[GovernmentShrinker]

I was in love with ballet way back when, and studied at a school which sent a significant number of students on to professional careers with major companies. If she doesn't have a full scholarship to a school affiliated with a professional company by the time she's 16, with the company's directors telling you that she has a serious chance of getting into the company, she should forget about it, and just enjoy ballet as a healthy hobby. Let her find this out the hard way, if she has to. But don't waste a penny on any college program related to dance. I've never heard of a professional ballet dancer who had even briefly pursued such a degree, much less actually obtained one. Save the money for when your daughter has done her own reality check, and wants to go to college to learn something that will actually get her a job.

Even if she is one of tiny number who gets a position in a professional company, making a salary that she can get by on, that will only be for a few years. Then it will be time for college and preparation for a serious long term career. It's much better to go to college in your 30s and do it seriously, than to do it at the usual age and just waste a lot of time and money with nothing to show for it.

[TruthConquers]

Thank you so much for your advice. It is better to let them, as dancers, come to their own conclusion about their future. That does seem to be the best way to go. She has been dancing since she was 3 1/2 yrs old, and started conservatory school when she was seven. She will have a lot of personnal time and sweat invested into her dream.

Thank you again for your input.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

I cannot get my daughter to grasp what you are talking about. She and her mother are on their way north for another 'audition' right now. It is breaking my heart to see this young lady try and try.