Tips for Dancers: Choosing a Career Path
By Ciyanna Rogers-Taylor, Brown Ballerina Ambassador
Finding a career path that not only allows you to have fun while working and fits your lifestyle, but also helps you make enough money to become financially stable, can be extremely complicated. You should never feel as though you must confine yourself to one specific career path, especially if you don’t feel fully satisfied in it!
In the article below, I’ve listed a few tips for helping you determine which career path may best suit you and your ideal dance journey.
Consider Your Dance Style
In the dance industry, there are two specific types of performance dance: concert dance and commercial dance. Concert dance would be appealing to dancers interested in performing more technique-heavy pieces and performing with companies such as the American Ballet Theatre or the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre on a concert stage. On the other hand, commercial dance is more for those interested in dancing on TV or on Broadway.
Related: The Pros & Cons of Freelance Dancing
Commercial dancers are usually freelancers, moving from gig to gig with companies with big commercial profit. With concert dance, there is usually a contract that may not allow you to perform or do other outside gigs.
Think about what you like to do and ask yourself these questions: Do you like musical theater? Do you feel like you are stronger in jazz or hip-hop? Do you like the set pieces that come with being in a company? Did you dream of having a role such as the Black Swan in Swan Lake? Take these things into account and you can make part of your career decision there.
Consider Your Lifestyle
After you’ve decided - or have an idea of - what you are looking for in a career, assess the liberty you get with this type of career path. If you join ABT, will they let you be a part of another gig, or do they need you to fully commit to them? If you’re not looking for that type of commitment and you know you would jump on opportunities as they are presented to you, that wouldn’t be the company for you. All companies are not the same. Some will allow you to try both. That will be further research that you would have to do.
Take time to think about what kind of person and dancer you are. Do you prefer career flexibility, even if that means you’ll have some uncertainties? Do you like to be involved in various projects or roles, or would you rather have more of a predictable day-to-day work life? Keeping these things in mind could help you as you research a fitting company to join.
Incorporate Other Passions
If you love dance but you don’t see yourself as a performer, there are many other ways to stay connected with the dance world. This means that if you have a passion for numerous things, you can find a way to merge them or do both – especially in the dance industry, where versatility is key. For example, a dance teacher is a very crucial part of any dancer’s life. Many dancers feel as though a singular teacher had a significant impact on their dance career. Writing is another option. Personally, I love to write and to dance, so being a blogger focused on dance content is a perfect blend.
Physical therapists are also extremely important, especially those who have been dancers before. They understand the strain and the work dancers that put on their bodies. This is crucial for helping dancers get back in the studio and on the stage. Nutritionists help dancers to take care of their bodies on the inside. They help them learn to eat healthier so that they have enough energy to continue dancing as well as to continue nurturing their bodies so that they remain healthy after dancing as well.
Photographers who were dancers before are very necessary! Not only would they know how to pose dancers, but they also know how to capture a dancer. They would know when a foot is sickled or what position looks best. Take your hobbies into account when exploring options for your dance career.
Related: Convo with a Dance Pro: Keda Sharber, Photographer and Filmmaker
For the younger dancers out there, choosing a specific career path is not something you have to focus on right now. Training and learning are much more important now! Remember, it is always okay to want to switch career paths later on down the line. I encourage you to explore different things now so that you have an idea of what you like. At the end of the day, make sure you are always doing what you love!