40 years old, and starting dance :O

[Darsa]

Ohh boy. What have I gotten myself into.

Last night after my DD's rehearsal (last one before recital, eeeek!) I mentioned to her (like I have for the past couple years) that I'd like to try dancing. Well, apparently at 14 she's heard it enough that she took matters into her own hands and ran off looking for her teacher. He had another class coming in so I tried to get her to wait 'til he wasn't busy (okay, yeah, I was chicken) but she wasn't having any of it. She tracked him down and told him I wanted to dance, and he was DELIGHTED! I told him I've never danced before, so he decided to start me in the fall with just jazz, and see where it goes from there. This is all only going to happen if DH gets a job that can pay the bills and leave enough for dance, too, of course...

Ugh, just typing it out I'm getting a bit freaked! Can anyone who is an adult dancer (and I mean ADULT adult, not "just outta high school" adult) give me some idea what to expect? My DD's best friend's mom dances too, but she's got a lot going on right now, so I can't get at her long enough to talk to her...

Eeek!

 

[mom2travel]

I have not done it, but think it is wonderful (and very brave )!
My sis (late 30s) took up ballet recently and loves it - she's having so much fun, and getting exercise!

I hope you are able to do it! We should all remember to try new things when we can - it will keep us feeling young!

 

[SC Minnie]

I took dance growing up but stopped when I was 15. I started back this spring. It is soooo much fun! There are a couple of women in the class that had never danced before. I take tap and ballet. The ballet is mostly stretching and basic moves. She is using it really as a cool down.

If you do end up being able to do it just enjoy yourself. The class won't go as fast as your daughters class when learning steps/routines. Just go and have fun.

 

[princessmom29]

I dance from age 4 through college, but have done nothing and gained a bit of weight in the 10 years since college. I did an adulttap class last summer, and am doing either ballet or jazz this summer. We had several moms who had never danced before in our class, nad they seemed to really enjoy it. I know i did. It is good to get in a workout that doesn't involve going to the gym! Beware the wall of mirrrors however, unless you are a size 2 it can come as a shock to see yourself in all your shining glory from every angle!!

 

[Cruisin]

I am an adult dancer I am 53 years old.

Never danced in my life and took it up about 5 or 6 years ago, I think I was 47 at the time.

I take tap and hip hop although I have done jazz in the past but it really wasn't my thing. I am also taking a line dance class (just started this year).

I think the main thing is to just go out and have a fun with it. We have a lot of unexpected solos in our classes But we just laugh and keep going.

My dance teacher is very laid back with her adult classes. We are there for fun, we are not there to become expert technical dancers.

If the mirrors bother you, just try not to look into them. I rarely ever look in the mirrors and if I do, I don't look at myself My eyes are usually focused on the teacher and the moves she is teaching us.

We have our annual recital coming up on June 12. It's great fun actually. We always say that if someone says anything negative about our dancing they can just come up on the stage and show us how to do it. But for the main part, next to the little wee ones, the adults get a lot of applause and cheers when we perform.

Oh yes and one major benefit of taking up dance was that I lost 30 plus pounds the first year that I started

 

[jen0610]

This is the frist year that our studio had adult classes. It has been a blast. They just did tap. I danced for years, but it was mainly jazz with 1 year of tap, 24 years ago.

And lord help me, but we are dancing in the recital. The routine we do, can be done to either the song Lil GTO or Green Onions. GTO kicks your butt it's so fast, so we chose to go with the slower Green Onions for the recital. No need for an oxygen tank to be on stand by after getting done with that one.

I have a bum knee and it has been really giving me fits that last 2 months, so I don't know if I'll be doing this again next year. I was budget smart enough to buy tap shows that DD will grow into.

 

[elgerber]

I say good for you!!!! My dd's old dance program, had an adult class, and most of the women in the class were at least 40. They were so much fun to watch at the recital, they were good and having a ball. I kinda wished I had the guts to do it, or the talent, and I have neither.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I started taking belly dancing in my 30s. Haven't done it in awhile but thinking about starting up again. One of my belly dance instructors was in her 70s and still going strong! It's a great dance since it's not too hard on your body (unlike Ballet).

I have always wanted to do salsa dancing. My DH would not go for it though and not sure if you have to be a couple to sign up, by I am going to look into it.

I say go for it!

 

[Maridw]

Go for it. I started dancing when I was 33 and have been dancing since (will be 50 this year). I even took Irish Dancing a few years ago (both soft shoe and hard shoe). I am the next oldest person at the studio. The owner/instructor is the oldest. We had a lady dance with us who used to be a Rockette.

I do the tap, ballet and lyrical. I am not really into the jazz stuff. I have been doing a solo using ribbons for the past eight years. I love dancing and it is great exercise. Our studio teaches tap, jazz and ballet for one price a month. This year I am doing 5 or 6 numbers. I have done as many as 9 numbers in a recital. Every two years the local women's club does a charity show and I do the kickline numbers for that.

You will have fun doing it. Don't worry too much and just relax.

 

[Darsa]

Opening night was tonight, and it was a BLAST!! I can't wait to try it out next year; the routine the adult jazz class did was to a montage of songs from Grease, and it looked like SO much fun

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I was egged on my my DD's tap teacher to sign up for an adult tap class she was doing. (OK, an easy sell since I'd wanted to do this as a kid and we didn't have money for it.) I was 35 at the time.

I recruited a friend, who recruited a few more. The whole thing was very laid back (in fact, we were more often laughing than anything else.) Great workout, good moms-night-out. We kind of forgot about that recital thing til the teacher slipped it in about December. My friend and I had to videotape the teacher and then watch it/practice at home, we are such klutzes. But we did it- had a BLAST. I'd totally do it again but I have a scheduling conflict now.

(Trying to figure who had a recital this weekend/where in Maine you might be, lol.)

 

[Meriweather]

My BBF just started taking ballroom dance. She is 64....she is loving it.
Gets her out and meeting new people too.

 

[Darsa]

(Trying to figure who had a recital this weekend/where in Maine you might be, lol.)

Central Maine, Waterville area

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Congrats!

I've been dancing for 13 years now, and I just love it. Of course, I'm only 16

Jazz is a lot of fun, and great cardio work. It's definately a lot more fun than running on a treadmill at the gym!

Ballet is good for stretching, coordination, strength, and agility. Jazz is better for "just for fun" and cardio. Tap is good for coordination and rhythm.

I've done ballet, tap, and jazz. This year, I'm only doing tap and jazz. Out of my 13 years, I've done tap 11 years, and it's by far my favorite and best.

Have fun! Remember to stretch beforehand, and stay nice and loose throughout.

 

[mnrose]

I signed up for mother/daughter dance with my daughter when I was 50 (she was then 9). Never danced a bit before that. I loved it. If my school offered it's adult class at a time convenient for me, I'd definitely do it. Heck, if non-musical, non-coordinated me can do it, anyone can. It's great exercise. I'll never be a good dancer, but that's not the point. I have a ton of fun, and it keeps me young to try and learn new things. Never stop growing, never stop learning and you will never grow old.

 

[Syrreal]

I pop into an open adult ballet class about 1/2 an hour away from my house whenever I can. It's so much fun and great exercise. There is a wide range of ages in that class from 20s all the way to 60s maybe even later.

 

[Octoberbeauty]

Good for you! I would LOVE to do this!! So people really can start dance as an adult? That is so cool! You all might have inspired me to check into classes in my area. It's something I've always wanted to do.

 

[Maridw]

Good for you! I would LOVE to do this!! So people really can start dance as an adult? That is so cool! You all might have inspired me to check into classes in my area. It's something I've always wanted to do.

Definitely! I had only ever taken a summer ballet class when I was in 8th grade. But I really loved the idea learning ballet. When I signed my DD up, they talked me into the adult class and I loved it. I have been dancing since - only one or two years I did not participate in the recital for personal reasons.

If you do start classes, remember you might not be in the same shape as the young (or older) things that have been dancing for years. My best friend is the owner/instructor and has been dancing since she was 3 yo. She is 55 yo and still dances in recital each year. I know I will never be as good as the others but I try my best and just enjoy learning something new.