How old should you be to start ballet?

Im turning 13 soon and I would love to begin ballet, Im really into that whole, 1600's theme. Operas, France, big poofy dresses, antiques, curly hair and corsets.

I know most people start as children, maybe 5 or 6, but am I too old to begin?

(Dunno if this helps, because I think *THINK, not KNOW* you need to be in grade 6, but I can also do the standing on the edge of the toe thing, shoeless. Pointe, isn't it?)

Besides, I dont do any sports, I feel left out when my friends tell me they cant hang out cause they have soccer practise, or netball, anyways. You get the point.

Thanks =]

At thirteen you're still pretty flexible.

But, would I be able to learn it without looking like an idiot in frount of the other people who've done it for years?

maybe start out wi privates or somethin because you can get a lot better a lot faster if da teacer's really good. 13 isn't 2 late, but it helps if your already really flexible and strong.
xxx

If you really want to do ballet, you won't care so much about potentially looking like an idiot in front of other people - in fact it would probably make you more determined to do well if you were in amongst others who have done it for years. I doubt you're too old to learn, but you'll have to really work to catch up.

Remember, ballet requires quite a bit of body strength and you need to be reasonably fit - if you're trying to be stick thin, I doubt your body is in any shape to stand up to the demands of ballet. Something to think about...

yeah ull probably look stupid @ first, but imagine how quickly you can grasp it than the younger kids! youll b movin up the levels in no time!

or try hip hop- I do it and I only just started- its so cool.

True, thanks for that.
I dont care. I will look like an idiot and I dont care, I've always wanted to do ballet.

I cant do hip hop, I've tried and I trip over my feet because it's very fast.

its never too late to do anything. I used to go to the royal school of ballet, and they had classes for every age beginners up to 40! you just have to practice your felxibility seriously before attending any classes as flexibiltiy is the key to most dance themes.message me if you need any help xxx

you can still start but it will be really really hard for you to be professional but it is possible -- melissa haydn was 15 when she started! she was really talented though lol

how are you doing pointe without pointe shoes?!!! you will break your feet and it wud hurt a lot so I dont think that you are actually doing pointe. anyway I dont think that you are too old but you will be at a disadvantage and it is a lot of hard work. most girls start when they are kids, I started when I was nine but if you really want to do it then good luk!!
xxx georgia

it is never to old to start!
I have heard of people who began ballet when they were 13 or even 14 or 1 5 and still became very sucessful profesional dancers. if you start now and work really hard you can become good.
about the standing on your toes (en pointe) it is NOT a good idea to do pointe before your teacher tells you that you are ready for it and no one should do it before their bones have mostly stopped growing. usually by 11 they are physically ready but you still have to be a good enough dancer. and you should not do pointe without shoes on untill you have danced for quite a while on pointe with shoes and you know how to do it properly.
even so it is not good for your feet.

oh a word of warning. ballet is very very VERY rewarding but it is also very painful. the streching is tiresome and you have to go to the studio at least 3 times a week to really improve once you get to the upper levels. also pointe is very painful. for a while I was dancing for about 2 hours a night 4 nights a week on pointe and by the time rehearsal season was done I ahd 7 blisters on my feet! and they are still recovering!

good luck and never give up on your dream. if you think you can, you can!

I started at 5

no! I think you can be any age to start ballet it doesn't matter about age. if you think you can handle the pain on your feet try it out just don't give in to soon. (it does help when you start out earley though)

good luck