It seems that many people would like to be adult ballet beginners, men too. And older teens want to dance ballet. Is it ever too late to start learning ballet?

What Are Your Goals?

If you want a great workout, love music, and also want to fulfill an artistic dream of dancing, why not choose ballet? Most dance studios offer adult ballet classes, and older teens who start late fit into those classes too.

Ballet is a wonderful form of exercise for burning calories, developing muscles, and yet aiming for that long lean look you see on classical dancers. A well constructed ballet class results in a balance of upper and lower body work, and a lot of exercises to develop foot control.

The last section of a ballet class will warm you up with small jumps, teach a couple of combinations of jumps, and end up with the larger leaps, when you are advanced enough to do them.

The Ballet Barre

The routines of muscle and form building exercises have their foundation at the ballet barre. Ballet is difficult, and learning each part of ballet technique in an isolated exercise, is what each section of the barre work is for. Using one leg at a time, with the corresponding arm and head movements, builds strength and the necessary neural pathways. Gradually these movements begin to feel - not exactly natural, but they have a flow and logical sequences.

This is because the barre exercises are, however remotely, associated with the living masterpieces of ballet choreography like Swan Lake, Giselle, and Les Sylphides. The repetition is necessary, and an experienced teacher will vary the combinations enough to challenge your brain, but not so much as to keep you frantically thinking instead of concentrating on your movements.

Essential Technical Challenges You Will Master

Posture - more natural than you might imagine, except for

Turnout

Ballet foot control; placement of your body weight on the feet and

Usage of the foot muscles so as not exhaust the lower leg muscles

Alignment of the body in ballet positions

Musicality and coordination

Ballet stretches done to get more flexible and relax the muscles

Do You Need Talent?

You do not need to worry about being talented for ballet. Starting late is not easy, but if you're up for it, it doesn't matter whether or not you will ever look like a ballerina or a leading male dancer. It is important that you simply enjoy your progress as you go.

The technical details of ballet matter, because correct movements and positions prevent dance injuries. However, don't let this lead you to becoming self-critical or perfectionistic. Know with no doubts, that to conquer a basic ballet barre workout and a simple center practice within a year or two of classes, is MAJOR!

When you get to that point I hope you will congratulate yourself!

Will You Ever Dance In Pointe Shoes?

No ballet techer will promise you that from the outset, but this is not impossible. A lot of strength is required, as well as accurate technique. The general guideline for getting into toe shoes, is that you have been taking ballet for three years, and at a schedule of three times a week for the past year.

Sometimes men in ballet like to do pointe or prepointe exercises, to get more flexible in their ankle joints, and to develop their footwork for jumping. It is possible to find pointe shoes that fit men.

Visit my ballet blog and you will find more information that will help you, as an adult ballet beginner.