Too late to take up dancing? (Ballet/tap/etc)

[42day]

DD 11 wants to take up ballet but I think she is far too late - am I right?
Have thought maybe she could take up tap but do you have to do "ballet, tap and modern"? That's all I seem to see advertised as if it's all three starting with ballet at young age and then progressing to the others as you get older.

Wouldn't it depend what you want to achieve? glittering career at the Royal Ballet, perhaps too late.... some fun, new friends, discipline and exercise - never too late!

I don't think it is too late to start anything at 11.

Adult women begin ballet classes sometimes, I saw it on the telly.

Not too late. My sister took up ballet at age 14 and went on to dance with the Scottish ballet. I took up tap, ballet and modern and spent from age 16-20 dancing in musicals in London. Depends on a child's talents and natural ability.

Definitely not too late!

I work in a dance school and we get children of all ages and abilities starting.

It's so much fun, my DDs enjoy all types of dance so much - great way to stay fit, make friends etc.

That's encouraging. Just wondered if for a child it's too late as the dance classes around here all talk about starting at such a young age and when I went into a nearby dance shop which caters for all all they were talking about was street dancing and that is definately not what she wants having tried it already and not really enjoyed it.

DD (14) took up ballet at the start of September and is well on her way to Grade 5 (hopefully after Easter)

So you are never too late; she is following in her dad's footsteps as he started dancing at 39 & was a teacher 2 years later

It's fine, most ballet schools will accommodate this and will try and fast track her to fit her in a class where she is with her age group - you don't want her being put off by being in a class with 6 year olds!

I know at my DD's ballet school a girl of 10 just started and they put her in a grade 2 class with 8/9 year old girls with a view to fast track her to grade 3 to be with 9/10 year olds asap.

Kind of makes me wonder what the point was of having DD1 start at 3, I won't be in a rush with my DD2, I think she will be starting more around 5/6 as tbh my DD who is 7 has only just started formal ballet ie prep for Grade 1.

Even her teacher told me in confidence that it is her firm belief that there is no real advantage in starting them at 3, she said that she herself (a former ballerina) started at 7 and that if she had a DD she would start her at 5/6.

Thanks very much for your replies - all encouraging. I didn't want to raise her hopes if it was too late but she does keep mentioning it - has been doing for a while.

Definitely worth a go . If she has any natural musicality, rhythm and poise she could do well. Of the 3 modern is probably the most athletic but also more open to individual interpretation. dd is 10 and "only" does Ballet , Tap and Jazz now as not physically suited to Modern.