Hello. I was in Ballet ( tap and Jazz) from the age of 3 or 4 untill I was 12, then I quit, mainly because I didn't have any friends in class and I was picked on and bullied all those years by the girls I was with. Now I find it very foolish that I quit, because I miss dance SO MUCH. I don't care about what they do, or what they say, I want to dance again, but my Mom will not let me join again. She is letting me teach myself though, if I can find a way. I am almost 14 now, just in a few months. It hasn't even been two years since I quit, maybe a year or less, but I have forgoten so much.

How can I do this? Do you think a video could do the trick? Even a book.

I was also thinking of going on Pointe, but I don't know my shoe size, and I don't know how! I have spoken to my old Ballet teacher, and he has said that I am old enough.

Do you think it is possible to teach myself to go on Pointe. I have heard it is from a few people, but I know that gossip sometimes is a lie.

Please help. I miss dance so much!

and then you can operate on your own feet with a kitchen knife and no anesthetic to fix the mess you've made of them...

First of all, even soft shoe technique can never be learned from a book or a video. Unlike ballroom, where you can pick up patterns easily off a video if you know the background, in ballet, there is no "pattern" even the simplest plie will be terribly wrong without a teacher to correct you. You may think you know what you are doing, but without a teacher, you will just be doing the step horribly wrong, I guarantee you. Secondly, NEVER ever go on pointe without a certified teacher's instruction. You do not know what you are doing. You will hurt yourself. There is no faking in pointe work. I'm sorry, I have been a ballerina for 6 years, and I know it is the one thing you cannot even begin to teach yourself. Don't even try. If your mom knew what was best for you she would enroll you in a class or not let you dance at all.

Thank you guys so much! I'm glad I asked this before I ruined my feet. So, it's best that I shouldn't teach myself, and i'm not allowed to go back to class, do I just forget about it? Ballet was my life when I was little. I can't forget about it, it's to hard . There has to be some way right? I miss it too much.

Have you tried talking, reasonably and calmly, to your mother about this? Two years have gone by since she made you quit. Do you feel able to face the circumstances at the studio again? Maybe there are other studios you can try to see if some are more friendly?

If you love dancing so much and can communicate this to your mother, perhaps she'll change her mind and let you try dancing again.

Hi. You sound just like me. I am currently teaching myself pointe. I have been doing ballet for 8 years at a STATE acclaimed studio. People discouraged me from teaching myself but I did it because I was determined. I have yet to hurt myself. I am learning slowly, but my pointwork has gotten alot better. My pointe is if you know ENOUGH about ballet, it is possible. Before anyone jumps on me for encouraging this I want to say that my point is ITS IS POSSIBLE TO TEACH YOURSELF POINTE.I would get your parents approval, and talk to your doctor. Best of Luck, and be careful.