How to Become a Dancer

Dancing is a career that begins with ballet classes when girls are between the ages of five and eight; boys generally start classes after age 10. Strict discipline is key to success in any form of dance, since it demands hours of daily practice. Competition for jobs is tremendous and many talented dancers have to turn to other careers to make a living.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Career Counseling
• Dancing Supplies
• Online Career Search

1. Decide - now that you are most likely a teenager with years of difficult practice behind you - if you want to devote your life to dance. Be honest with yourself. If the answer is yes, take a few steps to make certain you are on a level playing field with other dancers.

2. Make sure you're attending a dance school that is giving you excellent training in ballet and any other form of dance you are studying. Compare it with other dance schools in your area by arranging for several interviews.

3. Ask for information from each school about how students can prepare for and obtain professional auditions with regional ballet companies or national dance companies. A good school should have some connections.

4. Go online to receive further information about the dance field and training. Visit the National Dance Association Web site (see aahperd.org/nda).

5. Remember that there are always local events at which dancers appear. These will give you practice performing before the public.

6. Consider that a full-time college education immediately after high school might work against you if you put off trying to get those all-important professional auditions when you are 18. If you wait until you graduate from college, you will be competing with younger dancers who have been concentrating on their craft.

7. Work toward a bachelor's degree if you decide you want to teach dance in a school or university setting. Go to the National Association of Schools of Dance Web site (see nasd.arts-accredit.org) for a list of accredited colleges offering dance programs.

Tips & Warnings

• Be prepared to join a union if you get a job as a professional dancer. That means you will have to pay an entry fee and union dues.

• Keep open the option of eventually going to college or community college for a degree unrelated to dance. Even successful dancers often go on to other careers after they retire or are injured.

• Most dancers live in large cities where there are full-time dance companies, theaters, television studios and concert halls. Remember that large cities are expensive and that a beginning dancer's salary is often low.