Advice for dancers.

HOW LONG DO I NEED TO TAKE REGULAR BALLET CLASSES BEFORE I CAN GO ON POINTE? I'M 32 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN STUDYING BALLET FOR SIX MONTHS. I'D LIKE TO GET A HEAD START AND HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT BUYING SOME POINTE SHOES.--POINTE-LESS I know how much you want to go on pointe because I felt the same way when I was a ballet dancer. Unfortunately, you can get into trouble if you rush the process. Dancing on pointe requires strength, balance, and technique--all of which come with extensive training over time. Enterprising dancers who go on pointe too early are more likely to get injured, so please don't buy those shoes just yet. At the School of American Ballet, which is one of the leading dance academies in the world, students begin limited pointe work in their fourth year of training. While your age may permit you to start pointe sooner, discuss this decision with your dance teacher. You might also consult a physical therapist who specializes in dance medicine, to address any underlying weaknesses. Meanwhile, never forget that dancing is fun even without pointe shoes. Plus, you don't have to deal with blisters.

I'M REALLY CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO DO WHEN I GROW UP. SHOULD I TRY TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL BALLET DANCER (WHICH I WOULD LOVE), AIM FOR BROADWAY WHERE I CAN SING, ACT, AND DANCE, OR HAVE A FALLBACK PLAN AND GO TO COLLEGE? MY MOTHER TELLS ME NOT TO WORRY SINCE I'M ONLY IN NINTH GRADE, BUT I WANT TO MAKE A GOOD LIVING, AND THIS IS STRESSING ME OUT.--SCARED You sound like many high-achieving dancers who want to avoid failure--at any cost! But you have a better chance of reaching your goals if you take a moderate risk versus playing it too safe or gambling everything on achieving one unlikely goal in the future. In your case, this would mean going for your first love (ballet), while continuing to act and sing so that you can audition for musical theater, making you a "triple threat." College is an excellent backup plan if your performance career doesn't take off. But give performing some time before you make that decision. Many dancers return to or even begin college in their early 30s and go on to areas as diverse as dance journalism, physical therapy, and entertainment law.

I'M A 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO WANTS TO BE SKINNY LIKE THE OTHER GIRLS IN MY BALLET CLASS. I DON'T WANT TO BE ANOREXIC. BUT I'VE STARTED TO MAKE MYSELF THROW UP BECAUSE MY THIGHS AND STOMACH ARE STILL BIG, EVEN THOUGH I JOG AND DO SIT-UPS. HELP ME, PLEASE?--MELISSA Your story makes me very sad. Teenagers typically gain some weight right before a growth spurt. It's also common to put on a few pounds as your body prepares for puberty. Rather than engaging in disordered eating that causes a number of health problems, including stunting your growth, it's best to focus on technique for now. You might also consider taking other dance classes for fun, such as hip-hop, where you won't have the pressure of conforming to an ideal body shape or weight. Once you've stopped growing, you can get more involved in weight management.

Mavis Staines, the director of the National Ballet School of Canada, advises heavier dancers to see a nutritionist only when they're ready to audition for a company. This makes sense, since there's no reason to be rail-thin at the student level.

If you've fallen into a destructive eating pattern, you can get help by calling The Renfrew Center (800/RENFREW) for a referral to an eating-disorder specialist in your area. It's also important to let your parents know so they can support you through this process. The sooner you catch the problem, the easier it is to turn around.

MY MOM TELLS ME THAT SMOKING IS BAD FOR MY HEALTH. I KNOW THIS IS TRUE, BUT SHOULD I BE WORRIED WHEN I'M ONLY 18 YEARS OLD?--JENNY FROM IDAHO Absolutely! Besides the fact that most smokers become addicted to cigarettes in their late teens, smoking increases your chance of becoming injured. Why? Because smoking decreases both your stamina and your body's ability to absorb calcium, setting you up for stress fractures. The good news is that dancers are less likely to smoke if their teachers don't use cigarettes, according to research presented in October 2002 at the twelfth annual meeting of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science in New York. The bottom line is that teachers, choreographers, and directors serve as important role models, influencing personal choices as well as dance technique. Smokers who refuse to light up in front of young dancers can foster a smoke-free environment.

Send your questions to: Linda Hamilton, Ph.D., at 2000 Broadway, PH2C, New York, NY 10023 and read her answers exclusively in DANCE MAGAZINE.

Former New York City Ballet dancer Linda Hamilton, Ph.D., is a lecturer, a psychologist in private practice, and author of Advice for Dancers (Jossey-Bass). Her biography is included in the Marquis Who's Who of American Women. She has been offering advice to DANCE MAGAZINE readers since 1992.