My daughter is a newcomer in latin dancing. Shes been dancing for about four months now. She has competed a few times and done VERY well, and her goal is to dance in championship level, however she is discouraged that she didn't start earlier. She started when she was about 12. She says other kids have started from 4 or 5. However, she is very determined and dances every morning for two hours. Do you think her goal is realistic? Thank you!

Andrea

Starting at 12 might be a bit late as compared to the ones who started at 4 or 5, but working toward championship level and being able to dance at that level and not look out of place is definitely achievable. Don't let the little kids who started earlier get her down: keep encouraging her and supporting her efforts. Her talent, determination, and hard work will make her into the best dancer she can be. Shirley Ballas once said, regarding her son Mark (who started somewhat on the late side): "It's not how many years you've been dancing that makes the difference, but how many HOURS." If your daughter loves what she does and keeps putting in the practice time and working on improving herself, there's no reason why she can't surpass someone who started earlier.

I'm a newcomer into Latin dancing. My goal is, as this lady's daughter, is to become a competitor in the Championship level. I'm 15 years old. However, I've had several years of dance training, mainly intensive ballet, and until recently my goal was to become a professional ballerina. Due to my dance experience, I have extreme discipline and will apply myself as much as possible to ballroom. Is this still a reasonable goal for me? I'm taking at Fred Astaire in Atlanta and my instructor says I am very talented and very natural in Latin dancing. Are there any suggestions anyone could give me? Thanks!

Starting at 15 still isn't too old for you to achieve dancing at Championship level. Both posters here need to realize that I don't mean you will win a major Championship, but rather that, even starting at age 15, you will have enough time in your career to someday be able to enter Championship-level events and not look out of place. I can't make predictions more certain than that. But what I am saying is that your goal is not crazy at all. Furthermore, it's great that you're getting started NOW, as a teenager, rather than a few years later.

Now for advice: my biggest piece of advice for both girls is to find an Amateur partner as soon as possible. This doesn't have to be the partner that you stick with all the way to Championship level...it just needs to be someone to start working with so you can be heading down the path toward your goal. If you're at Fred Astaire, chances are very high that you'll be encouraged to do Pro/Am and not Amateur events. While Pro/Am can be a good learning tool and a quick way to get into competitions, to reach Championship level you MUST develop the kind of skills that are required in peer-to-peer Amateur partnerships.

The good news is that if you really are as talented as your teachers say you are, then they should nurture you by helping you to find suitable boys to dance with rather than just keeping you in Pro/Am. They should also help you by pointing you toward the best coaches you can get, even if that means giving you away as a student.

Unfortunately, not all teachers are this altruistic. If you find that yours doesn't want you to find an Amateur partner and doesn't support you going to the best coaches in town, then you should also find a more understanding teacher who truly wants to help you develop as a DanceSport competitor.

Good luck to you both, this is an exciting path you've set yourselves on!

Thank you!

yes i started at 9 and all the others had started at 4or 5. its not a matter of how long youve been dancing 4 its if your natural at it and seems that your daughter is and if shes determind then there should be nothing stopping her!!!! anyway good luck in the future lots of love
claire cavanagh x x x x x

Andrea-

If you are in the US then she is lucky to be starting so young. It is still fairly rare for true juniors to find reputable training and partners that young.

Though she may have lost a few years of training she will probably make that up in determination and consistency. Children training seriously before age 12 usually have a lot more trouble with burnout in their teens. This is true in any sport. Your daughter is at a great age to make dancing her own! She has a big advantage if she is willing to work hard for her goals...some who start very young, or succeed at a very young age, struggle with their drive and have trouble with self motivation.

Good luck to her! And Mom...make sure she remembers that it is supposed to be fun...the ballroom world in the US can still be a confusing and grown up place for our junior competitors. Keep a close eye on her!

KC

Laura. I absolutely agree with your advise to the young lady who thinks she started dancing too late. Some who start too early can actually develope bad technique, which is then hard to alter once it is in the muscle memory. I myself think that 12 years old is an ideal age to start taking dancing serously.

I started dancing from sctrtch at 27 years old, and the late start made me all the more motivated. Dancing is not like tennis where a late start say in your early teens is often too late to become a serious professiopnal competitor. My late start at 27 was not a disadvantage.