Abigail Newcomb is a DanceSupplies Ambassador and aspiring professional ballerina.
Far From Home, Closer to the Dream
Ten months ago, I made the biggest decision of my life. I packed up my pointe shoes (Bloch Eurostretch from DanceSupplies.com, of course) and moved 1,000 miles away from home for year-round ballet training.
Leaving behind my home, school, friends, and family was terrifying. I won’t sugarcoat it - moving away at 15 is hard. Like most teenagers who are in school all day and dance all night, I wasn’t used to doing laundry, cleaning or cooking for myself. My responsibilities were limited to doing well in school and working hard at dance. But, when you move into a dorm, your life completely changes! Suddenly your mom isn’t there to wake you for school, get you to dance on time, or make sure the pantry is stocked. You’re living as an adult, even though you’re still a child. Ready or not, you have to grow up quickly.
As my first year living away from home winds down, I finally feel settled into my new reality. Full time ballet training is hard on your body, both physically and mentally. I went from training 16 hours a week to 36 hours a week - plus extra cardio, stretching and Pilates classes. This amount of training means being very purposeful with my food preparation, post class recovery, and doing everything I can to keep my mind and body healthy.
If you had told me a year ago today that I would be writing this article from a dorm room instead of my cozy bedroom, I would not have believed you. But here I am, living every aspiring ballerina’s dream. If you’re reading this thinking “this is my dream, too!” here is some advice I wish I had before taking the leap:
1. Dorm life can be lonely. Bring pictures of family and friends. I thought seeing their faces would make me miss them more, but in reality, it brings me comfort. Bring a stuffed animal and a cozy pillow. Bring a heating pad and a candle warmer. Make your room as cozy and welcoming as possible.
2. You will get hurt and you will get sick. Advocate for yourself when your body is telling you something is wrong. Pushing yourself when hurt or sick because you “can’t miss class” will just make things worse in the long run.
3. Bring way more leotards, tights, and shoes than you think you need. Sew several pairs of pointe shoes before you leave. The last thing you want to do after a long day of classes and rehearsals is to sew a new pair of shoes - or throw in a load of laundry because you have no clean tights for the next day.
4. Set alarms. Alarms to wake up, alarms to start school, alarms to take daily medications, alarms to eat lunch. When you’re living on your own there is no one there to wake you or remind you, and you will forget (you’re just a kid, after all!).
5. Be patient and kind to yourself. This life is hard. Some days you’ll want to give up. Some days you’ll cry. But you keep pushing. Because you love ballet. You feel most at home at the barre. And you can’t imagine your life any other way.
Before I left home, my mom said, “I am not ready for you to go!” I turned to her and said “you might not be ready, but I am.” And I was. Ready to challenge myself, chase my dreams, and find myself. Is it easy? No. But is it worth it? Absolutely.
Abigail Newcomb
@abby_dancer_official