I think that the dance/college question will solve itself because if your daughter isn't dancing professionally by age 18, she never will. The road into that field is through the professional children's school of a major dance company (I think that New York's American Ballet Theater has one, and I know the Houston Ballet has one-- most other major companies do as well, I believe.) If that isn't an avenue available to your daughter, for whatever reason, then her chances of making it professionally are almost non-existent. The good thing, though, is that she'll know it early enough that she can find another career field.
Of course, just because someone can't dance professionally doesn't mean that she can't make a living in the field-- she could start her own local dance school, work for a major company in a non-dance job, etc.. But like any performing field, there will be very, very few stars, a few more minor performers (chorus for a few years), and a LOT of people who wanted it but just didn't have what it took. For ballet, you know, a big part of that is just the right body style-- if someone has that, I think the next big requirement is a passionate desire.
Good luck to her!
I am glad to hear from somebody with knowledge of the ballet world - when I was coming along, it was before the Twyla Tharpe/Barishnikov collaboration, and Ballet People and Contemporary Dance People didn't even speak to each other.
Thank you so much. I pretty much thought so. I had expected that going to a major ballet school/company was the only way to make it.
I had wondered how we would be able to afford New Youk, or some other big name. But she will get her chance sooner than I thought. Ethan Stiefel from ABT will becoming to the school she's been going to for 4 years, to be artistic director this fall. It feels like it will be make or break when she is only 11!
She does have the "ballet body" with long legs, "banana" feet, and the best flexibility in her class. And she does have the passion. She is always sad when her cast for Nutcracker comes to the end. She wants to do the whole show (It usually runs for four weeks.)
We will find out over the next few years for sure now!