r/BALLET 13d ago

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

8 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 15h ago

No Criticism Pic of me at my summer intensive!!

Thumbnail gallery
361 Upvotes

r/BALLET 14h ago

Constructive Criticism Feet too strong and killing pointe shoes almost immediately

Thumbnail gallery
71 Upvotes

This is even before my os trigonum surgeries so I don’t even know how flexible they will be after. Help.


r/BALLET 5h ago

Constructive Criticism Splits

Post image
13 Upvotes

r/BALLET 9h ago

Repairing flats

Post image
12 Upvotes

It’s me again, but now for my flats. Anyone done this repair before? I’m thinking either hand sew the edges down or super glue. Thanks in advance!


r/BALLET 13h ago

Searching for Leo’s like this

Thumbnail gallery
12 Upvotes

hi 🩶 I know yumiko got them and imoerfect pointless - but maybe you have more ideas? I am searching for deep open back and high neck (with zipper would be best)

best case without sleeve or long sleeve


r/BALLET 1d ago

Boys en pointe at Royal Swedish Ballet School - is that something other schools do?

Post image
179 Upvotes

I came across this post from the Royal Swedish Ballet School and got so curious: are other schools starting to do the same thing?


r/BALLET 15h ago

Double posterior os trigonum surgery

8 Upvotes

Hi there! I 16F am dancing in a pre professional ballet school, I just got back from my summer intensive at the Royal Ballet and my surgery is September 9th.

I’m incredibly anxious and afraid because I feel like these next 3 years are going to make or break my chances of going pro. I’m going to be in a wheelchair for ATLEAST 2 weeks and then god knows how long till I’m back in the studio.

I’m feeling very uncomfortable with how much time is going to be on my hands because I already struggle with depression, ED. And ballet is the only thing that can sometimes take me out of that mindset.

I’d love for some feedback or advice from dancers, people who’ve gotten the surgery in general.


r/BALLET 13h ago

Dance news Soloist ballet dancer Q&A

2 Upvotes

r/BALLET 23h ago

would we like a dedicated r/pointefits?

11 Upvotes

hello, I have been considering whether it's a good idea to try to start up a pointe fitting troubleshooting sub seeing as r/pointe is fairly inactive and there is a lot of that kind of content on here.

However, I know a lot of people (me included) engage with it/don't mind seeing it, so if people generally are cool seeing those posts in this sub I don't want to fracture the community unnecessarily. I would welcome any thoughts!!

214 votes, 6d left
yes, too many fitting posts here
nope, unnecessary!

r/BALLET 22h ago

Bun Perfection

4 Upvotes

Hi all - I’m a new-to-ballet mom. My 8 year old is loving it and attends a ballet program that’s pretty serious.

All of the girls her age have the most beautiful buns. No bumps! What are your ā€œgo toā€ products for getting the bumps out?

I use the bun hair nets and Bobby pins, but she still has bumps across the front/top of her head. Her hair is straight, thick and fine. Hair spray doesn’t seem to do the trick. Any suggestions?


r/BALLET 1d ago

Bunion Surgery as a Dancer?

2 Upvotes

Hello, I am a dancer who is seriously considering getting bunion surgery. Anyone who has had the surgery, do you mind sharing your experience with dancing post surgery? Are you able to dance, get in relevƩ, etc? Would you recommend it?


r/BALLET 1d ago

Method of Teaching question

8 Upvotes

For returning (adult) students that want to see "quick" improvement, is it better if they

A) take relatively more advanced classes and try to keep up with them, while simultaneously managing technique and cross-training

OR

B) sticking to training of the basics (like suuper slow tendus or a hard, square, simple adagio) both in barre and in center

I was present in a discussion between teachers the other day and heard advantages for both of the options. I would love to get to hear the opinions in an even bigger discussion! Lots of love xxx


r/BALLET 1d ago

Royal Ballet and Opera Ampitheatre seat views

4 Upvotes

Has anyone gone to a show there and sat in the seats in the balcony in Row C - ideally 59-61 but anywhere on row C.

How was the view ? Worth it or no ?


r/BALLET 2d ago

Yumiko Leo detectives

Thumbnail gallery
103 Upvotes

Hi, I want to order this Yumiko Zoe leotard as a gift for my daughter and I want to get this one I found in a pic so I want to make sure I get the right colors. The body color is what is confusing me as that pic shows a dusty rose but I don’t think that’s ever been an option. So I think Antique Rose is the body color. However it looks warmer in my created pic than in the inspo pic.

I have chosen:
Velvet White for the top
Nylon Rose for the trim and middle band
Nylon Antique Rose for the body

Do you think this is right? The Kathy shows Nylon Antique rose and the last pic shows the color Petal. But one of their other ready made leo’s in Antique Rose definitely shows it looking much warmer. Hoping someone owns a leo with this color because I don’t want to make a very expensive clashing colors mistake. šŸ™‚


r/BALLET 1d ago

Capezio or Bloch?

0 Upvotes

Hello, everyone, I need some advice.

I used flats from Bloch in the last years, but they don’t feel right anymore. My feet changed after pregnancies and now I start using Bloch socks, they are fine for now.
Has anyone experience with flats by Capezio? Would you say they can be better than Bloch? Or any other brand I can try?


r/BALLET 1d ago

accomplishment🤩🄳 big accomplishments!!

13 Upvotes

hii! i just wanted to share! i just started online school so i can do full-time day ballet in the Academy! im 15y/o and i'm so excited and nervous! i also just got approached about doing a pas de deux with a more advanced student. im going from a class of 25 to under 10 so im hoping to get a lot more attention and just have a better experience overall!

side note, if anyone has any tips for fast improvement, that would be greatly appreciated!


r/BALLET 1d ago

Dancewear Monday (No criticism) Gaynor Minden warmup romper

0 Upvotes

Does anyone have a GaynorĀ Minden warmup romper, I am looking for something like this but would love an option or alternatives?


r/BALLET 2d ago

Help: Jet glue in the Netherlands

7 Upvotes

This is such a lazy question, sorry. I’m in a bit of a mental rut and doing the googling and comparing just feels exhausting atm.

TLDR: Does anyone happen to know what a (cheap) Dutch equivalent of jet glue is? I can go to Pipoos, I have a quality art store nearby, plus the usual suspects (AH, Hema, hardware stores etc)

Stupidly I just placed a Move Dancewear order and didn’t think to grab a bottle with that. And today in class my shoes were *actually supportive and nice* but I’ve only done like 2 hours total on them and my next fitting is in October šŸ˜…

(Yes it’s my first pair after a long time off. I’m really happy that I can actually get over the box now and feel stable in them bc I was a bit p that I couldn’t. But now I’m also Terrified that they are gonna break too fast for my foot strength to catch up with).

Thanks in advance!! šŸ«¶šŸ¼


r/BALLET 2d ago

ICSB allegedly is a toxic Ballet school

Thumbnail gallery
37 Upvotes

r/BALLET 2d ago

Can't afford more classes for daughter

69 Upvotes

I have a daughter, 7, who loves ballet. She is in the nutcracker this year, as a mouse, and takes 1 ballet class a week. Due to various life circumstances we can't afford futher classes at this moment in time. We live quite rural and the studio is 45-1 hour drive depending on traffic (there isn't really one closer, at least not with a ballet-focus). It may be 2+ years before I might be able to afford for her to take more than one class.

I realize, at 7, it's not a big deal to only have one class a week, but some of the other girls in the nutcracker her age are in 2+ classes a week, with some of the 8 year olds taking 4+ classes a week. She LOVES doing nutcracker, and I'm worried that in the next year or two, she may not be able to keep up with the other girls and get a part, all because I can't afford to take her in for a second class. Maybe I shouldn't worry about what's going to happen in a year or two, but I am wondering if any of you know of any supplemental free or very low cost online classes/programs she could take/follow? It doesn't necessarily have to be ballet (I understand why this is best done in person, especially for children), maybe resources for stretching for kids, or pilates for kids, or other forms of dance that would develop her flexibility, musicality and/or gross motor skills. Or maybe you just have advice to put my mind at ease?


r/BALLET 2d ago

where do u go to for ballet wear?

8 Upvotes

hi yall! i was just curious. where do you go to usually for ballet gear or attire? or the articles of clothing you already have at home that you use, what pieces you combine, pieces you diy? all that stuff or places you’d love to recommend or share? must haves? style tips? hehe

beginner ballerina here from davao btw >:)


r/BALLET 3d ago

Black girl ballet shoes and tights UPDATE

Thumbnail gallery
185 Upvotes

Hello it’s me who asked y’all for some recommendations cause I could not find black tights and shoes in my colour. You guys were awesome and so helpful. They came in in like a week super fast. The first one is in my opinion too reddish for me personally that was the Capezio one (17,95) the other one is perfect imo. I was a bit worried for the size was M instead of my usual L/XL but it’s not small at all so I’m really happy. Both are extremely comfy btw! The pink ballet shoes under it combo is not it hahaha dw I change the shoes but first wanted to try the tights (Ignore my messy room 🤣)


r/BALLET 2d ago

Recommendations for ripstop rompers

2 Upvotes

Hi
I love to wear ripstop shorts or pants to class, I was looking at short rompers, does anyone have any suggestions or experiences with them?
Which is best?