Reimagining Your Dance Career During the COVID-19 Pandemic
If there’s anything the last few years have taught us, it is that life can throw us curve balls at any point in time. There’s no certainty of what roadblocks the future holds. What’s important to remember is the importance of navigating unexpected challenges and turning them into opportunities.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which we all hoped would be a distant memory by now, created a huge shift in the way we approach everything in our lives. So, what does this all mean for the aspiring professional dancer? Other than theater closures, social distancing measures, vaccination requirements, and more, how have the dynamics of the dance industry changed?
Below, we’ve outlined three newly trending aspects of dance, and how they have created opportunities to be innovative and creative in your dance career.
Reimagining Your Dance Career During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Photography and Film
When the world shut down, everyone turned to the digital world to connect with others, entertain themselves, and get their work done. This created an emphasis on visual content such as photos and videos. Advancements in technology are not slowing down anytime soon, so it’s a good idea to prioritize improving your skills in front of (or behind) the lens.
Seek film or photography-related dance projects to help get you acclimated with being on camera. If you’re still uncomfortable in front of the lens, take time to learn your angles and how they show up in still shots or video footage. Work with photographers who specialize in capturing shots of dancers so that you can learn what it takes to pose for the best dance photos. If you have a knack for photography or film, you can sharpen your dance photography skills and uncover new career opportunities.
Related: Tips for Capturing Quality Dance Photos with photographer Shoccara Marcus
Online Education
For several months, the COVID-19 pandemic led to restrictions on in-person interactions. One beneficial result: the normalization of online interactions. Online learning creates more accessibility for aspiring dance teachers and students.
As a dance student, from the comfort of your home or studio, you can learn from a variety of teachers all over the world. Take advantage of this by seeking online workshops and classes. While it will be much different than in-person learning, it definitely won’t hurt to participate and learn what you can. As an aspiring or current dance teacher, you can now offer more classes to students of all ages, races, abilities, and financial backgrounds.
Related: Setting New Industry Standards for Inclusivity in Dance
Social Media
Social media is such a huge part of our daily lives - sometimes to a fault. If you’re going to spend hours on it each day anyways, why not use it to your advantage? Most major social media platforms offer the opportunity to be paid for the content you post. You can collaborate with brands, promoting their products and services to your followers in exchange for payment.
If being a brand influencer is not your style, you can also use your social media profile to simply show who you are as a dancer. Your social media profile is a strong tool for branding yourself and getting hired. Showcase your dance expertise, your personality, and your extracurricular involvements.
Related: 5 Strategies for Growing Your Instagram Audience as a Dancer
What other ways has the COVID-19 pandemic created new opportunities for your dance career?