I know this was posted months ago but I wanted to share. I did ballet as a tiny child and the teacher told my grandparents that, essentially, I was bad and should stop coming (“we’ve taken [name] as far as we can…”). I spent 25 years angry about that and kept looking for classes as an adult, let myself be discouraged by people telling me I had two left feet as a child, and eventually started again as a 32 year old adult in my house in 2020. I perform on stage this Saturday with my class and I’m en pointe and have been for a year. Do I wish I’d started earlier? Yes. Can I change it? No. Am I proud of my journey? Also yes. Be proud you started when you did and lost no more time than you did.
These are SUCH wise words and SO INSPIRATIONAL! This gives me, and everyone else reading this comment so much hope. Thank you so so much for sharing this
I know this was all posted a long time ago as well, but this issue is dear to my heart. I wanted to also congratulate Rosyface and Veronica for staying true to themselves. I'm also a late bloomer - getting back into piano at 37 years old after two decades of not playing, due to being told I was too old at 17. But when you're young, you readily absorb the opinions of others, and assume that they know better. We late bloomers are strong and defy the odds. We just have to believe in ourselves. Our journey may look different, but it's just as valuable, and we should honour it. God will support us in our journey
the storytelling in this is so beautiful! the narration! the pacing! the music! cinema!! I'm so glad you're sharing this emotional journey so vulnerably. So excited to be part of this journey and to watch it continue and evolve
EXACTLY, this is an amazing comment, thank you for this!! i also want to share something i read in a book about habits by fumio sasaki that i think applies here: it's about how someone asked a 90 year-old woman once what her biggest regret was or something along those lines, and she says that, when she was 60, she wanted to start playing the violin, but she thought she was too old to start. now, at 90, she would have been playing the violin for 30 years
I am very late on this...but I just HAVE to write a comment 😅 What you said about the regret of giving up because you listened to others made my jaw drop! Because it is almost EXACTLY what I experienced too. It's just crazy how relatable this is 😮. But when i feel down because I think that I am just too late and the train left the station years ago...I think that at least I've learned to listen JUST to myself when it comes to my dreams. If others aren't your friends, they give a sh*t about you, they don't know you and they should be the absolut least to give ANY advice!!!! Plus...you didn't exactly 'stop'...you didn't just sit around 'doing nothing' and then all of a sudden started again. You did (for example) prectice yoga! Which trained your body, flexibility and balance! I know it's hard sometimes, and our mind can play cruel tricks on us. But to me (and a lot of others for sure) you are very inspiring. Keep on going! You can do this
I started ballroom dancing last year at 25 and boy do I know those tears well! I cried and cried because I could have been developing for so long. I remember feeling completely out of sorts. I could have been dancing my heart out through the years but I’m starting to accept that I’m doing it now and what I put into it is what I will get out of it. So I let myself feel the big things but I also try to remember that good things are coming. Your vlog was so beautiful! Thanks for sharing your story!
Yes!!! You totally get it, and I'm so sorry to hear that you feel that way sometimes. It's so unfortunate that the most life giving art of dance gets so twisted by these expectations of society, as if 25 isn't still extremely young! You have so much ahead of you, and truthfully, I had a ballroom teacher years ago who told me that it's actually very normal to start ballroom in one's 20s because your body and technique get better as you mature- just thought I'd share that!
i danced from 3-17 with an awful teacher the whole time who was constantly making me feel like i was a failure and an awful dancer so I quit and I gave up my dreams of going professional. I've started classes again as an adult and learning that i was never all these things my teacher made me feel i was and I could have done it but now it's too late for me has been heart shattering. That regret is hard to get over and i'm glad i can share in it with others.
That is so horrible to hear, I'm so sorry that happened to you. It can be so damaging to feel like you "wasted" all your time, obviously I know the feeling well, but in the end, I hope you're rediscovering the pure joy for dancing you have. Sometimes our stories turn out differently than we expected but in the end, I wouldn't change a thing. Dancing will always be YOURS, no one can take that from you. Sending so much love
I relate to you so much. I started doing cheer, show choir. and musical theatre in high school. I came from a lower income family and never had the money to take dance as a child so high school was my first introduction to dance. I loved it so much and became obsessed with it but was scared and told by many there was no way to make a career out of it even though I had talent, especially because I didn't live near any major dance cities. I graduated high school during 2020 and went through a lot of pain from feeling lost and stuck in my hometown and stopped dancing. in January of 2021 when I was 18 I started taking ballet for the first time with kids a lot younger than me ( middle school aged). because a lot of the students were younger, I felt like many of the teachers and parents would stare at me and make me feel unwelcomed which led me to quitting the class. I felt as if I was stupid for having hope and constantly had anxiety about not being good enough for my age because I hadn't had the money as a child to start then. Later in January of 2022, I started college as a performing arts major and was met with the same negative feelings that I needed to start earlier and I felt so hyperaware and critical of everything I lacked. because of fear of failure and looking stupid even though this was my passion I dropped out after semester, after making no friends and feeling so judged and isolated. I regret dropping out because I see how many opportunities I could've had if I pushed through. but I almost believe there were parts of myself I had to accept and negative ideas I had about myself and dancing I had to let go of before starting my journey again. In 2023, I started to pick up dance again doing every and any sort of dance video on RUclips from salsa to ballet to hiphop.I also started seeking dance classes, workshops, and opportunities in my city and exposing myself to anything to learn more about dance . I was also asked to choreograph this summer for a show choir and it was my first paid gig ever. Now this January of 2024, I just started now dancing in a dance company of ballet folklorico and have an audition next week for a hiphop creative project. I am 21 now and I don't think I could've ever had the confidence I have now if it weren't for the moments I fell off. we are both stronger, braver, and show up for ourselves and our dreams because of the hardships we went through. We had to lose dance to find the reason we need it in our lives as dancers and artists. You inspire me so much and please please please always keep dancing.
Wow. Veronica, the way you speak about dancing and your passion is so incredibly aligned with how i think and feel about myself and dance!! I desperately need to move away from La to NYC and have recently re-tried starting up ballet/dance again and feel an innate desire to pursue theatre and dance with my WHOLE heart around people who feel that same drive. That feeling of “oh my god how can i just RELAX” and the repressed anger is so real and i just cannot wait to feel free! I would love to be your friend someday when I DO move NY. You’re incredibly inspiring and i wish you the very best in health, life, dance, and whatever you do🫶🏼
you are such an incredibly kind person oh my goodness. thank you so much for your message! I really hope you will follow that passion. It's crazy how much your life will transform when you do (yes, I'm saying "when" not "if") ;) keep me posted and perhaps our paths will cross!
ohh i feel the same way as you. I’m 19 and extremely passionate about dance, it is really all I want to do. But I started ballet only 2 years ago, I’ve been wanting to do ballet since I was 12 (and already then I felt old, at 12!!!). I feel bad about the years where I could’ve been training and how much better I’d be now. I completely understand your frustration.
Thank you so much for validating that and I'm sorry to hear that you've felt the same way. It's really why it's so important to be exposed to other people and stories, everyone gets caught in the same narrative about it being too late, even at 12 like you said! When there's so much opportunity out there!
Just discovered your channel and i absolutely love it! I've just started ballet at 21 and it feels kind of impossible at times but i also just love it so so much and the way it makes me feel😊 This has been so inspirational thank you🥰
You have soooooo many beautiful years of dancing ahead of you! So excited that you're on your journey. I know the feelings of impossibility well but the joy of dancing is worth it! Thanks for being here
I would highly recommend The Balanced Ballerina's podcast. She has interviewed women who started in their 40s and beyond.... and how they are doing wonderfully. It might help with your imposter's syndrome or comparisonities that you are doing this at quite a young age compared to someone like me (in my mid 40s)
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I know this was posted months ago but I wanted to share.
I did ballet as a tiny child and the teacher told my grandparents that, essentially, I was bad and should stop coming (“we’ve taken [name] as far as we can…”).
I spent 25 years angry about that and kept looking for classes as an adult, let myself be discouraged by people telling me I had two left feet as a child, and eventually started again as a 32 year old adult in my house in 2020. I perform on stage this Saturday with my class and I’m en pointe and have been for a year.
Do I wish I’d started earlier? Yes. Can I change it? No. Am I proud of my journey? Also yes. Be proud you started when you did and lost no more time than you did.
These are SUCH wise words and SO INSPIRATIONAL! This gives me, and everyone else reading this comment so much hope. Thank you so so much for sharing this
I know this was all posted a long time ago as well, but this issue is dear to my heart. I wanted to also congratulate Rosyface and Veronica for staying true to themselves. I'm also a late bloomer - getting back into piano at 37 years old after two decades of not playing, due to being told I was too old at 17. But when you're young, you readily absorb the opinions of others, and assume that they know better. We late bloomers are strong and defy the odds. We just have to believe in ourselves. Our journey may look different, but it's just as valuable, and we should honour it. God will support us in our journey
the storytelling in this is so beautiful! the narration! the pacing! the music! cinema!! I'm so glad you're sharing this emotional journey so vulnerably. So excited to be part of this journey and to watch it continue and evolve
As you know it's largely the work we've done together that's gotten me here so thank you for everything
EXACTLY, this is an amazing comment, thank you for this!! i also want to share something i read in a book about habits by fumio sasaki that i think applies here: it's about how someone asked a 90 year-old woman once what her biggest regret was or something along those lines, and she says that, when she was 60, she wanted to start playing the violin, but she thought she was too old to start. now, at 90, she would have been playing the violin for 30 years
I am very late on this...but I just HAVE to write a comment 😅
What you said about the regret of giving up because you listened to others made my jaw drop!
Because it is almost EXACTLY what I experienced too. It's just crazy how relatable this is 😮.
But when i feel down because I think that I am just too late and the train left the station years ago...I think that at least I've learned to listen JUST to myself when it comes to my dreams.
If others aren't your friends, they give a sh*t about you, they don't know you and they should be the absolut least to give ANY advice!!!!
Plus...you didn't exactly 'stop'...you didn't just sit around 'doing nothing' and then all of a sudden started again. You did (for example) prectice yoga! Which trained your body, flexibility and balance!
I know it's hard sometimes, and our mind can play cruel tricks on us. But to me (and a lot of others for sure) you are very inspiring.
Keep on going! You can do this
I started ballroom dancing last year at 25 and boy do I know those tears well! I cried and cried because I could have been developing for so long. I remember feeling completely out of sorts. I could have been dancing my heart out through the years but I’m starting to accept that I’m doing it now and what I put into it is what I will get out of it. So I let myself feel the big things but I also try to remember that good things are coming. Your vlog was so beautiful! Thanks for sharing your story!
Yes!!! You totally get it, and I'm so sorry to hear that you feel that way sometimes. It's so unfortunate that the most life giving art of dance gets so twisted by these expectations of society, as if 25 isn't still extremely young! You have so much ahead of you, and truthfully, I had a ballroom teacher years ago who told me that it's actually very normal to start ballroom in one's 20s because your body and technique get better as you mature- just thought I'd share that!
i danced from 3-17 with an awful teacher the whole time who was constantly making me feel like i was a failure and an awful dancer so I quit and I gave up my dreams of going professional. I've started classes again as an adult and learning that i was never all these things my teacher made me feel i was and I could have done it but now it's too late for me has been heart shattering. That regret is hard to get over and i'm glad i can share in it with others.
That is so horrible to hear, I'm so sorry that happened to you. It can be so damaging to feel like you "wasted" all your time, obviously I know the feeling well, but in the end, I hope you're rediscovering the pure joy for dancing you have. Sometimes our stories turn out differently than we expected but in the end, I wouldn't change a thing. Dancing will always be YOURS, no one can take that from you. Sending so much love
Forever for all eternity beautiful youth😊
I relate to you so much. I started doing cheer, show choir. and musical theatre in high school. I came from a lower income family and never had the money to take dance as a child so high school was my first introduction to dance. I loved it so much and became obsessed with it but was scared and told by many there was no way to make a career out of it even though I had talent, especially because I didn't live near any major dance cities. I graduated high school during 2020 and went through a lot of pain from feeling lost and stuck in my hometown and stopped dancing. in January of 2021 when I was 18 I started taking ballet for the first time with kids a lot younger than me ( middle school aged). because a lot of the students were younger, I felt like many of the teachers and parents would stare at me and make me feel unwelcomed which led me to quitting the class. I felt as if I was stupid for having hope and constantly had anxiety about not being good enough for my age because I hadn't had the money as a child to start then. Later in January of 2022, I started college as a performing arts major and was met with the same negative feelings that I needed to start earlier and I felt so hyperaware and critical of everything I lacked. because of fear of failure and looking stupid even though this was my passion I dropped out after semester, after making no friends and feeling so judged and isolated. I regret dropping out because I see how many opportunities I could've had if I pushed through. but I almost believe there were parts of myself I had to accept and negative ideas I had about myself and dancing I had to let go of before starting my journey again. In 2023, I started to pick up dance again doing every and any sort of dance video on RUclips from salsa to ballet to hiphop.I also started seeking dance classes, workshops, and opportunities in my city and exposing myself to anything to learn more about dance . I was also asked to choreograph this summer for a show choir and it was my first paid gig ever. Now this January of 2024, I just started now dancing in a dance company of ballet folklorico and have an audition next week for a hiphop creative project. I am 21 now and I don't think I could've ever had the confidence I have now if it weren't for the moments I fell off. we are both stronger, braver, and show up for ourselves and our dreams because of the hardships we went through. We had to lose dance to find the reason we need it in our lives as dancers and artists. You inspire me so much and please please please always keep dancing.
This is very inspiring!!
Wow. Veronica, the way you speak about dancing and your passion is so incredibly aligned with how i think and feel about myself and dance!! I desperately need to move away from La to NYC and have recently re-tried starting up ballet/dance again and feel an innate desire to pursue theatre and dance with my WHOLE heart around people who feel that same drive. That feeling of “oh my god how can i just RELAX” and the repressed anger is so real and i just cannot wait to feel free!
I would love to be your friend someday when I DO move NY. You’re incredibly inspiring and i wish you the very best in health, life, dance, and whatever you do🫶🏼
you are such an incredibly kind person oh my goodness. thank you so much for your message! I really hope you will follow that passion. It's crazy how much your life will transform when you do (yes, I'm saying "when" not "if") ;) keep me posted and perhaps our paths will cross!
way to acknowledge your feelings and let them move through you!
Thank you for that encouragement!!
ohh i feel the same way as you. I’m 19 and extremely passionate about dance, it is really all I want to do. But I started ballet only 2 years ago, I’ve been wanting to do ballet since I was 12 (and already then I felt old, at 12!!!). I feel bad about the years where I could’ve been training and how much better I’d be now.
I completely understand your frustration.
Thank you so much for validating that and I'm sorry to hear that you've felt the same way. It's really why it's so important to be exposed to other people and stories, everyone gets caught in the same narrative about it being too late, even at 12 like you said! When there's so much opportunity out there!
Just discovered your channel and i absolutely love it! I've just started ballet at 21 and it feels kind of impossible at times but i also just love it so so much and the way it makes me feel😊 This has been so inspirational thank you🥰
You have soooooo many beautiful years of dancing ahead of you! So excited that you're on your journey. I know the feelings of impossibility well but the joy of dancing is worth it! Thanks for being here
@@VeronicaViccora thank you so much for your kind message🥰
the vibes of your videos here for ittttt
Honored. Thanks a million
thank you for sharing your battles with us.🐛🦋 it very empowering for me 🐣
thank you for being here!!! That's wonderful to hear
Thank you for sharing your dance journey!
Thank YOU for watching!
I would highly recommend The Balanced Ballerina's podcast. She has interviewed women who started in their 40s and beyond.... and how they are doing wonderfully. It might help with your imposter's syndrome or comparisonities that you are doing this at quite a young age compared to someone like me (in my mid 40s)
Yes I love that podcast!! She’s the best
Thank you for this video
thank YOU for being here!
❤❤
Also where are your black shoes from i love them??
They are Sam Edelman brand and I found them at Anthropologie