Are you trying to become a professional ballerina? Do you want to master this art form? The answer is tricky because there are lots of things to be considered and everyone is different from one another.
Let’s start by saying that a general average period is about 9 years. So, if you start at age 10, you could be looking at turning pro at around 19 years old. Some people do it quicker, some people take longer, So it all depends on the person too. But even then, it isn’t the finish of the story.
When are you classed as a ‘professional ballerina’?
Before we dive into huge numbers, let’s take a moment to consider what it means to be a professional ballerina. The simplest and quick explanation is that you are someone who is paid to dance rather than paying to learn to dance. Some people would argue that just because you are paid, you may not be a classed professional. That’s why there are also different terms used to further quantify this professional ballerina.
Constant practice and hard work can make you a pro in your dance. So you don’t have any specific time. All you have to do is practice and learn with full dedication and put all your efforts while dancing.
The 10,000 – hour rule:
While there is nothing in the guide to ballet that says you must have a certain amount of hours of practice to become a classed professional, some experts have to take a look at the professionals and come up with the 10,000-hour rule.
This takes up the idea that you need 9 years of practice to make and bring up a professional and works out at just over 21 hours a week. Of course, no one expects a 9 or 10-year-old to be doing 20+ hours of dance practice a week.
Therefore, the idea is to increase the amount of training per week as the dancer gets older. An example could be:
- Age 9 – 4 hours a week
- Aged 13 – 20 hours a week
- Aged 18 – 30 hours a week
Following a scale like this where each year, the number of hours a week is gradually increased, the dancer will reach that 10,000 hours by the age of 20-21 if they started at the age of 9. Others start earlier but they don’t increase their hours as quickly and fast.
The training never stops:
The other thing to remember is that once you reach that stage of being a professional in ballerina, the training and work don’t stop, it goes on forever. Most professionals will dance for around 10 hours a day and will be in classes, training, or performing 5-6 days a week. And this is the routine of a classed professional.
So, while aiming for a certain number of years or hours of training can give you something to work towards for a lifetime, it is worth remembering that it isn’t a job done, being a professional is just the next step in your ballet career. So start learning this master form of dance as soon as possible and have a wonderful experience ahead.
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