First of all, it is so great to hear from someone who is like in comparison. I used to do dance, tap, ballet,jazz,and also gymnastics. then i quite for a while w/ so much work to be done and i wanted to come back. I am on a swim team, too but after i started dance again at age 13. i'm on a team at school and it's hard to keep up w/ dance. im going to finish the season and then devote myself to dance. at first i thought i was a horrible dancer, but everyone was telling me i was good because i had the basic elements of a dancer because i had done dance before, just like you!
ok now that you have a history of me i hope that helps in a way. To answer your first question about losing weight, try to take a few minutes like 20-60min. for exercises. Some stuff i do to warm up, start off with arm circles frontwards and backwards, holding arms in place in front of chest,touch toes, sitting down try to touch nose to knees, lunges splits and also straddle split, butterly bounces, with feet together and knees bouncing andthen while legs are in this position bend over knees. To begin your work out try some crunches(somewhere around 50+is good).Healthy food- plenty of fruits and veggies . remem to eat three times a day and be sure not to become anarexic because in the movie"Center Stage" the girl was anarexic and she was very snotty believing she was better than everyone, its not healthy.
To answer your question about pointe, depending upon how good you're gonna do ( which your gonna do great because i said so, plus you've danced before and will catch on easily) it will take maybe a year. get through ballet first and when your comfortable enough pointe. Get your body warmed up and used to ballet again and then go for it.
About dancing in NYC that is like the city you'll every wanna dance, i don't know personally but i've seen broadway and those dancers are great. To find some good dance schools look on the net. Try http://www.capeziodance.com
Since your starting dance, take some of you swimming strecthes and use them to warm up. you already have the strength in your legs for dancing from swimming. To improve upon that a stretch for your calves, put your feet on the ground and with your legs straight lift up off the balls of your feet, i would say do 3 sets of 20 .
To start attire-wise, what i usually wear is a leotard, have at least one black one just because it's cool and most places require em. a few close fitting leatards because like swimming you don't want a baggy suit to slow you down, because if you have like an hour or two hour class in a room with a lot of people in it, i guarantee you it's gonna be hot. try some tights of any color pink tights and black leaotard is common, but don't be afraid to go your own way, unless they have a specific dress code. I also wear black stretch capris with a leotard. and also a leotard w/ a nice skirt. that's the nicest.
some more stretches , lay on your side and lift one leg up then down try 10 on each side it really stretches out the upper leg remem to move from the hip.another stretch lay on your back with legs in air and make legs into a straddle as far as you can go an come back to the center. try 4 sets of 10 something that may help you keep time listen to music while doing these stretches or you'll just be in a silent room doing strecthces.
well i hope this has helped you good luck in school and dancing
p.s we should talk :)[/i]