Ballet Wisdom for Founders: Uncovering Resilience Through My Daughter's Journey

Date: Jun 15, 2023

Today, let me share Frances' unique story.

A Remarkable Child

At age 6, Frances stood in the 97th percentile for height.

This led to an exciting mixup in her ballet class. Her journey provided me, a founder, with valuable insights.

Tall Challenges, Graceful Solutions

Frances' height prompted her ballet instructor, a former national prima ballerina, to place her two years ahead of her peers.

Most would feel overwhelmed, but Frances didn't. She didn't know about the mixup and tackled the challenge with determination. Now, she excels among older students.

We only learned about the mixup weeks later when the instructor mentioned the missing name on her class sheet.

The Path to Prima Ballerina: A Curious Inquiry

This sparked my interest.

How does one become a prima ballerina, the lead female dancer in a ballet company? I searched on Google.

The Road to Mastery: An Intense Commitment

I learned that becoming a prima ballerina needs intense training.

Students usually start at ages 7-10. After eight years, promising ones may join a 3-4 year pre-professional course.

Upon graduation, they may join a professional ballet company as a corps de ballet member. It can take five to ten more years to reach prima ballerina status.

Assuming 20 hours of training per week, a dancer accumulates 1,000 hours yearly.

Throughout their journey, they may complete 16,000 to 22,000 hours of training.

Prima Ballerina: The Peak and Beyond

Even after reaching prima ballerina status, the journey goes on.

Dancers keep refining their steps, positions, and techniques. They focus on muscle memory, strength, and precision.

Each performance of ballets like The Nutcracker demands hours of rehearsal. Mastery comes from refining basic steps over time.

Startups and Ballet: Lessons on Resilience

Frances' ballet experience mirrors the founder's path. Both show the impact of repetition, dedication, and resilience.

The Startup Dance: Adapting Fundamentals

It's normal for startups to change and adapt, but foundational principles remain crucial.

Like ballet, persistence and determination are essential in the startup world. Success demands time, repetition, and an unwavering commitment to growth and improvement.

So, to all founders striving for their own 'ballet,' continue to dance your way towards greatness.