I Have to Make a Tough Decision.

[d0nut_l0ver]

I used to be in a low level of gymnastics and ballet. Well, now it's changed.

I'm moving up in both. Well, if I don't get on my gym's team for the fall session, I will for the winter session because all I need is a ROBH. (I have all other level 4 skills and three level 5 skills.) And in ballet, which I just started a year ago, I'm moving to a level where you're allowed to audition for a minor part in the Nutcracker, one of the main ballets they put on and that thousands of people come to see.

According to my mom, the gym team and ballet meet on the same days. Which means I'm going to have to choose.

I'm obviously going to choose gymnastics, because even though I love ballet, I've been working at gymnastics for so long and I'm finally making amazing progress. Plus I love the feeling of flipping. I'm adventurous, and gymnastics is more adventurous in Ballet.

But now I can't audition for the Nutcracker. If I REALLY want to stay in ballet, we could switch ballet studios, but there's no way I'd do that. I love the studio I'm in, the teachers are awesome, and I'm not switching. I'll probably be able to take summer ballet though, at least I can do that...

I need some help getting though this tough time. Have any of you/your daughters had to go through this, and how did they deal with it?

 

[dmytv]

Interesting enough, my dd just did this. She was in ballet and did the Nutcracker. She even used gymnastics in her part. She was a jack in the box doll and did her bhs and an ariel for it as well as dance. She has decided to take gymnastics more seriously and so I moved her to a harder gymnastics studio and the times just overlap too much for her to do both. There is an old Russian saying that if you chase 2 rabbits you end up with none. Sorry, but I think that's true. Best of luck and go with your heart

 

[gymnast695]

I know nothing about ballet or dance, but since you said you love the studio you're at, can you somehow talk to you ballet instructors and tell them how you feel? Say how gymnastics is your passion and if a choice has to made you'll go with that. Maybe they don't want to lose you either and will somehow compromise and practice less hours or on different days? I have no idea if that's even a possibility but its a thought.

 

[fuzi]

I have an interesting and unusual story which is a little similar to yours, and also a little different. I did rec gymnastics as a young kid, and at age 8, I decided I wanted to dance. From 9-15, I was in both a ballet company (where I preformed in at least two full length ballets: Nutcracker and something else) and a competitive dance company where we traveled and competed mostly in tap, jazz, and lyrical. At 15, I cut back to dancing just once or twice a week, gave up the companies, and went back to gymnastics. I loved dance and for many years I wanted to be professional, but I realized that wouldn't happen, and I was very frustrated with not having the ideal dancer's body. It was frustrating for me to work so hard, six to seven days a week, and see my peers doing so much better than me because of the feet and hips I was born with. Even as a teenager who hadn't done gymnastics for many years, I picked it up fairly quickly and ended up training with my college club team, joining the circus, and then coaching both rec and competitive gymnastics. Like you, I loved the adventure of gymnastics and the feeling of flipping and flying through the air.

Now, I can't tell you what is right, but if you do decide to take the gymnastics route, you might want to talk to your dance studio about continuing to take ballet. I know that when I quit dance, my level was required to take ballet three times a week. I made a deal with my teacher to come twice a week (which I later dropped to once a week), not be in the recitals and performances, but take class. That ballet training helped me succeed on beam and floor, but I loved being in the gym and was ready for that change.

I don't know how old you are and how much time you currently spend at gymnastics or at dance, but as your level increases, those hours will increase. Whatever you choose, you may find it helpful to keep in touch with your friends and/or cheer them on.

 

[d0nut_l0ver]

Thanks everyone!

2 of you suggested I talk to my ballet teachers about continuing dance. Well, I actually thought of doing it the other way around. My gym has 3 teams: Bronze team, Silver team and Gold team. Bronze is level 5, Silver is 6-7, and Gold is 8-9. (I'm pretty sure they don't train level 10 or Elite.) I would start in Bronze team, but perhaps they'd let me just go on Silver team days just so I could continue ballet. I mean, I'm starting to learn some level 6 skills, so... also, my summer class is only 2 people (nobody in Blue goes during the summer! xD) And they put us with bronze/silver team (a mix of both have class at the same time I do) and I do fine, even if I'm not doing all the fancy level 6 skills they're doing. (I even have some skills they don't have! )

So maybe I CAN continue ballet and gymnastics! The most days a week Silver and Gold team meet is 3, and there's an optional 4th day but you don't have to go on it. And in ballet, the highest level that's not pre-professional is 5, and they go 4-5 days a week, but it will take me YEARS to get that high. I'm only in level one and most people spend 1-2 years in each level!