When I started training for dance at the age of 21, most people told me it was too late.

Too late for what?

Five years later, dance is my full-time profession. Between teaching classes, working at a studio, studying choreography, being involved in my own developmental classes and peer dance groups. I spend an average of 40 hours a week dancing and get paid for it (well, I get paid for about 30hours of it, the other 10 are classes I take.)

I think we dramatically need to challenge our view on life.

Because if I am too late to learn something at the age of 21, when I still have, heck, 60 solid years ahead of me, our viewpoint is a little crazy.

I get that maybe the Royal Ballet won’t accept unless if I’ve been training since I was 3.

So go create your own ballet, baby.

Now that I teach kiddos of all levels, I just want to say that I actually think adults are at a huge advantage to learn a skill like dance. Have you ever taught a group of elementary or middle schoolers a new skill? It doesn’t go smoothly.

Adults can learn the basics of ballet fundamentals and develop their strength, even get en pointe safely potentially all within a year or two.

For kids, this process will take about ten years.

You don’t think adults can dance?

Thankfully I was stubborn enough to not listen to societal norms, and frankly my love of dance would have gotten me there either way. If I listened to others, I would not be doing what I love right now. Don’t get me wrong, I had so many doubts along the way. But whatever your dream is, it is SO, SO possible.

Here’s a few tips of how to pursue what you want when others don’t understand:

• Just don’t listen. If they thought it was a good idea, they’d be doing it. But you have a unique dream in your heart. Don’t waste it.
• Find the people who have done it. I didn’t think there were people, but trust me, there are people. You are not the only person on the planet with your set of interests. Maybe you have a unique idea, but trust me, there are people out there who have succeeded, whether it’s starting a business, learning to logroll at the age of 40, going back to chef school in your 50s. Find people who have done what you want to do. And get them around you. I’ve found these people love the opportunity to encourage others. The thing is, 99.9% chance this won’t be the people already around you. This won’t be your friends, your coworkers, your family. Even if these people love and support you, they probably have different passions and might not know how to get ahead at your own. They have their own dreams, but they are probably not yours. Find your crew that is doing your dream and connect with them.
• No excuses I remember the more I started dancing, the more I met people who started late. When I was 25 I remember thinking, dang, if I had taken it more seriously when I was 21, I would be a rockstar by now. I kept having this thought each year until I realized that I was still at a fine point to learn. The moment is now. Just don’t listen to the discouragement.
• You have to train. And if you don’t want to, maybe you don’t actually want your dream… you need to sit down and seriously decide how bad you want something. If you decide your dream is just a fun dream that you don’t actually want to work for, then it’s okay. But if deep down you know you need to do something to pursue your dream, then you have to get serious about the work it’s going to take. It will not be easy.

Do you have dreams that others say it’s too late?