The ugly side of being a dancer

If you want to be a dancer, you will find that it is a very attractive career. However, it does have a couple of things you should know. This is not to discourage you, but so that you will not be surprised when these things come up.

1. Ballet is like a pot. Either you hate it or you love it. If you go to dance school to train as a ballerina, you will probably have to do ballet. And most likely, you are there every day. If you love it, that’s great, a dream come true. But if you hate it, you will have to deal with it because it will help you in your career!

2. You won’t have a 9-5 job. I don’t think most dancers want a 9-5 job, but I thought I’d like to be the one to tell you. You may have regular hours if you have a contract job, although 9 to 5 is not common.

You will have some very short days of only a few hours, and also full days and I mean completely from dusk to dawn! So some days you will wake up to be on set at a time when most of the world has yet to wake up. Other days, you can stay as long as you want.

3. You will have to prove yourself throughout your career. You will have to attend dance auditions and castings for any job that interests you. In the case of auditions, you will probably have to dance and show your ability and that you are the right fit for any job.

Unless you build an incredible reputation, you can expect to audition your entire career.

4. Dancers often have short careers. Although some continue into their 40s and beyond, most pack before 30. The industry also tends to favor the young, most moving on to other dance-related careers such as choreographers and teachers. Some even start their own dance agency and watch the new generation of dancers advance in their careers.

5. Many things will appear at the last minute. Many times an audition or casting may require an additional person or two and do a last minute casting. Or an additional rehearsal will be called because the choreographer or producer feels they need more work.

6. Sometimes you will work with a song or a set where they will use the same songs throughout the day. Every day for several months or even years. You will get tired of those songs and they may drive you crazy after a while. Or you’ll laugh at it every time you hear it, that’s the 9237th time this month. Hurrah!

If none of this has put you off so far, congratulations you have the nerve and personality to enjoy a career as a dancer!