Is it too late to train to be a professional dancer at my age?

[Lisa Rogers]

I am a female, and started ballet around 18, and I am doing pretty well so far. A year and a half in and I'm now at a solid intermediate level.

But I have a question. I've been told by my podiatrist that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to do pointe, but that doesn't bother me too much because I'm really looking at becoming a contemporary dancer.

I want to join the contemporary dance companies, and most of them require advanced ballet training to accompany contemporary. So essentially contemporary ballet.

Is it still possible to reach the level to be in contemporary companies despite not doing pointe and the age I started?

Thank you so much!

 

[DanceMentor]

I think it just depends on what type of dancer you want to be. People find all sorts of ways to be paid to dance. I think if you said you wanted to be a professional ballerina there may be some limitations to that strategy. You could certainly be a teacher. And I'm sure what you've already learned could lead you to do some other forms of dancing that might be a little easier to get into where you get paid to perform or teach pain and this is a forum where partner dancing is discussed a lot and certainly there are plenty of people who started at 18 and went on to become successful professional dancers

 

[opendoor]

Hi @Lisa Rogers , welcome to DF! I'm impressed by your determination and energy. Try to make your dream a reality. Of course, I can't judge your talent, and of course, you won't physically match the seven-year-old from a ballet boarding school. But I'm sure you'll find your way!

 

[Warren J. Dew]

I want to join the contemporary dance companies, and most of them require advanced ballet training to accompany contemporary.

They aren’t looking for the pointe specifically, but for the flexibility, and foot and leg strength, from that training. Not sure if you can find it elsewhere; ballet has had a few centuries extra to hone their training methods. You could get this training in private lessons from some dance teachers, but not for something you can afford if you want eventually to survive on a professional dancer’s pay.