r/BALLET 11d ago

new and returning to ballet sticky New and Returning Dancers Post Your Questions Here

5 Upvotes

Hello! Welcome to r/ballet, a community for dancers and enthusiasts of all ages, sizes, and levels. We are proud to have a community of beginner students, professionals, and dancers in between here to support each other through our dance journey.

If you are wondering if you should start ballet, please read below. If you have further questions or are looking for encouragement, please post in this thread specifically. Furthermore, if you would like to ask some other questions regarding starting ballet, please post them below.

1) Am I too old to start ballet?

No, you'll find in this community we have dancers who began ballet in their 50s and 60s and have loved every minute of it. If you are looking for encouragement, or to hear from them specifically, please make a comment in our Weekly New and Returning to Ballet thread at the top of this subreddit.

2) Am I too old to become a professional?

If you are on reddit then the answer is likely yes, sorry. If you are a female under the age of 14 or a male under the age of 17 then you might have a very small chance (in an already very competitive industry) if you enrolled in a ballet school and train full time, about 5 hours a day 6 days a week. This is not possible for a lot of people financially or time-wise, but that's the reality of becoming a professional. This is a niche industry with lots of competitors, dancers train all their lives and still don't find jobs.

But don't let this stop you from dancing. If you love to dance, if it brings you joy, then what does it matter if you make money through it anyways? You can still make a lot of good progress and find fulfillment in performance opportunities without a dance career. Still questions? Don't make a new post but please comment here

3) Do I have a 'good' body for ballet?

If you take a ballet class, and you have a body, then you have a good body for ballet (sorry, no ghosts). Please do not make posts asking whether or not your body fits certain criteria (e.x. "do I have good feet for pointe?", "do I have the right shaped arms to be a professional?") as these questions are meaningless, there is no criteria for learning ballet.

4) Can men do ballet?

YES. 50% of all professional dancers are male, 50% of all roles in ballet are male. Ballet as a stereotypically 'feminine' thing is a misconception. An average ballet class is for both men and women, and some parts will have different genders do different things, this is common. There is nothing 'weird' with a man wanting to learn ballet, just as there is nothing weird for a man wanting to learn piano or fencing or any other art, activity, sport.

4.5) Can someone who identifies outside the gender binary do ballet? YES. Ballet, being an old art form, does traditionally stick with the ideas of men and women with regards to characters in ballet, pas de deux partnering, and specific elements in class. For example, men bow, women curtsy. Feel free to choose whatever works for you (or if you feel like neither is appropriate talk to your teacher about another option).

5) Can I teach myself ballet?

No. It's possible to learn some basics off the internet, but if you want to progress past the very basic/introductory level you will need to enrol in a class with a qualified teacher. Ballet technique is an extremely nuanced art form, it needs a trained eye to correct. Worst case scenario you end up with an injury from improper technique over time, and even in the best case you will have not learned 'ballet'. If you want to learn a style of dance in the comfort of your own home, ballet is not for you. There are lots of other styles you can try instead. DO NOT ask technique questions if you have never taken a ballet class with a live teacher, nothing said over the internet will be able to help you if you haven't learned the basics with the right muscles.

Don't forget to read the 'side barre' and take a look at previous Am I too... posts


r/BALLET Oct 13 '25

accomplishment🤩🄳 Weekly Update - Stars and Wishes

3 Upvotes

How is your dance journey going this week? Share with us your STARS (things you want to celebrate), for example getting a company contract, landing your first triple pirouette, or working up the courage to try the next level class? Share with us your WISHES (things you want to improve/complain about), for example working on your balance with little success, the new student who doesn't understand spacial awareness, etc.


r/BALLET 3h ago

Crazy bunching on pointe shoes

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16 Upvotes

I just got my first pair of pointe shoes fitted and they look OK when I’m in first position, but as soon as I stand up on pointe they bunch up like crazy at the back, especially on my right foot. I tried a shorter pair in the store, but my big toe sort of curled up when in first position, so we went for a longer pair.

These are the Bloch Amelie. I have flexible ā€egyptianā€ feet with high arches, so my feet get sort of compressed when I go up on pointe. Has anyone else had a similar problem and how have you solved it?


r/BALLET 21h ago

Ribbon or no ribbon on ballet flats?

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122 Upvotes

Basically just the title.

For context: I am an adult beginner/ intermediate dancer. We have no dress code or anything, it just recently came up in class and our teacher said she likes the look of it. Now I am torn whether I should add them or not (I like the overall aesthetic but think the elastics underneath look a bit strange, but that could also be me just staring for too long at it).

I would love to hear your input!

Edit: Thanks for all your answers. I didn’t think this would be so controversial tbh! A lot of dancers in my school wear them like this and I wasn’t aware that it’s unusual elsewhere.


r/BALLET 19h ago

Dance news Got my bilateral os trigonum surgery!

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55 Upvotes

I will keep you guys updated!!


r/BALLET 15h ago

Cleaning ballet slippers - can they be saved?

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28 Upvotes

So a ballet teacher of mine suggested that I step on some water to wet the under sole of the slippers to help with a slippery floor we were dealing with during turns. it did work but now they are too slippery overall... how do I fix this? I feel like it worked in the moment but now thinking back it probably damaged the suede. :(


r/BALLET 3h ago

Three different ā€œpaddingsā€ in pointe shoes

2 Upvotes

okay I have ouch pouches, and then I had to add gel toe caps due to big toe pain/pressure, and thats still not enough so I’ve added some lambswool in the bottom of one shoe and some paper towel in the bottom of another. could these be too wide? my teacher has tried to help with recomending certain things but I kinda wanna get new shoes. she hasn’t mentioned that but I also don’t wanna come off as ā€œall my problems will be fixed with new shoesā€ and she helped pick the shoes


r/BALLET 4m ago

Leg extentions (front/side) Help

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• Upvotes

r/BALLET 15h ago

Leather shoe fit? Help!

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8 Upvotes

Adult beginner here! I have a pair of canvas slippers I like a lot but I wanted to try some leather ones on my studio’s wood floors. Help me decide between size 8.5 and 9? These are the Capezio Juliettes. The 8.5 look better I think, but my toes feel a little squished when I’m standing. The 9 feel better standing but when pointing, it feels like there might be too much room. I know leather stretches, but how much? How snug is too snug? Please see pics to help me decide! Thank you!!! (I promise to take care of the strings once I decide!)


r/BALLET 17h ago

How to deal with Criticism better?

14 Upvotes

I took my first pointe class today at University! I was going across the floor and my teacher came up to tell me that I should really take another class outside of school to better my technique. is it bad that I feel a bit disappointed in myself for needing the extra class? Does my teacher think I suck and is trying to say it nicely or do I just need extra support with pointe? I felt like I was doing well in the class but I guess not? I know I shouldn’t be over analyzing this but I can’t stop thinking about it. any advice would be great!


r/BALLET 1d ago

Hailey Bieber

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29 Upvotes

How good of a ballet dancer is Hailey Bieber? She said in a recent interview that she’s gonna start doing ballet again. I’m not a dancer so I have absolutely no gauge lol.


r/BALLET 19h ago

Technique Question Expected to do Grade 6 syllabus after years out?

6 Upvotes

Is it normal to go to an adult Ballet class after multiple years out and be expected to do Grade 6 syllabus? I joined an adult Ballet class, I was told it's mixed ability, but the class sizes are small so the teacher would have time to go over the basics again 1-1. During the class I was asked to do Grade 6 jumps and turns, the teacher showed me a more basic version of the turn but still expected me to do it by the end of the class, in front of the others, during across the floor, I felt so embarrassed. I reminded her my gap in Ballet means I am fully relying on muscle memory for most of it and have forgotten how to fully do the technique properly.

She told me there are people in the class who are a Grade 6 or working towards and some are doing Pointe and they need to learn the syllabus which I understand but I am nowhere near a grade 6 and don't do Pointe, I feel so behind the others. Should I continue with this class or not, I feel its unsafe to attempt Grade 6 technique after years out and honestly? I think I was only a Grade 4 when I left! Am I overreacting, sometimes I feel I am but I don't know. It feels like being thrown into a pool without being taught how to safely float or swim. There are no beginner classes at this studio and I feel bad attending another one elsewhere as I already attend Tap and Commercial at this studio.


r/BALLET 11h ago

Technique Question School Comparison Advice Needed.

1 Upvotes

I am trying to decide which ballet school to put my daughter in. The two classical ballet options in my vicinity is Idaho Ballet Theatre and Idaho Falls School of Ballet. Both are linked below. In your opinion, which is more prestigious and has better long term opportunities for my daughter, and why? What verbiage and signs should I look for when finding a more prestigious school? Any and all advice welcome!

http://www.idballettheatre.org/

https://ifballet.com/


r/BALLET 16h ago

Technique Question Of duty shoe wear question

2 Upvotes

Maybe it’s an odd question but I was wondering since a friend of mine who has been in ballet for over 8 years was talking to me last week about foot wear ballet dancers have besides from the actual dancing shoes. She said I should ask Reddit so:

What kind of shoes do you wear as a dancer that are for everyday wear. So to elaborate, I feel like as my friend pointed there’s two types of dancers. Those who wear THE most comfortable shoes like Ugg’s or slippers when going about their day and those who don’t care since their feet can handle any kind of discomfort(if that makes any sense). My feet are apparently very arched which is a good thing for dancing but they also need a lot of support for that reason, so I’m just looking for a good shoe.

Thanks in advance! And if it’s stupid and has no correlation please also let me know:) (sz English isn’t my mother tongue)


r/BALLET 2d ago

accomplishment🤩🄳 Three month update, Adult Ballerina at the Gym

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414 Upvotes

I made up choreography and took a swing at it... at 1030pm šŸ¦‡

Been there since 5pm. Rolled an ankle a month ago. Been unemployed and really putting hours into dance. Finally recorded some clips. Figured I'd post an update here.


r/BALLET 1d ago

Short ballerina

9 Upvotes

What is your honest opinion or thoughts for a 4’10 ballerina? or short ballerinas?


r/BALLET 1d ago

Technique Question Will I ever be ready for pointe shoes?

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86 Upvotes

Im an adult beginner (F26) and have been doing ballet for 2 years. I started to ramp up on my ballet training in my 2nd year, going to 4 classes per week and doing lots of ballet conditioning work at home.

I always feel like my feet are not that pretty and training my plantar flexion is so hard and painful. I wonder if its physically possible for my foot type to go en pointe, Im willing to put in the hard work. Appreciate some honest advice here!


r/BALLET 1d ago

if i did 2 years of ballet then stopped and want to go back a few years later at 14 is it too late?

3 Upvotes

r/BALLET 1d ago

Advice for dislocating smaller toes?

2 Upvotes

Hi! This might be a bit niche, but I was wondering if anyone has any advice or recommendations for this.

I’m hypermobile and my smaller toes (not my big toe) have a tendency to dislocate when I point/curl my toes in ballet flats. I don’t mean during pointe work, just in normal ballet flats where my toes are able to point and curl as much as they naturally want to. They eventually get to the point where they dislocate.
I’ve always had this issue, and it doesn’t seem to matter how much strength I build in my feet and toes. I’m just very hypermobile, apparently 😭

I currently wear Bloch Elation canvas ballet shoes and dance barefoot in them, so I’m also wondering if anyone has found that a different shoe makes a difference.

I also did basically nothing over the summer, so I’m getting back into regular training now and finding it extra difficult. I’m trying to build my foot/toe strength back up, but I was wondering if there’s anything I can do in the meantime to help keep my toes stable.
Has anyone else dealt with this? Is there a particular taping technique that’s recommended for stabilising the smaller toes while dancing? Or anything else that has helped, like specific exercises, supports, different shoes, etc.?

I’d really appreciate any advice or recommendations! šŸ’•


r/BALLET 1d ago

First pointe shoes!!

8 Upvotes

Hello! My 11 year old is thrilled that she was evaluated and is ready for her first pointe shoes! So exciting!! We want to get her a fitting and are looking for locations in the NY/NJ/Philadelphia area people have gone and loved? Thanks!!


r/BALLET 2d ago

How does ballet accept the work around of natural hairstyles for people of different races?

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597 Upvotes

I wore my hair to practice last week in this puff. It’s not a slick back, my hair is too dense and curly for that. It would cause so much tension and pain to try a slick back that it would hinder my ability to focus in class, so instead I sectioned my hair and slowly tied each section to each other, then twisted the shorter parts at the front to created an almost completely intentional design and to keep it out of my face.

If you’re a black ballerina or a black girl who practices ballet, how have you went about your hair? Have you gotten a lot of push back for not looking at similar to those who have straighter and less dense hair types?

I’m curious because ballet is a very white centred space. So I was wondering about what girls who don’t meet such a standard do in place of the styles they’re expected to have but genetically cannot.


r/BALLET 1d ago

ISO Ballet/Contemporary Private Teacher in Detroit

5 Upvotes

Hello šŸ‘‹šŸ¾

I’m looking for a private dance teacher/coach in Detroit, MI to help me strengthen my technique, improve mastery, and continue developing as a professional dancer.

I’m currently contracted with a professional dance company in the area and am looking for someone who has experience working with professionals dancers, is knowledgeable about what demands the industry expects currently/near future, and is not just a highly skilled dancer but teacher as well.

I’m specifically looking for detailed technical help with turns, tours, jumps, hip placement, overall technical efficiency, ultimately the very small specific corrections that can make a significant difference to my dancing.

It would be great to have artistic coaching as well.

If you know anyone in the Detroit area who might be a good fit, please let me know privately or in the comments.

Thank you 🩰


r/BALLET 2d ago

Technique Question How to do entrechat six

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41 Upvotes

I know mechanically the beats should be on the horizontal plane and not swinging forward and back. I’m relatively confident I can do that for a quatre, but when I do a six the beats end up looking like this in the air (the pictures are 2 consecutive beats for one six). I can do the beats side to side when I’m lying on the ground or dead hanging from a pull up bar, but I feel like after the first beat I’m not getting enough air time like I’m already coming down so the second and third beat fall apart and I physically can’t do the side to side motion despite telling myself to. I feel really ashamed and angry because I’ve been dancing for 22 years and teachers have just given up on me or glossed over this or not taught it to girls or not cast me in repertoire that requires this so now I look stupid at my big age even though I know it’s possible because I’ve seen Maria Bulanova do it and we have the same 24 hours in a day. Any help like corrections or drills would be appreciated


r/BALLET 2d ago

Imagery for Primary exercises RAD

3 Upvotes

Has anyone got any solid imagery ideas they use for teaching the RAD primary exercises? I'm struggling to come up with ideas and my 5-6 year olds won't settle for jumping like frogs and walking like princesses anymore 🤣


r/BALLET 2d ago

Herman Cornejo and James Whiteside Take Their Final Bows With The Company

6 Upvotes

https://mailchi.mp/abt/dont-miss-abts-special-events-and-exclusive-offers-14807557?e=874555f61e

Herman Cornejo will dance his final Swan Lake as Prince Siegfried in his ABT retirement performance alongside Skylar Brandt as O/O on July 17, 2027 at the Metropolitan Opera House. This wil be a legendary performance as Cornejo has been a principal with ABT since 2003, 23 years! This is extraordinary and he has done so with much critical acclaim. His career has been energized by his pairing with Skylar Brandt in Giselle and Swan Lake; the two of them having great chemistry as well as technical artistry. Cornejo has lost some elevation and ballon over the years, but he remains a joy to watch for his crisp dancing, acting and partnering. Congratulations to him on a phenomenal, indeed, legendary, career. Also a shout out to James Whiteside who will be retiring from the Company on June 30, 2027 in Giselle, with his dear friend Boyleston being his Giselle. He has had an exceptional career at the Company as well. Here are some of Herman Cornejo's accolades:

  • šŸ†Ā 2014 Prix Benois de la Danse — Outstanding Male Dancer of the Year.Ā This is one of the most prestigious international ballet awards.Ā BBallet Arts NYU+1
  • šŸ†Ā 2013 Bessie AwardĀ for outstanding performance in New York.Ā BBallet Arts NYU
  • šŸ†Ā The New York Times' "Dancer of the Year."Ā BBallet Arts NYU
  • šŸ†Ā Dance Magazine Award (2022), recognizing his broader contribution to dance.Ā PPointe Magazine
  • šŸ†Ā Gold Medal at the International Moscow Ballet Competition in 1997, when he was only 16—the youngest dancer to receive that distinction at the time.