beginning Ballet As An Adult With No Prior Dance Experience
I’ve never been one to shy away from announcing the things I like to do, but when I got the sudden notion to start ballet, I felt a little bit silly and didn’t want to tell people about it. I’m not super flexible and I don’t have any previous dance experience, so the idea of starting ballet as an adult felt a bit far-fetched and incredibly random.
Sure, I was excited to give it a go, but without knowing how it would turn out, it felt like something I wanted to keep to myself. Quietly deciding to just go for it, I discovered how much I loved it — now, I love to tell people I do ballet, and I love to laugh when they ask if I’m any good.
I’m still a newbie, and I’m still learning, so this can’t be considered a guide, just a shared experience, but this is how beginning ballet went for me.
an unexpected source of inspiration
Ballet has never been on my radar, like, at all. I didn’t do it (or want to) as a child and I didn’t think about it as a teen, it truly had never even crossed my mind.
It changed when I was perusing books at the library and spotted a book called Midnight in Everwood. I didn’t know anything about it, but I unfortunately do judge a book by it’s cover and anything that looks a bit whimsical is a win. Plus, I love Stephanie Garber, so an author quote from her is also going to be a hard yes.
For some reason I can’t explain, when reading the book, I was absolutely captivated by the main character’s love of ballet — the way it was described and the way it made her feel just struck some chord within me.
I later learned that the author herself has a deep love for ballet, and it was beautifully conveyed through this book.
I immediately looked up adult ballet classes in Vancouver to see if I could try one out. Luck was on my side, because the Goh Ballet Academy was one of the very few studios in the lower mainland that offered adult classes, and it was only a 20 minute walk from my house.
Come on! This book cover was practically screaming at me to take her home.
my first adult ballet class: a humbling experience
I signed up to a drop in class that claimed to be for adult beginners, needing only to wear something comfy and form fitting. The instructor immediately recognised that I was new and kindly directed me to a spot where I could follow along to the people around me if I got lost.
Now, I understand that it is not realistic for a drop in beginner class to go over the basics every time a new person shows up, but I think I expected some sort of transition into it and was quickly proven wrong.
I didn’t understand any of the positions, which in hindsight could have been avoided had I prepared for the class better or looked up terminology ahead of time. It wasn’t just the moves though, I struggled to memorise the choreography, and once we went to centre, I was ready to cry.
It was more from feeling overwhelmed in the ballet class than anything. Being unable to follow along and feeling so embarrassed made me want to just leave the class and cry — something I admit that I have done on a few occasions.
Instead, at the end of the class, I approached the instructor and asked how I could give ballet a go on a more beginner level. For me, the class didn’t just feel like the deep end, it felt like open waters.
building my beginner ballet foundations
Proud proud proud. No matter how old I get, printed certificates always feel like a huge accomplishment.
At the guidance of the instructor, I signed up to a 6 week Plie Passage workshop – an introduction to the principles and fundamental movements of classical ballet.
This is where my love for ballet really started to take root. Understanding the basics definitely helped, but even after just 1 class a week, I could feel a huge difference in my body, mind, and posture, and I was hooked.
I’m proud of myself for fighting through the anxiety of that first class and talking to the teacher about it. Had I not, I probably wouldn’t have realised there was an easier entry into ballet being offered.
I’m not sure that this kind of super entry level ballet programme is commonly offered, not for beginner adults at least, so it really felt like cosmic alignment was making this happen for me.
If you see something like this at a studio near you, as a beginner I would highly recommend it.
when progress doesn't feel linear
After the workshop, I jumped straight back into those ‘beginner’ classes thinking I was ready, but yet I still felt out of my depth.
With packed classes and an unsupportive teacher (different to the workshop and the first class), I found myself leaving classes early and on the verge of tears. I remember a few blubbering voice notes to a friend on my walk of shame home. The frustration was leading me to believe I would never get it and was never going to improve.
My general feelings of deflation led to a decrease in classes attended and I found myself in a slump. I had even tried out a class at a different studio to shake it off, but that was somehow harder for me to follow along with and the classes were way bigger.
Eventually, I spotted Adagio classes (pre-beginner / more focused on stretching) had been added back to the schedule with a different instructor at Goh. They had taken a break on these classes for a period which is why I didn’t start here.
Checking out a drop in class at Ballet BC. I personally found this place way more intimidating.
Based on the disconnect with my earlier teacher and my general struggle to follow along, I thought it a good idea to slow down and see if this class was a better fit.
finding the right fit, and the right teacher
With a smaller group in the Adagio class, the new instructor was very good at making gentle corrections throughout, making me feel more comfortable about asking questions.
While initially worried everyone would get sick of me constantly asking questions or to go over the choreography again, I instead found it created an opening for other people to also seek help. Overall the environment of the class became a lot more developmental and no longer did I leave class in a flurry of tears.
It feels a bit cliche to tell people to ‘stick it out’ when you’re really struggling to progress, because for me, the teaching style was what made the biggest difference. I’m not sure if I would have stuck with ballet had I remained in the other classes or with the other teacher.
Truly, Barbara Bartnik reignited a dwindling flame for ballet back into a full blown spark, and I will always credit her for sticking with it.
Unfortunately, just as I felt like I was finally finding my ballet flow, I decided to pack up and move countries.
becoming a beginner, again
It didn’t occur to me to look for a new ballet school in The Netherlands before getting there, but by sheer luck / coincidence / Universal blessings, I came across De Haarlemse Ballet Studio.
They didn’t offer regular classes for beginner adults, but I was directed to one of their Sunday workshops instead – a 5 week block for beginners and improvers.
Honestly, it was a great way to dip my toe back in and get a feel of the studio without over committing. I had been doing ballet inconsistently for a year and by this point I hadn’t been to a class in 8 months, so I was really back to basics.
The class was in Dutch (except for when it’s in French), but the instructor was kind enough to give me direct guidance in English. I survived.
Actually, I didn’t just survive, I had fun! It was a great reintroduction, but knowing I wanted to do it more consistently and really start to improve, I let the instructor know how keen I was to join regular classes if the opportunity ever arose.
Imagine my pleasant surprise when I stumbled across this on a walk one morning.
checking off ballet milestones
It wasn’t my intention to run my first ever 10k on the same day I had my first ever ballet show, but sure we got ‘er done.
Whatever I said must have really conveyed my enthusiasm, because I was then offered a place in the beginner teens class ‘if I was comfortable with that’. Despite the fact I would be the only 20 something year old amongst a small group of 15-18 year old’s, it didn’t even cross my mind to be uncomfortable, I was truly stoked.
It was a level up, no more drop in / inconsistent classes, I was finally part of a school and even had a uniform. Consistent classes was the next step for my progression and I really started to see the improvements I was making.
Always one to be looking ahead (maybe too far, sometimes), but goals I had for 2025 were to 1) be more regular with classes, and 2) perform in a show. With one of those already checked off, I was happy with where I was at, but when I heard about an end of term show, I couldn’t resist.
So after 6 months of weekly classes, I performed my first ever ballet show. The costume was way too small for me and when I watch the video back, all I can see are things I need to improve on. But I loved it.
To think back on that first class where I almost left in tears, I had come a long way.
why conveying your enthusiasm out loud matters
I continued to attend the Sunday Workshops when they popped up, and as it turns out, my keen (and somewhat pushy) interest to join regular classes encouraged others to inquire also. After the summer break, they had enough interest to officially add a beginner adult class to the 25/26 schedule.
My ballet tieners class was kind to me, but I was grateful to start a new term in an adults class. This time, with familiar faces.
It was also a bit more comforting for me to be a beginner amongst people my own age, to remind myself that I’m not the only one starting late and still learning.
The way I see it, by being forward in my desire to progress, I achieved both my ballet goals of the year and was part of a group effort to get an adult class on the schedule. Whoever said ‘curb your enthusiasm’ was a cynic.
Reflecting On The Journey So Far
Key takeaway: it was all well worth it. Ballet is now one of my favourite things to do, and has given me all sorts of new ballet goals to set for myself this year.
The entire process was definitely daunting, but no scarier than trying a new exercise class at a local gym (also daunting, but doable). Friendly reminder that every uncomfortable moment up until that point was a necessary experience.
For all the tears and quitting moments that occurred, I am glad that I saw it through and I hope everyone who has ever thought of trying ballet (or whatever your potential passion is) gives it a go. Free online classes on Youtube – like Ballet Misfit or Isabel Pulido – are a great place to start and a helpful building block I definitely should have explored more at the beginning.
This journey has really been a first hand experience in getting over the fear of starting late, and its given me the confidence to try out all the other ideas that come to mind (and there are a lot)!