My Adult Ballet Journey: 2020

[@thatgirlJasLee]

I took ballet when I was around five. I did poms throughout high school, and now I'm going to start ballet again at 26! I'm really excited just to be dancing again.

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Oh that is so wonderful!! Yay! Wish you the best! x

[@layshaeaddy7592]

How did it go

[@heaven7612]

I’m 22 and love to dance and always wanted to do ballet as well, I want to take classes but I’m super scared and for my feet!

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Well it is never too late to start! I hope you try a class soon! 😘😘😘

[@GLinOH]

I'm 40 and just started taking beginner adult classes. Don't be intimidated, the classes are so fun and I'm so glad I got out of my comfort zone to try it! I hope you decide to give it a try! :)

[@wiktoria1450]

if all goes well I plan to start ballet lessons on September 1st, I'm 18, ballet has been my dream since childhood , very inspiring video! ♥ , best regards from Poland!

[@AdultBalletCollective]

This is amazing!! Thank you for sharing and welcome to the community! Wishing you the best for your ballet journey! xx

[@kszczepan4]

Warto sprobować, ja zaczelam 2 tygodnie temu i jest super a jestem w twaoim wieku 😁

[@bailey971]

I’m 22 and I just signed up for an adult ballet class, I did ballet as a child for 5 years or so and I’m finally getting back into it, I’m so excited! Thanks for the video !

[@AdultBalletCollective]

That is so wonderful! Wishing you the best for your ballet journey!

[@georgy89ify]

I’m 21 and just started ballet.I’ve been a dancer from ever since I can remember but never really got the chance to try ballet as a kid because our city and whole country really isn’t developed on that side.I’m a med student and ever since this Covid-19 happened I finally got the chance and time to discover ballet🥰and I also discovered this community on Instagram.Just so thankful for that🙏🏻

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Aw wow! Thank you for sharing your story! I’m glad you have had the opportunity to do ballet - at least there has been some positives you’ll be able to take out of this whole COVID-19 situation! ☺️ So happy to have you as part of this wonderful community! Wishing you the best on your ballet journey! 😘👯‍♀️👯

[@bigfootballerina5684]

Thank you for sharing your story! Like you, I always get so excited when I meet another fellow adult ballerina. For me, it’s like finding a unicorn! The adult ballet community in the Philippines has been growing over the last year and it’s very exciting. I did ballet for a few years as a kid but stopped right before pointe (for many reasons), and returned to ballet at 27. I’ve had many classmates from all experience levels and age ranges, some well into their 70s. It’s never too late!

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Thank you so much for your comment! It is absolutely NEVER too late to start ballet! Wishing you all the best with your ballet journey!

[@Emjcmt]

I'm 26 and starting too

[@bigfootballerina5684]

@@Emjcmt Ballet unicorns unite!

[@aliciaedwards8606]

I'm so thrilled you stuck with your passion for ballet even when it seemed that like it was so out of reach. I really connected with you about your entire story. I am a 38 yr old adult ballet student as well. I started my ballet journey when I was 4 and continued until I was in the 3rd grade when I had to move from NYC to a small country town in VA. Also like you I never stopped dancing for it was my passion and joined my school cheer and dance squad and also sustained many injuries and big one of severely spraining my right ankle during competition. Which really ended my pointe career in its tracks. The injury was so bad it was photographed for a medical journal. My injury left me so depressed I didn't return to dance for many years. Went to college in DC on a athletic scholarship, studying communications and broadcast journalism as well. Met the love of my life. By this time a really missed dance again and began training again. Sat in as dance model for some of my photography majors and got married that summer. Got pregnant right away and had to take a break from dance again because I had such difficult pregnancies. I went 10 years and no Ballet. Finally in 2016 I had the time for myself from all of the family duties and life transitions to get into class and found a wonderful studio that offered adult ballet. I was the only student with any ballet background but I didn't care. I was back at the barre. And after a year and a half of 2 classes every week and at home strength training and barre training my instructor said..... "I think your feet are ready for pointe training." The glorious words I wanted to hear again from when I was 16. So spring 2019 Im fitted again for the first time in pointe shoes as an adult. Than fast forwards March 2020 and Covid-19. All studios closed. Even now here in the states its hard finding an adult ballet class because its more financially sound to teach a whole class of young students who parents wish to see their kids as the next prima ballerina instead of a small group of adults who are just there for the love of it. Wish me luck as I try and find another studio to teach adult ballet again.

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Oh wow, thank you for sharing your journey! Crazy where life leads us sometimes, but I am glad it has lead you back to ballet! Wishing you the best for your ballet journey! 😘 Hopefully when the world goes back to a new kind of “normal” there will be more opportunities for adult ballet dancers everywhere!

[@xxlovexxalicexx]

Your story resonated with me because I have had multiple injuries from aerial sports. Starting my first adult online ballet class tomorrow and I really hope I love it as much as I do aerial! Thanks

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Hi Alice! Thanks for sharing! I hope your first ballet class went well! 😘😘😘

[@lizaa3705]

I’m 20 and I’m going to start ballet lessons next month . Luckily I found a ballet studio near my home . I’m so excited about it! Thank you for sharing your story

[@AdultBalletCollective]

How exciting!!! Wishing you the absolute best for your ballet journey!

[@hi_theabelle]

I'm also 23 turning 24 in January and about to start ballet! I did ballet when I was 7 years old but quit promptly after so it doesn't really count. I appreciate your vlogs! I am relieved to know that there are other people like me. I was also very encouraged because you said you started around the same age as I am and look at where you are now! Thank you I hope one day I can also learn pointe

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Thanks so much for your comment and sharing about your experiences! Definitely know that you are not alone on your adult ballet journey! Pointe is a great goal to have and I wish you the very best for it! x

[@Wellitsjustus]

I originally started ballet when I was 13. I did it for a year but then I was going into high school and my mom told me I had to pick between dance and cheer because we couldn't afford both so I picked cheer thinking it would help me fit in in high school. I did cheer for 3 years but ended up quitting because the girls were mean and my coaches were unprofessional. 2 years after graduating high school I've come back to ballet this past January as a 20 yr old. There's not really a big adult dance community where I live so I'm in classes with 10-15 year olds but it doesn't stop me from enjoying what I'm doing. My teacher says I'll be ready for pre pointe in a month and ready for pointe in October.

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Hi Brea! Wow thanks for sharing your ballet journey! Sounds like we had similar backgrounds in a way! I’m sorry that you didn’t have a great experience doing cheer though, that is a shame. But I’m so glad that you’re enjoying your ballet classes and so excited for you to be ready for pre-pointe! What an achievement! 😘

[@Wellitsjustus]

Adult Ballet Collective thank you for sharing your story also! I really appreciate that you helped shape the adult ballet community, It's really helped me meet more people that I can relate too. It's no big deal that I didn't stick with cheer I met my best friend through it :)

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Aw thank you! You are so sweet! Cheer/dance friends are the truly the best! You really get to experience so much with them and it makes the friendship so much more special! x

[@paulao.8378]

Thank you for this video. I used to do ballet as a child but had to stop because my family couldn’t afford it anymore. I am now 21 and am hoping to get back into ballet. I’ve been following live-streamed classes on youtube to revisit basic skills. Ballet classes for adults are not very accessible but I hope I can one day return to a studio. As a child I never had the opportunity to start pointe and that has been a lifelong dream for me. I really hope to get there one day.

[@AdultBalletCollective]

I’m sure you will! There are so many amazing free resources for adult ballet dancers! You can check out our website for some! We have a free online intensive we’ve put together too! Additionally - I’m about to launch my online personal coaching for adult ballet dancers too! I’ll probably do a video to announce it officially! x

[@Sophia-rr3vs]

I'm so glad I found your channel, you're such an inspiration to me. I am now 16 and have tanken dancing classes for 8 years until I quit 3 years ago. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to take ballet classes, even though it was a big dream of me. Especially since quarantine I have missed dancing very much and my dream to learn ballet came back. Sadly, I can't afford taking real ballet classes, but for a few weeks now I've been learning the basics through online classes and trying to build muscle and flexibility. My dream is it to take real ballet classes as soon as it's possible. :)

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Hi Sophia! Thank you for you comment and sharing your story! You are so sweet and I wish you the best with your ballet journey! xx

[@Sophia-rr3vs]

@@AdultBalletCollective ❤❤❤

[@merle-k]

I actually have been dancing a lot since I was 12 I think. I used to be a swimmer but we had moved to a city without a pool, so I picked up hip hop (like 1-2 classes a week, nothing too serious). And then I realized I preferred the dances that were more slow and fluid. So I asked my mom if I could try ballet. But she told me that 13/14 was too old to start. So I continued with hip hop. When I turned 18, I did a gap year and did "barre" there. It was basically classical ballet without a barre and I loved my teacher who was a former ballerina. She told me I had potential and that I should try "real" ballet. So with 19, I signed up for ballet classes. That was in November and I did classes for three months (then, the Covid Break) and now I am back. My school has some "adult beginner classes", but in reality we aren't really adults. The age group is 14-24 I think, which is obviously my own age group and I love everybody there. But you are right, there aren't many ressources for adult ballerinas, before you created the ABC. I think I definitely have more experience due to my "barre" classes, which taught me all of the french expressions and a lot about the standard positions. But it's such a difference when you learn with a barre in a professional studio. Your story actually really motivates me, and I will definitely ask my teacher for advice to improve and when I could go on pointe

[@AdultBalletCollective]

So great to finally hear about your ballet journey! Sounds like you’ve been pretty active all your life! Thank you for sharing your story! It’s amazing how we all come to ballet with different experiences! I would love to know what motivated you to start ballet as an adult? 😘

[@merle-k]

@@AdultBalletCollective I actually always wanted to do ballet, even when I was swimming I just wanted to dance! I was waiting to be old enough to sign up without my mothers consent because she didn't think starting late was an option. And now I am very lucky that they support my decision, and regret holding me back before!

[@ishaalwaseem1683]

Hi! I know this is late 😅but I just wanted to say thank you so much for this video 😊and also that your a wonderful dancer even though I dont know ballet. I dont think you like video requests 😣 but I am not demanding you to make a little series on learning some basic ballet at home😁

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Hello! Thank you for your comment! I actually offer online coaching just for adult ballet dancers to help them learn ballet! ☺️

[@Quest212-v5u]

Wow, I have problem of absorbing tuition fee that cannot take much class per week TT

[@kryswilson2743]

Can you dance a pas de deux JoJo

[@Chattyrizki]

I’m 22 yo now and doind nursing school now and in 2years probably be my graduation, i also attending ballet course once a week since last year. after i finished nursing school, am so dilemma if i have to pursuing med school (cause i definitely got job after all) or ballet (i enjoyed it and always excited for, but scared if i failed or got any injuries and i probably too old) 🙁

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Hey! Thanks for your comment and sharing your journey! Before I started ballet I was working full time in an office job, ballet has changed my life and my personal goals! I am so happy to now to be an adult ballet coach! I believe in following a path that will lead you to happiness! That is the most important thing!

[@Chattyrizki]

@@AdultBalletCollective oh my god! Thank you so much for your reply 🥰🦋 It helps me alot! Good luck for you and your channel 🍀 🍀🍀🍀 I hope everything is going back to normal soon ❤️✨🩰 Stay healthy 💪💪🙏

[@SierraFord_]

Loved hearing about your journey! I’m 22 and ready to get back into dance after taking 2 years off from a 4 year dance career. Did you take different classes at different studios at the same time? Most of the studios in my area that offer Adult Ballet classes only offer one class a week! I’d like to start going 2-3 times a week though.

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Thanks for your comment! That’s amazing! I did take classes at different studios, I just took every opportunity that I had to take classes! I think it is amazing to learn from different teachers and find it beneficial in the long run!

[@ht8038]

what.. how did u get on pointe that fast?

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Hi! As I mentioned, I came to ballet with muscle memory and strength from being a competitive cheerleader, so I had to retrain my body. I worked closely with one of my ballet teachers and also did a lot of my own strength work at home. We all come to ballet with different bodies!

[@starmelodyelizabethb7380]

I like your shirt

[@AdultBalletCollective]

Thanks!