Ok, I had my first showcase about a week ago and really liked it. I am thinking about getting in ballroom bigtime! But I am 48 years young and most of the people instructing and taking lessons are at least half my age! I am fairly good at most of the bronze level steps and would love to move up in levels and maybe compete someday. Is the clock ticking too fast for me? What would be a realistic timeframe to go from bronze to competetion levels? The owner of the studio (a former US latin Champ) is in her early 40s and still sometimes competes with her partner part-time. I am ready to devote as much time as I can to become a really good dancer and hopefully compete someday. Am I dancing on borrowed time?

billman

I read your post with a 'slight smile' on my face. Much to my regret, I must say yes, 'you are dancing on borrowed time.'
I know from experience.
Let me introduce myself. I am now 76 (but still 16 in my mind, when i started my first ballroom dancing lesson). I am a 'former' teen-age ballroom 'class - room' dance instructor, and a former ballroom dancer from 1948 thru 1965.
I have to this date, never gotten over being that kid of 1948 with such a lofty goal of being that next Gene Kelly.!
It was not to be, as the Korean War was looming in the future, & when I returned home in the fall of 1952, my dreams had been shattered. I did manage to become one of the best on the ballroom floor and later on commanded the attention of students of the Great Arthur Murray, in our area.
I do wish you the best of luck, enjoy ballroom dancing as a 'recreation' and great fun, but on a 'professional' or/Exhibition level, it may be a tab bit late, at 48. I was still looking for that ballroom kid of 1948 thru 1965, in 1978 (when i was 48), but by that time, my time had passed. We can now only hope that 'your generation/children & grandchildren will be the next greats of the big-band & ballroom era. Have fun! Enjoy! and thank you for your time, from an 'old' ballroom dancer!, who still misses the Day's of Wine & Roses!.
Sincerely,
The Ballroom Kid of; 1948 thru 1965
Eddie C.