Is It Still Possible For An 18 Year Old To Learn Ballet?

Madame Ladyred, with all due respect to your knowledge of assumed what one's life is to be... exactly like everyone else syndrome... I beg to differ with your discouraging reply to the youg lady's question. Maybe or maybe not will she become one of NYC Ballet Prima's, but who is to tell her that she will suck at it? The finances involved with this performing art if minimal compared to the great satisfaction one gets learning how to chasse' across the studio's floor, or nailing a tour jete without losing your balance. It is not good in any area of entertainment to discourage a person's dream. I firmly believe in the saying that... "if you can dream it, then with GOD's guidence, you can achieve it!" I started Ballet/ Modern and Jazz dance my freshman year in college ( I was 15 years old), and continued to work hard up to now. I am also a male... not gay just in case that thought pinched your mind for a second... but I have dance with two major Ballet Companies, taught at many dance schools including a prestigious Arts Guild, have had my own dance company for years and have choreographed, staged and block many stage musicals including A CHORUS LINE, FIDDLER on the ROOF, GUYS and DOLLS, OKLAHOMA ( where ballet made it's debut in stage musicals via Agnes DeMille), and many more theatrical works. So you see Dame Ladyred, there are endless possibilities for this young lady to pursue by just entering her first dance class. However, when a person hears a despairing comment about something that made their heart flutter because of a dream, they are destined to take that comment as law over the 500 other positive ones told to her. You know why, because as long as we are here on this earth with a dark prince in faux- charge, the negative will always reign over any positive outlooks. That is why we must stand strong to build confidence, and not deflate it. Think on this, does it take any cultivation to make WEEDS grow in any garden... but in order to grow something GOOD to eat, one must take special care to do all the right things that will foster this desire. A human life can be an analogy to that when applied to our self esteem. All the trash dumped on us by others as we grew up will still partake a spot in our psychic unless it is replaced by positive renderings. Buy telling a person... especially one of youth like this young lady... that they should remind themselves of the word "can't", in situations where they had high hopes of "can do", is a psychological offense in my book. Reasons I can be so candid about this subject is that during my extended lifetime, I have had great and workable dreams and projects that were put on a back burner, then tossed for getting too burned by comments from friends and the such, just by my speaking of the idea. I have learned that this kind of reaction is sometimes... if not always retorted because the other person feels or see green raring its head. I kind of felt this vibe from the writer of the comment posted. I have taught doctor's, lawyers and dentist's wives for years ballet. They themselves have been taking the craft years before meeting me. Some are fantastic Ballerinas, but have one thing lacking. A real and burning desire to share their talent for others to enjoy, and most of all, a fear of performing. If you have been doing Ballet for 23 years, then you must know the exhilerating and awesome feeling of performing with a company or as a dancer on stage. So why take that potential joy from am 18 year old who may need something to focus on at this time in her life... My saying is..." ONE'S OUTLOOK ON LIFE CAN BE GREAT... BUT ONLY IF THEY SEE IT THAT WAY " (c) Byl Butler 2007

p.s. my suggestion to the 18 year old is to dismiss this negative comment from Ladyred, with no malice or insult in play. Just hear the Little Red Engine speaking in all that you do... but instead of "I think I can"... say... with GOD's Help [if anyone be offended by my conviction to the Heavenly FATHER, then I do not apologize, but respect your belief to be your own]... with GOD's help, "I know I can". Thanks for the opportunity in this discussion and,

peace bylbutler Byl [Bill] Butler I hardly visit this site, so if there is any need to
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me at butler04@gmail.com

I belive that you can VEVER be too old to dance. You just have to get into is slowly. Dont push yourself too hard, and just have fun you could even make a career out of it its just all up to how commited you are:) check out my group its for new comers to ballet. (the group is called ballet beginners)