I have taught many adult ballet classes. My oldest beginner was in her late seventies! Adult classes are judgment free zones so pursue your dreams and enjoy the process!
Thank you so much for what you do!!! It means the world having supportive teachers and a non-judgmental community. I know, walking into my first ballet class ever at 26 and having no idea what I was doing but needing to so desperately was one of the greatest choices I've ever made in my life and I've loved all of my teachers. So, yeah, thanks! :)
I love how far ballet has come. I've been into music since I was little while most of my friends went to take ballet classes, there is a theater in the center of my city where they teach both, I remember going to get hot chocolate with my mom when I was little after a class and seeing a little girl crying and getting beaten up by her mom because she wanted a banana muffin and the mom was yelling at her "DO YOU WANT YOUR TEACHER TO TELL YOU AGAIN THAT YOU ARE FAT? IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?" And she kept saying a bunch of nasty stuff over and over again and I just looked at my mom and she looked as horrified as I was and I remember thinking: man, thank God I didn't pick dance. I also remember going often to the theater and you could HEAR the teachers *screaming* at the little dancers and telling them how useless they were, "YOU CAN'T EVEN HOLD YOUR WEIGHT BECAUSE YOU ARE SO FAT" "WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE, YOU ARE AS GRACEFUL AS A JANITOR, GO SCRUB SOME FLOORS INSTEAD OF WASTING YOUR TIME HERE" To really pretty and thin little girls that knew no better. I have always hoped for the day where there is more acceptance and I'm really glad to hear that, that day is here. Bless you and everyone like you that make the dance industry feel more welcoming
I’ve always wanted to do ballet, but I’ve always been told I’m way to old to even start, I’m almost 30 now and when I was young it wasn’t something that was financially feasible for my family
I started ballet at 47, I’m quite heavy but still I started pointe with encouragement from my teacher. I was embarrassed at my fitting in London but the fitter was so lovely and reassuring. I hoping that one day I’ll be brave enough to let go of the barre!
I started ballet when I was 13 and it was defiantly embarrassing starting later. My class was a grade 5 ballet class and just got pointe shoes. I often felt left out because i had not friends there but it was definitely a good choice because i had to beg my parents to dance and when i got to do it it filled my heart with joy. I look forward to each class and there are some good dancers in my class but they lack so much passion for it because they didn't choose it.
Very special! Passion reveals itself in each movement Dear. Never stop. Im at an age where it hurts each part of my body that we stretch, bend, hold. But i went back. I am back. Dance clothes, pointe shoes all over the house. Ballet bar arriving any day. It continues to live on in my heart. And if it gives us passion, we must certainly follow thru. 💕🌷💕
I am 34 and started pointe a few months ago - I was fitted online by The Pointe Shop! It has been so wonderful, and something I never thought I would be able to do. Her story rang so true for me - feeling embarrassed, feeling like I couldn't ask to take classes, and then finally jumping in and loving it!! Great video!
You have inspired me to get into it. I danced for 16 years but never did any serious ballet. I'm 36 and just kept telling myself in too old now but it feels good to know there are other around my age that are just starting out also.
May I ask how long you were dancing and how often you took classes before you went on pointe? I’m almost 32 and the only classes that I can find that teaches real ballet ( not the fitness kind) is only one day a week for adults.
@@amandailes27 Hiya, about 3 years or so. With the last year being 3 times a week. But before then, I had never done any formal dance in my life. But now I've actually gone through my first pair of shoes and am onto my second already! My teacher has given me a key to the studio so I can go in whenever over the holidays, so im going in every day at the moment!
"A dream is a wish your heart makes....." I'm also an adult ballet student. I'm 54, and I've been fortunate to dance pointe for the past four years. Yes, I was 50 years old when I did my first ballet recital! And yes, I cried when I got my first pair of shoes - and yes, I cried watching this. Don't ever give up!
I’m 32 and just started my pointe journey, I’ve always been obsessed with dancing and dreamt of going on point. I never had the chance to learn growing up, and as an adult I felt like I was too old to even start, and with multiple injuries I felt like giving up multiple times. But it’s stories like these that really give me the inspiration to keep on going. Thank you 🤍
I have a classmate in adult ballet who started at 60+. When I started teaching high school (17-18 yr olds) about a year after going back to dance (after dancing since I was a kid), I learned that she was the GRANDMA! of one of my students. Her kids and her grandkids don't dance, she just loved it so she took classes because the studio opened near her house so she could finally just walk to the studio instead of bothering someone to drive her. It's definitely never too late to start dancing.
This makes me happy. I am hopefully going to take my first ballet classes soon at 21. Feels weird to be an "adult beginner", I still kind of feel like a kid.
I’m trying to start ballet soon as a 22 year old! I’m terrified of it and wondering if I’ll ever have enough time to work up to pointe since I’m in law school at the same time.
I love to see adults starting/going back to pointe. I've been desperately wanting to go back; I danced for 16 years and stopped when I went to university. Its been almost four years but I miss it so much. Its super encouraging to see that I can go back to pointe again even though I'm not 12 anymore.
I'm almost crying seeing this... trying to start dancing as someone who's really bad at coordination and adult it's so frustrating because of the lack of community or support, and I was called challenged multiple times... this video is just so supporting and heartwarming! (I eventually choose pole and aerial because most people in this community started late and it's so supportive, but I always wanted to do other dances as well, everytime I try I get scared off by how unwelcoming it feels for someone like me)
I took ballet classes for 13 years, from 5 to 18. Maybe in the beginning it was my mother's choice, but I deeply loved it. Then life took its course and I stopped dancing but never stopped dreaming about going back to the barre, even if my stubborn obesity problem seemed to make it impossible. Last year, 5 months after bariatric surgery and quite a few kilos lighter, I went back to ballet class. I was 57. The oldest girl in my class. And I felt like I was coming home. This year, when my dance studio reopened after the Covid lockdown, I signed up again. Went to a shop and was fitted for my first pair of pointes since I was 16. Then I bought tap shoes and started tap dancing lessons, a lifelong dream. And finally I signed up for piano lessons. Dreams are not just to be dreamed. Whenever you can, you should turn them into reality.
Yes! Dancing is for everyone, even adults! I danced my whole childhood but took a break during college. I came back to it and I'm 25 and still taking ballet at my studio! Choosing to dance really makes a difference. I appreciate it so much more and look forward to class everyday!
I’ve been dancing ballet for 10 years this year so incredibly proud of myself!!! My teacher is wonderful and I definitely don’t take it for granted. I actually asked my parents if I could dance my parents never forced me :)
I wish I could take dance classes. Unfortunately, every studio in my county doesn't offer lessons to adults. I even asked about private lessons and they said no.
So glad this video was posted! I will be 35 in November and plan to start taking ballet classes (for the first time) in the spring, hopefully when the coronavirus has run its course. 🤞🏻 There's a studio near me that has many adult/ adult beginner classes. I can't wait!
I'm really thankful that there are so many online classes these days due to COVID. I am 27 but Asians don't raisin so I look like 17. I did ballet before and then switched between so many different dances and gymnastics throughout the years. Finally, I realised that barre exercises are the best at practicing basics. I wanted to take some in person ballet classes but small town studios only have lessons for young dancers. I'm really really happy that there are these online live classes that I can just "walk" in and don't feel embrassed as an adult. I can just focus on myself and correct my mistake. I really want COVID go away asap. But please dont take away my online live classes when you're gone...
Great ifyouhave access to space at hometo move, a barre and a large screen to watchthe instructions on. I have seen some incredibly flexible etc Chinese ballerinas. They all had done gymnastics at some stage. I think it's what reallymakes you strong andflexible.Ballet gives the gracefuldance moves and poses etc. Though gymnasts look gracious, too.But ina more sportslike way, notartistically, likedancers do. Skillslike ballet, gymnastis andice skating are all related. I once tried iceskating, first time ever, as there is no ice inhot Australia, but askating rink had opened up and I thought it the perfect thingto escape summer heat. I hired skates and was told tohold the bar andexpect to fallas a beginner.I didthat for a while butgotbored crwling along holding the bar whilst the figure skatings glided around, showingoff, looking so cool withtheir great moves. I was admiringthembut they glided away and I needed to move to see themdo more moves.I forgot I was a beginner skater and just glided off, abandoning the safety bar rail. And didn't fa over. "You are obviously a ballet dancer becausethe rest fall over first time.Don'tturnyourfeet out!" an instructor yelled at me. Icouldn't believehow easy itwasto iceskate because the restfoundithard tobalance.
@@joebloggs619 dont stop skating. Keep going. If it is something you love just skate your heart out! Musnt give up bc what if you regret it.. And take online classes. Order a standing ballet bar. There are good sturdy ones you can buy on Amzn.. If you love it, and you have passion, it will reveal itself in your movement. When it comes to the arts, passion is everything. How special to read your comment Annemarie! I really enjoyed it 💕
All of you ladies are inspiring me to get back into dance. I danced for 16 years but never did serious ballet. I always said I would start Pointe one day but never did. I'm 36 now and the desire has not gone away. Its never too late to begin something. I'm in!
Thank you for this ❤️ I know im late to the ballet party but my goal is to go up en pointe just once before 40. I’m hypermobile so I can definitely roll over but I need to work on strength. I don’t care if I just do it once for 30 seconds, it will be enough for me. I am too excited about it to be conscious of judgment, this is my dream
I'm 40 and I can't wait to get my first pair of pointe shoes, I've been introduced to ballet 2 years ago. My teacher says I have strong ankles and high intstep, I just need some missing technique (improve placement) and arms/legs coordination, because the class I was taking up until Covid was more of a workout rather than academic classical ballet. Like Bethanie, I can't work up my nerves to schedule a fitting in a store, although I would love to do just that!!!!
By far my most favorite video from this channel .. so happy to have found the point shop and Josephine .. have decided to back to dance after 35 +years.. I’ll be 55 early next year.. found my joy again💛
I have ALWAYS wanted to dance on pointe. So much so that last year I bought a pair of pointe shoes online. I tried them on once but they have sat in the box since then. Her story is so encouraging! Now I see it is never too late. There is no better time than the present.
I started dancing when I was three but I don’t take it for granted I love dancing and it’s like my escape route for if I’m sad or mad or just in general in a bad mood. I also dance when I’m exited or happy even when I’m tierd and I am so great full that my parents put me in dance. I don’t want to do it as my career because I’m scared that the magic that I feel while dancing will turn into stress that I have to be this perfect person on stage that I’m not. But I will never stop dancing because it’s just so me. Its not my bff it’s not my parents or anyone else’s life and I’m gonna live it the way I want to live it. I love you videos. Have a wonderful morning, day, or night. Virtual hugs 🤗
Wow really got the tears going for me...I related SO much to her. I am also blessed to have started as an adult and make the journey onto pointe. I hope she keeps going!
k the end when she was dancing in her Cinderella dress and a dream is a wish your heart makes is like im gonna cry. ive been working my rear off for pointe shoes for 3 years and my fitting is in a week and a half and this video is just like proof to me that you can do it if you dream it!! Love all you dancers out there!!
I started ballet at 20, did some jazzballet when I was young, and went back to jazz at 18. Last summer I had my point shoe audition (that is what they call it in my school, to check if you are ready to go in point) and got the green light. It is somehow g I wished I had done earlier. I love dancing on point so much!
Stumbled on your channel couple weeks ago. Not a dancer but am mesmerized by all dancing. She's living her dream. I admire her I don't have the confidence to even try dancing in public except an awkward slow dance with my husband. This dancer getting to wear these amazing dresses and costumes I admit am a bit envious. It's many girls dreams to wear gorgeous dresses all the time. Kudos to this dancer for following her dream
I can't tell you how much I love this video! I'm an Irish and Highland dancer, and I love that you encourage dancers of all types to safely pursue their passions in the right shoe for them! Bravo!
This made me sigh with relief cause I've always regretted quitting dance classes but I was never "one of the girls" so hated being there at the time. Knowing that I could start up now and still go en pointe is amazing
Yes!!! We need more adults dancing!!! It's so great!!!! I am glad she finally got to start, even though it was late, same for me.. i was told at 13 that it was too late to start, and in a very harsh way. I was hurt and put it off until I was old enough not to care anymore!
I started dance when I was younger and loved it but not being as serious as my classmates, then I took a four year break. A year ago I got back into it with just ballet and nothing else. It's been awesome and this year I'm in Spanish corps for the nutcracker! It's never too late to start again or to start at all!
Love you guys. I could relate to this as an adult ballet student. I felt self conscious too. The Pointe Shop made me feel welcomed, validated and as if was doing exactly the right thing. I am so grateful for the Pointe Shop and the wonderful people associated with it. 🙏🏿❤️
I wish I could start dance lessons but after 7 ankle surgeries and small fiber neuropathy I think I just have to live vicariously through all the beautiful dancers on the internet 🖤🖤
This makes me happy. I danced as a kid but ya know ... puberty hit and I ended up doing martial arts for 10 years. Now I'm 24 and I just started Ballett again.
My mum born 1920 always wanted to dance but couldn’t have lessons until she started work at 15yrs, she stopped ballet when she married. I couldn’t believe it was my Mum when I came across photos of her in pointe shoes and a tutu, she looked so happy. Follow your dream whatever it is, whatever your age. I’m glad Mum did
She inspires me to take up dancing again. I did ballet and dance for three years as a little girl then all of a sudden stopped going to classes. I once told my mom I wished I had continued and she said she didn’t know I liked it so much🤷🏽♀️
I'm going to start learning ballet now, and I'm 31. I want to be more active and healthy (since my birds do most of the exercising around here) and I get bored if I don't feel challenged and as though I have specific goals. I also love to watch ballet, so this seems like a good idea. I don't give a shit about my age or when anyone thinks you can or can learn a new activity. LOL. It's a free country. Let's do what we enjoy!
That Cinderella moment in the end got me! Crying! She’s a princess. I would love to go back and dance as an adult, but just don’t have the time. Reliving it through my daughter :). Maybe one day!
Love this! I can definitely relate to her story and with being embarrassed at that first pointe shoe fitting. Luckily we have support from people like Josephine! 😊
This is such a fabulously inspiring story. I've been decerning whether to go back to ballet and try for pointe. I'm 19 and I thought it would be too late to even try again. But seeing her story makes me want to pursue my dream even more! Thank you! -HC
Reading all these comments and seeing this make me so happy for everyone. When I was 17 I wanted to start ballet and I was told by 3 different schools in my location that I was too old to start and I'd never get to be on point. I wasn't even an adult yet! Unfortunately that discouraged me and I never found classes. 😩
I relate sooooo much! I wanted to do dance soooo badly growing up, but we couldn't afford it, but I wanted to do ballet so bad, I watched every ballet Barbie movie and documentary I could get my hands on. I'm 25, and I've had two kids as well. Literally, I want to follow in her footsteps. The reason I even found your channel was because I finally decided to look up adult ballet classes on RU-vid so I can do it at home. I'm not even in a real dance class yet, and I feel the "adult dancer embarrassment". But seeing her, I'm going to go for it because life is too short to not do what you really want to do.
I’m really glad this topic came up, because even though I’m still quite young, I am already an adult and I’m just now thinking of joining a ballet class. I used to do gymnastics so I have faith that my flexibility will help learning ballet, but it is still a completely new thing. I’m happy to hear that it really isn’t too late to start
This honestly just gave me a want to start dancing again. I did hula when I was younger but I always saw ballet and jazz and always wanted to do them. Finally in college I took a jazz class and felt like I had 2 left feet then was inspired to take a contemporary class and felt less discouraged but still uncomfortable being in a class with people who have been dancing for years and it was my first time. This makes me want to try to take it up again and pursue my dreams of pointe
Never too late. I danced a little as a kid but really picked up ballet in my early 20’s and danced all through my 20’s and even made it en pointe. I had really great adult programs available to me, but sometimes I danced with teenagers/younger kids. My goal was just to get better and be able to do pretty combinations across the floor. I remember the day I realized I had achieved my goals and was legitimately dancing. It was a wonderful feeling. ☺️ Again I say never too late. Just have fun. PS that baby dressed as Yoda! 🥰 so cute!!
This video is amazing. Growing up in a small city I loved dance but was only able to start ballet whent I moved out for college. Confidence is still one of the biggest challenges sometimes, despite seeing how I've grown and being happy when I accomplish doing steps I wasn't able before, sometimes I still feel like I'll never get to the level I want to for having started too late, especially when it comes to pointe work.
I'm 47 and the only dance class I got on take was at the local rec center. I was fortunate enough to make drill team in high school which I loved (especially high kicks). That being said, I've always wanted to take ballet. So wish I would have taken it back in the day. This was inspiring!
I've been dancing since I was 3 but fell out of it when I went away to school. Started back into tap classes when I finished school and made a bunch of friends in the drop in class we all went to every week, and it's incredible seeing how fast people pick things up! I love the studio I'm at, it's mostly adult classes and everyone is so encouraging. Dance is such a fantastic way to bring people together
I just got en pointe at the age of 16 and I'm in class with 9-12. At times I get discouraged and feel like I'm not good enough to even be a dancer, but I could never quit. I love dancing way too much!
I started balled at 3, but my teacher retired before I could learn pointe from her. I moved on to other styles of dance, and I've loved them all, but I've always wanted to do pointe. I'm 30 now, so I know I probably never be able to, but if I ever got to dance en pointe, I'd for sure happy-cry my eyes out.
This is the BEST!! Adult dancer here as well! I sort of grew up dancing. Started at 4 and quit when I was about 12. Worst decision ever! Diving back into it now in my 30’s and it is such a challenging, fun, magical journey! So happy to be dancing again and I literally treasure every single day I get to do it!
This is so inspiring!!! I want to start ballet again at 28 but am nervous about being judged! But this inspired me to actually start the process to try again. 😊
I love her dress! She is such a beautiful person and I'm so glad she gets to take ballet now. I did ballet for 14 years straight because I wanted to but doing it full-time wasn't going to happen. My parents put education first and only two teachers ever believed in me, but they had no power over my fate at the studio I went to for a long time. I came back but felt picked on by the head of the adult program and ran out of money to take classes.
I am starting ballet at kinda an older age, and I was feeling a little not confident.. like I am to old, I'll never be good, etc. But this was such an inspiration, so thank you!!
This story made me emotional. When I was 6 years old I started to take ballet classes, i can't remember why I did that tho. I loved it and years passed but one day my mom suddenly told me that the next lesson would be my last. It was becoming too expensive with the lessons, tutus etc. I was so sad because the next year we would start to use pointe shoes and it was a little dream of mine (thanks to barbie movies). I couldn't understand why I had to stop, I was too young, I was only mad at my mom, but now I can understand. If i'll have the chance to start taking classes again, after so many years, I definitely would, with my money this time. Ballet it's a passion that never left me and I still have that little dream to have my first pair of pointe shoes
Love!!! I like her had always wanted to learn but it was not an option. I took two ballet classes in college and it was magical. I mean I have zero grace but still
I can so relate to her...not being able to afford dance as a kid and getting emotional during dance performances...and feeling like it was too late or I don't have the body for it. I am hoping to try more dances once things open up again.
This was so beautiful!!! I'm totally going to check them out! I cried too, her story is all the more special. I came from a family of 7 kids and I knew I couldn't ask for dance lessons even though I said I wanted to be a ballerina when I grew up. So I danced all the time in the living room, made up routines with my bestie, went to dances EVERY chance I could get. I joined the hip-hop high school dance team. Joined a church folk performance group. Went to college & took a dance (modern/ballroom/social) class every semester as my "fun" class. Joined student body dance committee. Saw the Polynesian dance team performance at halftime and knew I had to learn that, so I joined their troupe for a year. I went on a mission to the Philippines, came back to college and joined a Filipino dance troupe for 2 years. Then I had kids, felt like I lost a bit of myself (it's normal), had a major health issue. Started to exercise to help regain health. Took a Zumba class which made me BURST with happiness! Now I've been an instructor for 4 years!! I get to choreograph, dance and help change other's lives. I never have had a ballet class. But I am doing what I was born to do and my whole life has led me to dance and to share my LOVE of cultural dances to many. I'm 47 years old.
I started dance this year. I was so close to starting pointe before COVID and now I've had to give it up entirely for work. But I loved it. The kids in my class were so sweet and welcoming and willing to help me out.
This helped me a lot bc I'm 19 yrs old and I've always wanted to be a ballerina that was the very first thing I ever wanted to be and still seeing dancers no matter where it makes me emotional bc I've always wanted to be in there shoes. But I'm in college and I'm definitely going to take a ballet class at my university just to live out the dream I've always thought was truly meant for me.
I asked for pointe shoes for christmas! Though I am not a professional ballet dancer, I've been trained in gymnastics and I do contemporary dance quite often. But even still, if I do get pointe shoes this christmas, I'm going to go very easy and slow because I haven't had personal proper training for them. But I have watched many videos and tutorials to make sure that I'm strong enough and that I wont get hurt :)
This gives me so much hope. I’m 20 and I was relating to everything this girl was saying. I ADORED dancing as a child but my parents couldn’t afford lessons. They had 4 kids in other extracurricular activities so if I didn’t have an absolute PASSION, they didn’t see the point of paying that money. And I would and still straight up sob when I watch others dance. And in high school, I confided in one of my “friends” about this who was on pointe in ballet. And she was like “you’re too old. You’d never be able to get to pointe. Don’t even try.” So it’s awesome to see this woman learning and achieving in ballet.
I started ballet at 19, but I developed a medical condition about 15yrs ago. I always wanted to go back to dance and ballet as I was such a fan, and I read a lot and I remembered that a lot of girls were sent to ballet classes for conditions like rickets or hyperextension, congenital hip dysplasia. I never got the social care, healthcare or other support I needed and I kept telling me that actually it was 2 ballet teachers who helped to clue me in about my condition. Everything was ignored. I still get upset because now I am housebound with nothing in my life. I saw a sign a couple of years ago at a closed down art shop, and it was an advert by my old teacher. And then came the pandemic. And I can't find classes that are suitable anymore. And ironically, I was in the healthcare sector before the illness. In the UK, You would never be en pointe as an adult but reading some of your comments-I want to say GO FOR IT! I loved it and had so much joy from it. EVEN walking was stress relief and you never know what could happen. You owe it to yourselves to grab onto anything positive-especially in this world right now. I wish all of you the best of luck and hope it brings you real pleasure x
You videos randomly popped up as recommended and I’m watching this , and I’ve always wanted to learn pointe. I started riding horses at 37, so once I’m working, what the heck, maybe I’ll give dance a try- I don’t even care if I never let go of the barre. Just seeing my feet in them would probably be so so cool. And the dance would probably help my riding with the insane core strength that’s needed...
I started dancing ballet last month, at the age of 37, after a lifelong practice of karate. I was diagnosed with a heart condition and my cardiologist advised me to exercise moderately. My 9 year-old son is a ballet dancer, and he convinced me to try out an adult beginner ballet class at his dance school. I am really grateful that I did go there and try it, because I am loving it and I am reviving so much of the joy, confidence and energy that I felt when I exercised before I got sick. So my advice is, irrespective of your age and background, just give it a try, it might surprise you.
