DanceStage.com Creator, Colby’s Long And Winding Road

Colby is 22 years old and grew up in Palmer, Alaska. He’s got a passion for dance, interests in business, web-design, and sports. Like many young dancers, he’s got a lot on his plate as he tries to define his career and who he is. I believe I first encountered Colby on Twitter and he’s always been professional and courteous. His path in dance and (I hope he won’t mind my saying) in life has been somewhat indirect. While it’s awesome to see a driven and focused career materialize, the truth is, most dancers I know have traveled a long and winding road. So, I thought it would be interesting to represent that and talk with Colby on the blog.

When did you start dancing, Colby?

I started dancing at the age of 13 because my sister was dancing at a studio and mentioned high school girls! [laughs].

Girls… Check! What about dance or the process of learning motivated you to continue?

I noticed right away it was what I really loved to do. I stayed with the same studio for about four-and-a-half years, studying in ballet, tap, jazz, and a little bit of breaking. The more I danced the more I enjoyed using it as an outlet for my emotions and to release all of my energy, whether it was to relieve anger, or to relieve the stress of my next test coming up, or just a pick me up if I was having an off day.

My motivation to continue was fueled by the ever increasing challenges and the fact that I was tackling those challenges successfully. My confidence continued to grow the more I danced. Also, attending a few live performances of professional companies and just seeing this whole new culture intrigued me.

Did you have support as a young man in dance?

I have always been and always will be supported by my family. I’m very blessed to have all of them. When I became a freshman in high school it became very difficult because I joined the high school cheer team too. This was in a smaller town where guys didn’t really cross that plane at all. I was given a hard time by a lot of people that were supposed to be my friends. Some of it was even worse than just minor teasing. At one of the football games I had a potato thrown at me while I was cheering. Needless to say, I found out who my true friends really were. The further I got into high school the more it became “ok” but in the beginning only my close friends and family really supported me. Actually, to be honest not many girls had a problem with it. It was mainly just the guys that did.

You had a full scholarship to study dance in college but, after a year, left to join a pre-professional company. What about the college dance experience was not what you expected?

The training wasn’t as well-rounded as I had anticipated. The program’s focus was jazz and ballet. A good thing, but I was expecting a more balanced variety. Even though they had hip-hop and tap classes, they were at a beginning level. That was a bit of a disappointment as those happen to be my favorite.

There was also more drama than I expected, things seemed disorganized at times. To their credit they had a whole new staff but we were offered only two weekends of performances for the whole year.

All in all, I wouldn’t give up that experience because good or bad, every experience helps you grow. College helped with technique. There was a more personal atmosphere than I had envisioned. There was good talent which helped me to push myself harder. There was time to focus on my dancing completely. When you are not in college and working, you never get as much time as you want.

In what ways did training with a company suit you better?

The pre-professional training broadened and is still broadening my views on hip-hop culture. Everyone in the company was putting their free time into what they loved so there was less drama (more professionalism). The training and performance opportunities kept us pushing the limits of our potential. Sharing your love for what you do with an audience, hopefully inspiring or entertaining them – that’s what it’s all about.

Putting It Together

Colby’s primary project right now is DanceStage.com, a social network for dancers. I’ve contributed some of my posts to DanceStage.com (which I rarely do). They sit among some really useful articles, as well as contests, and other features which we’ll chat more about below…

Tell me about DanceStage.com and what prompted its creation.

The idea for DanceStage started while I was in college. As I researched for dance assignments, I had the thought that things would be easier if there was a collection of info on dance all in one spot. I told a few friends, we partnered and off we went on it. They have since had to bow out due to time constraints or personal reasons, so I have managed to start taking it on myself. The goal is a social network that is a dancer’s one-stop shop, but I have to build it one step at a time. So, I’ve started with the social network and I am building from there.

Social networks have exploded in the last two years. What has been most difficult about carving out a space online?

The difficult thing about carving a space online is you have to constantly evolve as the internet is constantly evolving. Another hurdle is becoming recognized. You could have the coolest site in the world but if nobody knows it’s there it doesn’t do anyone any good. You just have to be dedicated and persevere long enough to get your name out there.

You’ve partnered with Showstopper to present the Future Stars of America contest. How are winners chosen?

At each Showstopper regional they take the highest scoring group and give them DanceStage’s Future Stars of America award. Their video then gets uploaded to the site and they are a contestant. Once the season is over and all the regional winners are up, DanceStage’s selected judges narrow it down to a top five. These top five are reposted and the members of DanceStage can vote on their favorite video once a day for a week. At the end, the video with the most votes becomes our new Future Stars of America winners. Showstopper has been great to work with and very supportive.

You have a section for classifieds, a forum, users can create customized profiles, and you’ve added new articles. What’s next, what can users look forward to?

DanceStage will soon be coming out with a whole new look. I will be tightening up the features already in place and adding new ones. It will be a great change and I am excited for it. That is my primary focus right now. Some features that are in the back of my mind for the future are a dance history section, a more customizable profile, maybe some interactive games, more contests (small and large), hopefully an online store (for DanceStage apparel and other items), and when the new site comes out I will have a Suggestion Form on every page so that I can deliver what the users want.

Okay, big question. Do you have any thoughts for other 20-somethings trying to make their way?

For anyone trying to establish themselves, I would say do what YOU feel is right for you. Don’t let other people persuade you. Sometimes they are doing it to try and protect you or help you, but only you can decide what is best for you. Whenever I have a decision to make, I call my mom, my dad, a sister or two and ask a few friends. I am very family oriented. My parents did a great job raising me and my sisters had a large impact on me as well. I take into consideration their different perspectives to make my choice. Then I decide, given all these different points, what is the best option for me. Not everything I’ve chosen has been the easiest but I regret none of the choices.

I also can’t say enough for working hard. But not only work hard, work smart. Back in high school, we trained less often than the teams we competed against so my coach used to say that, instead of just working harder, we had to work smarter to make our time more valuable to us than their time was to them.

Thanks Colby!

Do check out DanceStage.com and their YouTube channel, where you’ll find those Future Stars of America entries.

Have you taken your own long and winding road in dance?

Tell us about it in the comments!

Role Of A Lifetime: Returning To Dance As A Mom

“How can they already have an opinion about everything?” Sara Webb, a principal dancer for Houston Ballet wonders about her 2 year-old son. “I never thought I would argue with Josh over which shoes he would be wearing to school at this age.”.

Toni Leago Valle, a Houston contemporary dancer and choreographer has been there. However, her son Dante is about to turn six, a new phase of childhood. In addition to feeling as though she’s finally retrieved her mind (“Its amazing what constant sleep deprivation does to your brain.”), Toni feels a sense of relief as Dante goes out into the world to find his own likes, dislikes, and friends. “I am no longer the center of his universe, which makes me very sad, but relieved. I’m sad that he wants to leave me so soon, but proud that my son is well-rounded and ready to venture out into the world. And I no longer feel guilty that I do something for myself, like dance.”

Pregnancy Is The Rehearsal

It’s not uncommon for women expecting or considering motherhood to focus heavily on pregnancy (see the previous article, Pas de Deux, for more on that). All of the fears, anxieties, and even joys get hung up in that anticipatory period before a birth. However, as you know and have read above, pregnancy is really only the beginning. Remembering her childbirth experience, Sara puts her thoughts in dancer terms “Pregnancy is that rehearsal process. It can be hard some days and easy other days. But the performance is so much bigger.”

Pregnancy, though, is a little like rehearsing Swan Lake for a presentation of something by Elizabeth Streb. I joke but, speaking from experience, parenthood is in a completely different genre and has its own vocabulary of challenges.

What remains the same however is that post-pregnancy and after delivery, the adjustments, uncertainties, finangling, and felicities continue for dancing moms.

Body Image

Most mothers feel self-consciousness about their post-pregnancy figure, but constant analyzing and scrutinizing of the dancer’s instrument can make this transition especially hard on dancing moms. “Your body does change,” confirms Sara, “and my fear was that I wouldn’t be able to look or dance the way I did before pregnancy and birth.” It was a fear that Toni shared. When asked what concerns she had about pregnancy, Toni answers, “That my body would never be the same. Its true, my body has never been the same. So what.”

However, Toni concedes, “Like most dancers, I am hard on my body image, and that got worse after having a baby.” Sara remembers her return to dance, “The worst was having to be partnered again, especially when I didn’t feel my lightest. I apologized to all of my partners for having to lift my extra “baby pounds” and was really embarrassed. I was very self conscience about the way I looked when I had to put leotard and tights on again.” Sara says that eventually these feelings went away. Toni also has come to terms with her new body. “I’ve learned to ignore myself and just keep on dancing.”

Adjusting To Motherhood

As is the case for Toni, many dancers perform and earn an income via a number of sources. She admits this was difficult at first. “The first two years were rough because I refused to slow down. I did not dance as much, but having a baby is like taking on a whole new life in addition to your old one. I was adamant about not leaving the dance world and at the time there were no other dancers I knew with children. I felt like I was embarking on a solo journey; having to figure out the mess of dance, jobs, and family by myself. ”

Sara sometimes questioned if dance was the right place for her to be. She continues to battle with what she calls “Mommy guilt” at times. “This is such a personal decision for every mother, but for me I knew this chapter in my life wasn’t over yet. There are still ballets I would like to dance that I haven’t danced and ballets that I would love to dance again. I have been dancing since I was 8 years-old. I have put so much time and work into my career. I know that I won’t dance forever, but I am enjoying it while I can. When I tell Josh that I have to go to work, he says,’Mommy go dancing.’”

Managing Family Time

Sara and her husband Ryan found a way to make things work with a little one when Houston Ballet went on tour last April to Spain. “My husband took time off from school and work to join me and help take care of Joshua.” In fact, having family and friends who provide backup and encouragement has been important for both Sara and Toni. “[Fellow UH instructors], Karen Stokes or Becky Valls watched Dante while I taught class, students played with him, [fellow performer] Joe Modlin was holding Dante backstage, [choreographer] Jane Weiner allowed Dante in rehearsals, [Dance Source founder] Christina Giannelli came to my house for meetings to make it easier,” says Toni, “the list goes on and on.”

“I have an amazingly supportive husband,” says Sara. “My work schedule can be pretty inconsistent at times. Every night we plan for the next day and how to make it all work logistically. Our goal always being to maximize our time together as a family.” Toni agrees that family time is important. “I knew Dante would be my only child and I have made a point not missing out on any of his life. I love dance, but I never want to look back and regret that I danced his childhood away. When I’m with him, I’m really with him.”

Change For The Better

There is no doubt that being a mom is tough, whether dancing, working, or not. No matter the age of the child, as it is with dance, there are always new trials to face. Reflecting on this, Toni adds, “Motherhood is challenging, but everything in life worth having is challenging.”

While the challenges might easily become the focus of discussion in regard to dancing moms, Sara and Toni are quick to point out the ways in which their lives have improved since becoming a parent. Sara continues her dancer analogy, “I remember after having Josh and holding him for the first time feeling like I had just had my best performance. This performance though, doesn’t end. Every day that I am with him and I get to be his mom, even on the tough days, is a great performance. And it is one that will last forever.”

Reflecting on how motherhood has positively affected her work on stage, Toni says, “My choreography has become so enriched since the birth of my son. I produced and performed CRACKED when Dante was 2 years old. The show was based on the realization that I am a good parent and my son sees me a a wonderful person.” Personally, she states, “My self-worth tripled when I saw myself through my son’s eyes.”

On May 7, 8, and 9, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. Sara Webb will perform with Houston Ballet at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park. The free performances will feature three diverse works by three of today’s most sought-after choreographers. Call 281.FREE.FUN (281-373-3386) for further ticket information or visit www.milleroutdoortheatre.com.

On May 13-15 and 20-22 at 8:00 p.m. Toni Leago Valle will premiere her company 6º in a joint performance with Amy Ell’s Vault at DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway, Houston, TX, 77002. For more information, visit www.amyell.com or www.6degreesdance.org.

Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!

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Surviving And Thriving As A Male Dancer

Be Encouraged!

In the first installment of this article, I relayed the sad stories, hardships and pressures the young male dancer faces. Here’s WHY it is important to stick it out despite the challenges…

Young male dancers have the opportunity to be leaders within their communities. They can stand out in a crowd and encourage other people to follow their dreams. Young male dancers are inspirational, hardworking, dedicated and sensitive individuals who can use their power to transform the lives of their peers and audiences.

And HOW to stick it out…

Perseverance

As soon as I embraced my unique qualities as a young male dancer, I began to acknowledge my own creative voice and use it in my dancing. Fellow male dancer Michael Meadows says, “Being a male dancer can be hard due to stereotypes, the best advice would be to stay true to who you are. Dance because you love it and never give up due to people who may not understand your art.” Ibn Snell echoes, “Stay true yourself, and don’t let anyone get to you. Whatever you want to do, you can do it. You have to portray an image of self confidence and not arrogance. And never get discouraged.” Although discouragement creeps in from time to time, remember to never give up on your dance dreams. Ibn and Michael never gave up on theirs. Ibn is now concluding his junior year as a dance major at the magnet performing arts high school of Philadelphia. Michael is the Public Relations Director at Nexx Level Dance and Theater in Toronto and also directs Step Up 2 the Nexx Level Summer Dance Intensive.

Winning Support

If you recall, Michael was the snowboarding team’s captain when he was encouraged to join the dance team at 18. He says that once competition came into play, the attitude of his snowboarding teammates changed. “Once we started winning competitions and bringing home hardware, people started to support my dance habit and realized that they could enjoy viewing it for what it was…entertainment.” Although it took Michael winning dance competitions for his friends to accept his dancing, they still supported him in the end. The point is not how people come to grips with your dancing, it is more important that they do it.

Remember Ibn’s story about hiding his dancing from his classmates? I promised I’d tell you the rest of this story. Ibn learned that honesty goes a long way. “Soon as my friends found out, they began to love my talent and appreciate me for being such an artist, so it wasn’t as bad as I thought!” Ibn had legitimate fears about exposing his love for dance, but his fears were not confirmed. People did not look down on him, rather they embraced him as a talented dance artist. It is shocking to discover that people can be much more open and accepting than we give them credit for. It is important for the young male dancer to keep an open mind and allow room for people to accept and admire his dance talent. Remember, not everyone will approve, nor does everyone have to. But there are many art supporters, family and friends who will accept your dance talent as a gift and encourage you to use it to the fullest.

Faith, Hard Work, and Respect

It was during that rough time as a beginning ballet student that I pulled from my faith. I prayed to God that I could get past this rough patch and learn to enjoy my dance environment. The harder I worked, the more people in the class began to accept me. The more respect I gained from my peers, the more confident I became. The confidence translated into stronger dancing and focus in class. I learned to embrace being the only male in the class. Sure, I felt pressured to be a strong lifter, a charismatic performer and a virtuosic technician because I was the only male dancer in my class, but the pressure helped give me the drive I needed to succeed during those hard beginning years of my dance training.

I’mPossible Dreams

Michael notes that a male dancer must have tough skin to succeed as a dancer of any sort. “The industry can be cut throat so if you can’t handle the fire, get out of the building,” he warns. Nik Stasulli adds, “I think young male dancers should keep dancing if they really enjoy it because it becomes a part of your life and you can meet so many great people through dance.” Nik was so impacted by dance that he continued training and performing after college. As a graduate student he still finds time to dance. “There are so many avenues to keep dance in your life, and even if you don’t want to stay in a studio or join a company there are plenty of ways that you can stay involved.”Ibn Snell offers his words of encouragement to young male dancers worldwide. “Nothing is impossible, because impossible really spells I’m possible!”

As a young male dancer, there are so many amazing opportunities out there waiting for you. All you have to do is hold on, channel your faith and keep your eye on the prize. Your dance dream is attainable and closer than you believe. So to the young male dancers out there, hold on to you dance dreams and never let go. If you do, your dreams may one day grow beyond your wildest imagination.

What have been the rewards or positives for you as a male dancer?

How have you persevered? What has gotten you through the tough times?

Guest Post: The Professional Dancer’s Survival Kit

Do you have an interest in taking your dancing to the professional level?

Our guest post today is by Ashani Kiner, an experienced dancer, teacher, and business owner. She is offering sound advice for those who wish to pursue a career in dance.

Here are some inside tips on what you need to survive in your career as a professional dancer:

1. Realistic Expectations

If you think that because you were the strongest dancer at your local dance studio, in your high school, or anything along those lines, that you will automatically be highly sought after as a professional, you will get a pretty harsh reality check when you see some of your competition in the professional dance world. My advice is, know your strengths, and always play them up, along with your uniqueness as a dancer. Additionally, learn your areas of weakness, and work tirelessly on getting stronger in those areas. Understand that there will be auditions and jobs that you simply won’t get based on politics, type-casting, or other non-personal reasons, so you must develop a tough skin in order to survive.

2. Professional Photos/ Resume

This goes without saying. Presentation is everything, so don’t scrimp on your photos. Save up the money you need in order to get professional photos taken. Also, make sure that your resume is in the proper format for performing arts resumes, which is different from the format for a regular job resume.

3. An Education and Other Non-Dance Related Skills

I have a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, and after having that experience, I highly recommend getting a college degree. I also have a B.A. in Hispanic Studies, as I always wanted to have something else to fall back on, in case I ever got injured or something, and could no longer dance. Maybe college isn’t for you, or you can’t afford it. Finish high school, in the least, and involve yourself in professional internships, or other jobs, to develop your skills, and build a professional resume. This will not only help you to have a more successful career as a professional dancer, but it will allow you to have more options when you’re in between dance jobs, or still building your dance resume.

4. An Emergency Fund

Financial pressure is real! Unless you’re living at home with Mom and Dad, or have someone sponsoring your daily living expenses, you’re going to need money to survive. Most importantly, with the many inconsistencies in this business, you will need to have some serious savings to carry you through the slow times and unexpected emergencies. Not to mention, to free you from doing “anything” to make a quick buck, because you’re desperate for money. That’s never a good frame of mind to be in.

5. A Support System

Whether it’s your faith, your friends, or your family, you will definitely need some support outside of yourself from time to time, when you don’t get that job or audition that you really wanted. Or, for those days when you look at your bank account, or how hard you’re working, and wonder if it’s all worth it.

Plus 3 More Survival Tips:

• A Healthy Lifestyle — It is very important to eat healthy and stay in shape. You want to be ready at any time for great, unexpected dance opportunities.
• A Habit of Learning and Growing – From taking dance classes regularly, to learning from online videos/classes, or simply working on your skills/choreography in your home, you must continuously strengthen your skills, feed your creativity, and challenge yourself.
• Tenacity, Persistence, and a Positive Attitude — The only true failure is giving up. Don’t let rejection, other people’s success, or a longer road to your dreams than you expected, get you down. Nothing worth having comes easily. You must fight for your dream, and know that everything happens for a reason. The path that is for you, is specially-made for you only. So, don’t focus on others, on your obstacles, or setbacks, focus solely on being and doing your best in all that you do.

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Ashani Kiner, a New York City native, graduated from Connecticut College with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. She has 20 yrs of experience in the dance industry and has trained, taught, and performed at the world-famous Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and Steps on Broadway in NYC. She has also taught at Ballet Hispanico, as well as numerous NY Metropolitan area dance studios, public and private schools, and non-profit arts organizations.

She is also the president and CEO of Kiner Enterprises Inc., the first dance teacher staffing agency in the U.S. They provide dance teachers in all genres of dance, with credits ranging from former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater company members, Broadway and Broadway tour performers, dancers and choreographers for recording artists such as, Ashanti, Beyonce, Kat DeLuna, Hannah Montana, and Snoop Dogg, as well as the Knicks City Dancers, and dance companies including, The Metropolitan Opera Ballet, The San Francisco Ballet, and Complexions.

Follow Kiner Enterprises via Twitter or become a fan on Facebook

Duncan Cooper Offers Advice at “My Son Can Dance”

Nina at My Son Can Dance has recently published some advice and tips she received in conversation with Duncan Cooper, a master teacher, faculty member at Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet, and former Dance Theatre of Harlem dancer. Though, Nina has posed some wonderful questions regarding boys in ballet, the advice Cooper offers is relevant to all dancers. Even those not looking to have a career in dance can benefit from the guidance offered here. If you’d like to grow and improve as a dancer, check out the interview!

Part I in particular stresses the importance of setting goals for your career (which I’ve touched in this post about finding instruction and this post about choosing a college program), researching and learning from other dancers, and more.

Part II is especially relevant for boys, but I think girls/women can gain useful perspective on performance and telling a story through movement.

What To Look For in a Dance Studio

Opinions on the characteristics of a good dance studio or school abound. In previous posts I have outlined what I feel are important qualities to consider when assessing where you are currently or potentially studying dance.

Deal-Makers

These are qualities that I feel are of upmost importance and can or should be expected of a quality dance institution. These range from the structure of a class to elements of a studio’s core philosophy. Click here to read about these deal-makers.

Deal-Breakers

These are red flags that warn customers that the dance education at a school may not be of high quality. The size and location of a dance studio have nothing to do with the standard of education one receives. Sometimes even positive word-of-mouth cannot be relied upon as there are many reasons that one may choose to attend a school that is not creating an appropriate atmosphere for learning. For instance, there are schools that produce incredible dancers that have used tactics that negitively impact the well-being of their students – something I consider a red flag. Click here to read about other deal-breakers.

Middle Ground

Under certain circumstances, some studio practices that would otherwise be deal-breakers, are acceptable or at least satisfactory. If one has options, this list presents additional considerations to weigh when choosing a school. When options are limited, this list highlights some issues that be important to discuss with studio owners or administrators. Click here to see this list.

What are your goals?

An important aspect of finding a dance school is finding a dance school that is right for you. This can only be assessed by first determining your goals in dance. Because dance requires years of training to master, early discussion about these goals is useful. One’s ambitions can change over time. For instance, a recreational student may decide that they want a professional career and decide to intensify their training. To determine your goals it is necessary to know what kinds of careers or alternatives are available. Even if you are not planning a career in dance, this post aims to help inform and assist in finding a path that is right for you.

College Bound – Your Career in Dance

Being a university dance alum myself, it is my desire to help new and future college students with their transition to studying dance in a university setting. I have already posted topics on this subject, however, if you are new to the blog you may not know about them so I thought I’d do a little re-post compiling the articles. Also, I’d like to provide you with resources for further investigation. Check out the links at the bottom of this article on Dance as a Career, Scholarships for Dancers, and more.

The College Guide

How to Decide on A College

Topics Included:

• What are your goals? (see also setting goals in dance)
  
• The audition process.
  
• Location, facilities, and campus life.
• If you are concerned about grades…
• Making the transition

Tips for College Part I

Topics Included:

• Technique Classes
  • Trust and Balance
• Rehearsals
  • Get Involved and Be Professional

Tips for College Part II

Topics Included:

• Improvisation/Modern Dance/Contemporary Concepts
  
  • Go For It!
  • The Task at Hand
• Filling in the Gaps
  

Tips for College Part III

Topics Included:

• Theory and Liberal Arts Classes
  • Study and Note-taking
  • Absences
  • Embrace Learning
    
• Take Care of Your Instrument

Dance as a Career

• Challenges in Professional Dance
• Jobs in Dance Companies
• Jobs in Media and Communications
• Jobs in Medicine and Health Care
• Dance Teaching Jobs
• Secrets to Extending Your Dance Career
• From Campus to Professional Life
  
• What Becomes of Undergraduate Dance Majors? (a study)
  

Scholarships and Financial Aid

• Scholarships for Dancers (USA)
• Dance and Drama Awards (UK)
• Jessica Karrat Dance Scholarship Fund (USA)
• Directory of Dance Scholarships (I believe all of these are USA)
• Dance Magazine Scholarship Guide 2008
  

Find a College That Meets Your Criteria

Dance Magazine College Guide 08-09
Dance Department Blogs
I just thought it was interesting that some university dance departments now have their own blogs, so I’m adding these links. Check them out!

• Ohio State University – OSU Dance
• Wayne State University – Maggie Allesee Department of Dance

If you would like to suggest additional resources for dance in higher education (particularly for areas outside the U.S., please post links or information in the comments.

If you have questions about dance in a university setting, feel free to contact me.

Everyone Starts Somewhere

Just ran across this video from New York City Ballet’s YouTube channel and felt it serves as a reminder for all the students out there that everyone starts somewhere.  I hope you find it inspiring.

The Back-to-School Teach-a-thon is here!!

Read more

What it Takes – Becoming a Ballerina

Originally this post featured a link to a news item that focused on a 12-year-old girl with aspirations to become a professional ballet dancer, and the sacrifices she’s made and will need to make in order to get there. The article is no longer available, however, so I have updated this post with some other links and information.

• Here is an interview with Courtney Lutz, a Canadian dancer with the Ontario Ballet Theatre. She talks of her path to becoming a professional ballet dancer, putting in half days of school to make room for dance, and times in her career when it hasn’t been easy to continue.
• Girls aren’t the only ones who work hard and make sacrifices while pursuing a career in professional ballet. An article about David, a 15-year-old, pursuing his education and a career in dance.
• Do you dream of dancing with New York City Ballet? Here are some helpful and realistic answers to  students’ questions about working, studying, and training with NYCB and the School of American Ballet (their official school).
• This forum offers an overview of the path(s) that dancers take to become a professional in the ballet world.
• A detailed account of the audition and training process at the Royal Danish Ballet School which are not unlike many other pre-professional ballet schools.
• Ten articles on the steps to becoming a professional dancer. Some of these articles are better than others and when reading keep in mind that these are the individual writer’s opinions. Most give you a sense for the work it takes to become a dancer and the challenges a professional faces.
• An interesting article that spotlights why someone may choose not to become a professional dancer.

In summary, the life and career of a professional ballet dancer is not easy and often requires much sacrifice for young dancers and their families. Although we like to think that with hard work and diligence absolutely anything is possible, the reality is that dance is a highly competitive field. Knowing one’s options, understanding the challenges, assessing and re-assessing one’s desires and goals, researching the paths of dancers and companies, and arming oneself with the best training possible are absolutely necessary if one hopes to pursue dance (particularly professional ballet) as a career. In dance, it is never too early to begin this process. To say that it is all work and no play would neglect the rewards and excitement of a career in dance, however, it is not a pursuit for one who gives up easily, desires immediate gratification, and wants a luxurious salary. It is also extremely helpful to have a balanced and healthy outlook and a strong support system, as ballet has been known to take a toll on a dancer’s mental and physical state.

In addition to the articles above, these books and DVDs offer some insight into the world of professional ballet.

Becoming a Ballerina

Getting Started in Ballet: A Parent’s Guide to Dance Education

The Dancer

The Children of Theatre Street – The Story of the Kirov Ballet School

Finding the Right Dance Studio/Teacher – Setting Goals To Determine What’s Right For You

Are you new to dance? Looking to take your dancing to the next level?

It’s important to find the studio, school, or teacher that’s right for you. As the photo title (right) suggests, behind our goals are our dreams. A dream is an idea and a goal is a destination. What comes between these two are actions, steps taken to reach each goal. In dance, training is a crucial step in the journey from dream to destination. However, one has to be clear about his destination in order to know which steps to take. In other words, your goals will determine which type of training is best for you.

Step 1: Research

In order to figure out your goals it is necessary to look at the all the possibilities. Typically when people think of a career in dance, they are only thinking of a career in performance. And, while many with dance careers do start out there, there are still many other options to consider. I looked hard for a good list – this was one of the more all-encompassing and specific. Because the source is a university, you’ll notice it leaves out large-budget ballet companies (we’ll talk about that later).

Goals Can Change

Now that we recognize that there are possibilities beyond performance, it may be important to point out that there are many paths to any given destination, and that sometimes life takes us down unexpected ones. Goals can change over time either because we change or something forces us to change our direction. No matter where we end up, many dancers begin their journey the same – with lessons in movement at a dance school.

Step 2: Choosing a Training Path

For dancers that begin at a young age, there are generally two types of training offered at most studios/schools in the U.S.,* recreational and pre-professional. A majority of dance studios are recreational in nature. Here, the students can choose from a variety of classes and styles of dance, often with limited focus or time on any one in particular. Pre-professional schools typically have a very strong focus on ballet training and may require 20 or more hours per week of classes (at least half of which are ballet). Some schools manage two tracks at the same time. In this case dancers may begin as young children at the same level but eventually diverge based on interest and aptitude. If you are over the age of 12 or 13, and taking less than 3 hours of ballet per week, you are probably not at a pre-professional school. If that’s disappointing to you, I’ve got good news. Being a student at a recreational school does not mean you cannot eventually perform as a professional dancer. It certainly helps, and if you’d like to be at one of those large -budget ballet companies I mentioned earlier it’s a necessity.

Professional vs. College

In large cities it is sometimes easier than in smaller towns to locate pre-professional instruction. If what you desire most is to dance for a professional ballet company, you may need to make major sacrifices (financial, social, locational convenience) to obtain the needed training and skills. Smaller, regional ballet companies; contemporary or modern dance companies; musical theatre; and commercial dance are typically more open to dancers of varied training backgrounds. Make no mistake, though, one still needs to be very strong in technique and performance to make a living in such a competitive field.

College study is an option for a wide range of dance-related careers if you have a passion for dance. Although outsiders may consider dance a “fluff” major, those that have been through it (myself included) know better. Dance majors at a university not only take hours of technique classes in the studio, but study history, anatomy/kinesiology, teaching/pedagogy, composition, and more on top of spending weeknights and weekends working on choreography, assignments, or rehearsing. I’ve seen many young dancers change their mind about majoring in dance after one year or less in a university program. Most college programs have a strong focus on contemporary or modern dance, although ballet and other forms are still an important part of the curriculum. For many dance jobs, advanced degrees (translation: more years in school) are required (and not a bad idea if you’d like more financial security), and occasionally a dual major is necessary. At any rate, college is a great place to improve, grow, and be exposed to a wide range of dance experiences through intense focus, dedication, and academic study. Many dancers who became professional performers at a young age return to receive a college degree later in order to begin the second phase of their careers.

Recreational Dance and Quality Instruction

Now, I know there is a group of you thinking “I don’t want to be a professional, I just want to have fun dancing!” Many adult beginners fall into this category, too. That’s great! We need more dance enthusiasts out there (it is you that attend shows and support programs)! A recreational studio may be just the place for you. However, don’t forget that it’s still important that you make good choices in finding a studio or teacher. Why? Because not all dance schools offer quality instruction or facilities, which can lead to injury for a dancing novice. Dancing on an improper floor, working on advanced movements without the strength or coordination to back it up, or spending years either overtraining or neglecting certain muscles can lead to chronic (that means long-term) pain or problems in areas like the back, knees, ankles and more. It’s not worth the cute costumes, 12-hour recitals, plastic trophies, or whatever else may entice you. Seek out quality instruction.

I hope that this post has helped you to clarify your aspirations. Setting your goals early is an important step in seeing your dreams realized. For more information on specific dance careers, see the links in this post.

What are your goals in dance? How have they changed as you’ve journeyed on your path? If you are working in dance or otherwise, how does your dance education play a part in your life now?

*I’m writing what I know, there are other sites available that speak to dance education in other countries, here’s one for the UK that has some great info.