Additional Information
Most female ballet dancers begin training with private teachers and ballet
schools between the ages of five and eight. Male ballet dancers usually begin
between the ages of 10 and 12. Serious training generally begins at that point
at major ballet companies.
Once they've completed a few years of serious training, most dancers begin
auditioning for professional companies. This takes place by age 17 or 18.
"In dance, there's a physical requirement -- the shape of the body -- where
if someone doesn't have that, their chances are diminished. They may have
all that wonderful physical equipment, but not have the mind or the discipline
for the demand. The complete package of mind, body and desire is rare," says
White.
"A very popular route is to dance with a school that is connected with
a company. The two most common entries into a professional company are by
audition and promotion from the top ranks of a school," says John Munger of
Dance USA.
College or university isn't necessary for the professional dancer who plans
to perform. In fact, a dancer who waits until they have a college degree may
have waited too long.
But a master's degree is necessary for those dancers who want to teach
at the college level. For some teachers and choreographers, however, experience
performing can substitute for a background in a college program.
Some of the largest American ballet companies have dance schools: the School
of American Ballet in New York, San Francisco Ballet School, Boston Ballet
School and Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle.