HOW TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL BALLET DANCER

I get a lot of questions from young, aspiring dancers asking HOW to become a professional ballerina. It’s hard to know where to start with that question. Eeeeek….it’s a BIG question. Not that I am going to attempt to completely answer it in this one post, but if I were talking to myself as an 15 year old….I might tell her something like this….

1. Pray about every dream of your heart because God plants the seeds of your dreams in your heart.

2. Lay down your dreams and desires and see what God wants for your life. Be willing to dance…be willing to not….because He knows what He designed you for.

3. As a dancer, some days ballet will feel great! Some days class will feel awesome…your pirouettes will be right on, your body will feel good, and you will feel passionate about ballet……but there will be LOTS of days in-between where you will feel off…your body will hurt or just feel uncoordinated or out of shape, and you will not feel passionate about ballet. :) Hang in there on the tough days.

4. Be teachable. Your ballet teachers and directors are there to help you reach your fullest potential as a dancer. Listen to their corrections. Apply their corrections. They are not being hard on you…they are trying to help you be the best dancer you can be.

5. Knock out the negative thoughts. (with Christ’s help) Oh the time I have wasted getting down about my body or my dancing….ugggggg.

6. Don’t compare yourself to other dancers.

7. Don’t hold back. Go for it in your dancing. Dance big. Don’t worry about who’s watching or who’s not watching….dance big.

8. Audition for summer programs and go and learn and grow.

9. Take it seriously. A lot of your friends will goof off in class….focus.

10. Work in the back of the studio or on the side. Go over corrections. Thoughtfully work through kinks in your technique…not to impress the director, but to help you improve.

11. Let God guide your career. Pray about every detail of it, and ask for His guidance. Then watch Him open doors, and yes…even close doors.

12. Live a balanced life. When you’re not dancing, balance out that passion with things you enjoy or spend time with people you love to prevent burnout.

13. When you’re feeling burnt out….take a little break. Do something “normal.” For me, it might mean just have a day where I’m all Mom….or have a date with my husband….sometimes a little break helps get your perspective back on track and helps revive your passion.

14. Pray through the big decisions. For me, I chose not to go to college, and to go straight into the professional world of ballet….but everybody’s path is different….ask God for His perfect guidance.

15. Remember what it’s about….it’s not about the perfect body or about perfect technique. Dance to bring beauty to the audience and to feel God’s pleasure.

Uh oh…this list is getting quite long…..

I will stop there for now…it’s just a taste…just a tid-bit….hope it gives someone out there a boost they might need….

“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness….” Matthew 6:33