Perfect age for competition?

[ShyDancer]

I was having a chat about the possibilities of competing at a pro level or even levels 1 or 2 when you are a late starter to the Ballroom world.

Personally , at 25 and after just a year dancing,I think its way too late for me to even consider competeing at a decent level.
Maybe Ill make the masters one day :lol: :lol:

At what age is the perfect time to start dancing so you can eventually compete at top levels?

Anyone know any dancers who compete that started late?

[johnnywalker]

Hi Shydancer

First of all, at 25 you're not too old. In fact, I don't believe you're really ever too old (maybe not just as flexible,quick, agile or whatever) to attempt most things.
If you want to do it try it. It's better to have made the attempt and failed/succeeded than to look back and say you wish you had tried it.

There are a number of 'older' students at the studio I attend who are competing in Dancesport and quite a number of them are either late 30s or in their 40s. I also recall a lovely couple of Rock and Rollers who were both in their late 40s and still competed successfully. I met them in a club and we got to talking. They were wonderful people and marvels on the dance floor. In fact, I recall an occassion where the husband was throwing his wife into the air and performing all sorts of amazing steps. They made my jive look like an infants first attempts at walking.

As for starting at a younger age I would encourage my children (when I actually have some) to try it if they wanted to. However, as with sports, I would want to ensure they received good guidance. What I mean by that is that during a Dancesport competition I watched an 11 year old boy throw a tantrum and proclaim he would never dance with his partner again. This was apparently because "she was hopeless and made him look bad". This behaviour really annoyed me; even more so when his parents idly stood by, not appearing to be embarrassed by his yelling and screaming.

I think, irrespective of age, if you have the desire and willingness then there's no harm in the attempt.

Go out there, Shydancer, and show them what you're made of!!!! :D :D
(insert clapping and cheering here...)

[Genesius Redux]

Oh, my goodness, ShyDancer--at 25, you're just ancient! :shock: :lol:

Okay, yes it's somewhat true that Latin and Rhythm dancers have a shorter competitive career. But at 25, you're not exactly ready to be put out to pasture. My teacher is 26, and she and her partner are just starting to get the really competitive marks. And yes, as you head into your 30s, there's always gonna be some pair of hot shot 20 year olds who can contort their bodies into yogic positions. But as you stop being competitive in Rhythm/Latin, you can turn more of your attention to Smooth/Standard, where you can be seriously competitive for a much longer time--if that's what you're looking for.

If on the other hand you're just looking to participate in competitions more against yourself, you can do that indefinitely. I think also you'll find that an active life keeps you looking and feeling young. It's not uncommon for people to think I'm 8-10 years younger than I actually am.

I'd say that the age to start competition is when you feel like you want to dance in front of more people. If that's 11, 16, 21, 25, 32, 40, 53, or 75, then that's the perfect age to start! :D

[Kitty]

Personally , at 25 and after just a year dancing,I think its way too late for me to even consider competeing at a decent level.
Maybe Ill make the masters one day :lol: :lol:

At what age is the perfect time to start dancing so you can eventually compete at top levels?

Anyone know any dancers who compete that started late?

In the couple from SB that won Rhythm championship at MIT the guy started as a grad student. (He's still a grad student, so I don't know exactly, but approximately 4-5 years ago)

[etchuck]

For competition, as long as your bones don't break easily, or your muscle memory is too engrained, any age is a good age, I think... depending again on what style of dance you want to do.

[pygmalion]

My input is be very clear what your goals are. If your goal is to be a contender at a high level in the world, or even in Australia, it's probably too late (even in ballroom, where you can start and be a heck of a lot more successful than in, say, ballet.)

But if your goal is to be good within your age category and have some modest wins here and there, or even better, just to have fun, it's never too late, I don't think. Do you have any prospects for a partner? (There's no pro-am in Australia, is there? :? )

[Larinda McRaven]

I took my first baby steps in ballroom at 22. I started to train for competition at 25. You have plenty of time.

[pygmalion]

That's really heartening, Larinda. 8)

[LauraB]

I started ballroom at 23, then competed pro for the first time less than 6 months later (still at 23). Of course, I didn't know enough at that time to make a decent showing, but we still beat some couples. At 25 now and without a partner, I'm worried that if I don't find someone soon, I won't get where I want to be... Larinda's statistics are heartening to me, too.

[Warren J. Dew]

Okay, yes it's somewhat true that Latin and Rhythm dancers have a shorter competitive career.
As best I can tell, mid to late 30s is a typical retirement age for both Latin and Standard world champions - who often retire while they are still considerably ahead of the field. It's true that some Standard pros keep competing after 40, but I think it becomes difficult to maintain peak physical condition after that point.

[Chris Stratton]

Hmm, with the clock ticking like that, why am I wasting time hanging out here?

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol: Um... because it's fun? :wink: 8)

[Adwiz]

Don't forget that there is a growing (cough) "Seniors" level (over 35 is considered "senior") in competition and this is now an entire unique category rapidly gathering momentum as our population ages. There are Senior championships, even in Europe (though only those who have been dancing their entire lives have much of a chance against that competition).

So don't give up competition dreams just because of the age you're starting. One of the senior Canadian representatives to the World Championships didn't set foot on a ballroom floor until he was 44, and he is an awesome dancer, with great energy and technique. A real inspiration to me in both Standard and Latin.

My wife and I only started dancing in our 40's and we are doing very well in Senior level competition because we are fit and thus faster than most of our competition. You would have a distinct edge in that category in just ten years, being at the bottom of the age range. You have 10 years of excellent work ahead of you to prepare. There is a Seattle-area competitor who is winning many of the senior championship-level comps who is in that age range and has that same edge.