

[Sagitta]

I don't really know what kind of dance I want to do.
Ballet is so beautiful, but I'm not sure if it's my passion... I think I'm leaning more toward jazz/modern. I wanna try everything though. bah decisions!

A tid bit!! A lot of people whom I know and who have had quite a bit of jazz/modern experience have been able to pick up new dances quite fast.

[dancerfreak5678]

It is never too late to start dancing! After all dance is an art and a sport like no other!!! I've been dancing since I was 3 or 4 but haven't been professionally trained in a studio since this past summer!!! I have improved immensly since then and now I'm 13 years old. I know I'm somewhat of a youngin' but still I'm pretty close to you in age! Now I wish that I started taking dance at a studio earlier! But why just not try you should get out there and try and go to some summer dance camps. That's where i got the most improvement. Your flexibility will help getting into dance too! I'm still workin on gettin the splits! But when it comes to getting in shape dance is great for that! I was in the worst shape before this summer. I wasn't fat or anything I was just lazy and wasn't able to run for long periods of time or stretch very far for that matter, but after taking 2-week long dance camps i'm in the best shape I've ever been in. I especially notice it during PE @ my school. So I wouldn't wait until you get into shape before you start dancing. I say just get in there and do what you want to do. When it comes to the kind of dance that you wanna do, you may wanna try ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, or hip hop.

Ballet is very beautiful and I love it! it's so much fun for me because it's different and u always feel so beautiful with each movement. However it takes many years of practice. If you just wanna do ballet just for the fun of it, not to get on pointe or anything, go for it! You'll like it!

Jazz! OMG I love jazz! What's there not to like! Flexibility really helps here though! Jetes look much better when you have a 180 degree or higher split! But it's so much fun!

Tap i don't know that much about, but hey it looks like fun! I just wanna put on a pain of tap shoes and just play around with them. lol

Your flexibility would be well served in a lyrical class! Its very controlled so you will need to build up the muscle control in you legs. it's a mix between jazz and ballet. I would love to be able to do lyrical if I had the flexibility but you already do so you're halfway there!!!

hip Hop! I've been dancing hip hop for about 10 years and it's soo much fun!!! You just get your energy out!

Well I hope i've helped and good luck!!

[borikensalsero]

Not old at old... 17 is anything but that.... desire can get you there, if you wish to be a world class dancer. I started in my mid 20s, but I'm far from world dancer. But to enjoy it all you need to do is get out there and let loose.

[NeoDevin]

I was 17 when I started... I'm 18 now, so I don't yet know how it'll turn out, but it's lots of fun at least. :D

[scotjames]

Thankyou so much you guys.
You've inspired me!
Wish me luck! now all I have to do is find affordable dance classes!

[IsaacAltman]

Your never too old, nor never too young. Take it from me. I won a World Championship at 51. In my school we train about 250 kids and we start them at 4 years old learning ALL the latin dances and swing. The key to sucess is to stay with it no matter what age you start. Stay focused and determined. Most of us learn to dance because the benefits dancing gives us. Stick with it and you will receive those benefits as well.

[dancersdreamland]

Whatever age you are, whatever shape you are in, there is no better time than RIGHT NOW to start dancing.

Set dancing goals for yourself then work to acheive those goals. If you want to get in better shape, start taking dance lessons AND begin a regular workout routine/healthy eating plan.

Don't let ANYONE tell you your TOO old or TOO out of shape to dance. If it's what you really want to do, there is a way.

All the best!

[MadamSamba]

The only time it's too late to learn to dance is when you're dead... :)

[SDsalsaguy]

The only time it's too late to learn to dance is when you're dead... :)
Heck, even then the only thing that is ceratin is that it is too late to learn to do so with that body... :D

[MadamSamba]

Indeed, SD! You can even dance with one foot in the grave, just not two, unless you're doing the Nutbush. :)