|
Author is currently performing in beautiful Seoul, South Korea!
|
|
"This book contains advice
from my personal experiences as well as job contacts
collected over the years of dancing professionally all
over the world. I wrote it to both inform and
inspire dancers, and it is an irreplaceable reference
whether you are just starting out or you are already
performing professionally. I prove through simple
business tactics that dancers don't learn in their
training, that it is not as difficult as it seems to
have a lasting and rewarding career. I promise
that if you read my book and use the information in it,
you will be successful."
"If you want to get somewhere, you have to know where you want to go and how to get there. Then never, never, never, give up."
-Norman Vincent Peale
|
Excerpts from the
Dance Information Sourcebook:
The following list is just a sampling of the many topics you will find covered extensively in the Dance Information Sourcebook. If you would like to see a sample of a topic not listed here, please contact the author.
Dance Job Casting Sources
Perfecting Your Marketing Materials
Getting a Job on a Cruise Ship
Prepare Yourself for a Career on National Tours and Broadway
How to Get a Job Dancing at Disney
Having a Successful Dance Career in New York or Los Angeles
Other Cities Where You Can Live and Dance
International Dance Job Opportunities
Should I Join Equity?
Guidelines to Maintaining a Steady Dance Career
It’s All About Attitude
Advice From Professionals in the Industry
Making a Living While Pursuing Your Dream
Advice for the Young Dancer: Going to College for Dance
Dance Job Casting Sources
THE DANCE INFORMATION SOURCEBOOK LISTS MANY DANCE JOB CASTING SOURCES, INCLUDING:
-Trade papers and casting services specific to cities with large dance markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, Branson, and Florida.
-List of 25 Websites that post auditions, host demo reels, and provide useful career information for dancers.
-Dance Agents and Casting Directors in each city and how to apply to them.
-List of 13 Theatre Conferences across the US where you can audition for jobs
Backstage is the best source of information about auditions. Published weekly, it is devoted to those who have careers, and are seeking careers, in the performing arts. If you live in New York or LA, it is available at most newsstands.
You can find out about auditions and what’s going in dance by reading Backstage no matter where you live, by getting the online version:
www.backstage.com.
-Backstage also lists auditions for Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Florida.
-One reason this publication is so valuable: Even if you don’t reside in one of the major dance metropolises, you can find out about auditions in advance, so that you can make plans to travel to the city where it is being held.
-And even if you are unable to attend the audition, you may be able to apply by video. Sometimes the audition notice will read: “If you cannot make the audition, you may submit a headshot, resume, and videotape to be considered for casting.” Therefore, you can send your materials and obtain a job without ever leaving your home!
See the section on demo tapes in Chapter 2 for more information.
For subscriptions:
By mail – New York version: (800)745-8922
By mail – West version: (800)458-7541
Via the internet: www.Backstage.com
info@backstage.com
Mail subscriptions run $97 a year and online subscriptions are $9.95 a month. Not a bad deal.
One huge benefit to becoming a member of Backstage online is that you can post your resume and headshot online. Casting directors looking for dancers can enter information about the kind of dancers they are looking for, and the system will pull up profiles of dancers who fit the search. They then can email you or call you to express your interest. I have gotten several jobs as a result of inquiries from people who’ve read my resume on the Backstage website.
The Dance Information Sourcebook tells dancers all about finding dance jobs!
Back to Top
Perfecting Your Marketing Materials
The Dance Information Sourcebook contains extensive information about marketing yourself as a dancer, including:
-How to format your dance resume
-How to write cover letters
-How to make a demo tape for dance jobs
-How to do follow-up
-How to maintain a steady career
-Other marketing materials you should have
-How to get great headshots and bodyshots
The following are small pieces of topics that are covered in detail in Chapter 2: Perfecting Your Marketing Materials and Promoting Yourself:
Dance Resumes
Your resume is your ticket to success. It speaks your experience in dance and identifies you as a performer. The Dance Information Sourcebook explains in detail the standard industry format for dance resumes, and provides examples of resumes of professional dancers.
ONCE YOU HAVE FORMATTED YOUR RESUME ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE BOOK AND YOU ARE READY TO PREPARE YOUR RESUME/HEADSHOT FOR SUBMISSION AT AUDITIONS AND IN MAILINGS:
1) First of all, print your resume on plain, white paper. Don’t try to impress by putting it on fancy resume paper because we don’t do that in the performing arts. This is the standard industry format.
2) Take your resume and paste it on the back of your headshot. You can secure it with staples or glue. Then cut around the edges so that it is the same size as your headshot.
Make sure they are attached securely!! You don’t want your resume to come apart from your headshot at an audition: the casting people will never be able to find you and it looks awfully unprofessional.
3) If you are mailing a submission, send your resume and headshot, along with a cover letter to the company, casting director, or agent you are interested in. You should send a cover letter with every submission.
One thing you can do nowadays, thanks to technology, is create a website with all of your information on it. You can have your headshots and other dance photographs, your resume, and even video clips of you performing posted on the site. Please refer to Chapter 1 for sites that provide this service.
READ THE DANCE INFORMATION SOURCEBOOK FOR MUCH MORE INFORMATION ON:
-How to format your dance resume and detailed information about making it look professional
-Examples of resumes of professional dancers
How to Make a Demo Video That Will Get You a Job
You can get a dance job without ever setting foot in an audition, and this section will show you how! Many companies that produce dance shows accept video submissions in place of auditions. Often if a company is holding auditions for dancers, they may advertise that if you can’t make the audition, you can send a video to be considered for casting.
It is always best to attend the live audition, if possible. But if you can't, then certainly send a video.
Nowadays, casting directors are casting more and more by this method, because it is easier and more cost-effective for them to sit in their offices and watch a video instead of conducting live auditions. There are even companies that cast solely by video submission, such as in the case of some international shows, where traveling to hold a live audition is impossible. As long as your tape is clear and it thoroughly showcases your dancing ability, it is a perfectly legitimate casting source. Demo tapes give you the chance to show the casting director your best, since you can edit the tape to show your best dancing! This is a huge advantage over going to a live audition, where you usually have one, brief chance to dance.
*Your video should be a sampling of your best dance styles and abilities.
*You should take original video footage of yourself dancing, to a professional video editor who can edit and copy with good equipment.
*This video editor can put the finished product on VHS or DVD.
THE DANCE INFORMATION SOURCEBOOK TELLS ALL ABOUT MARKETING YOURSELF AS A DANCER!!!
Back to Top
All About Getting a Job on a Cruise Ship
Author Cheryl Obal has had a great deal of experience as a Dancer,
Choreographer, and Show Director on cruise ships worldwide.
In the Dance Information Sourcebook, she answers all your questions about
dancing on ships, including:
How do I get a job on a cruise ship?
What are the shows like?
How long are the contracts?
How much does dancing on a cruise ship pay?
What are the accommodations like?
What about the food?
How often do you perform?
What skills do I need to have to dance on a ship?
But how can you dance when the ship is moving?
Do I have to sing, to be cast in a cruise ship show?
What are the costumes like?
What other duties will I have to do on the ship?
What is the best thing about performing on cruise ships?
What else do I need to know about dancing on a ship?
….and more!!
The author asked Brian Koho, Casting Director for PGT Entertainment, Inc. what
he looks for when casting dancers for ships: “I look for a lot of things, but the one thing that will bring me to really
look at someone for a job is what some people are just born with ... that
sparkle. Whatever it is that they are doing, you just WANT to watch them. I
think that probably is not only an extension of their talent, but who they are.
Now as for the technical aspect, I look for clean turns, flexibility, sharpness,
tight moves, and height to their leaps. I look for evidence of what I call ...
ballet in their jazz.”
THE DANCE INFORMATION SOURCEBOOK
-Contains a list of 30 Cruise Ship Entertainment Producers-- a complete list
that is unavailable anywhere else
-Explains all you need to know about how to get your dream job dancing on the
high seas!
Back to Top
Prepare Yourself for a Career on National Tours and Broadway
THE DANCE INFORMATION SOURCEBOOK FEATURES:
-All you need to know about preparing yourself for a career on a National Tour or Broadway.
-List of casting agencies who cast dancers for Broadway and National Tours.
-List of dance agents who can help you get a job on Broadway and National Tours.
Here is a sample of information you will find listed in the Dance Information Sourcebook:
To be considered for a role in 42nd St. on Broadway or in the National Tour, submit your headshot, resume, and cover letter to:
Jay Binder Casting
321 West 44th St.
Suite 606
New York, NY 10036
….and watch Backstage for upcoming auditions, held twice a year!!!
The following is an excerpt from an interview with Jason Marquette, a dancer on the National Tour of 42nd St.
C.O.: Jason, how did you get the job on the tour?
J.M.: Auditioned a lot! I auditioned for the original Broadway company when it first opened [the revival]. They liked me, but I couldn’t stay for the callback because I had a show that night. At that time, I didn’t have the experience. On my resume, I had quite a lot of theme park experience, college shows, etc., but I needed more credits. They wanted to hire people who had major credits.
So, I came back a year later and auditioned again…….
You can read the entire interview with Jason, as well as interviews with BROADWAY DANCERS in the Dance Information Sourcebook!!
Back to Top
How to Get a Job Dancing at Disney
READ THE DANCE INFORMATION SOURCEBOOK FOR:
-Interviews with Disney performers
-The inside scoop on Disney auditions including the best times and places to audition
-A complete list of over 30 MORE THEME PARKS across the US that hire dancers
Walt Disney World
Talent Casting and Booking
P.O. Box 10,000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-1000
Audition Hotline: (407) 397-3220
Disneyland Resort
Entertainment Department
P.O. Box 3232
Anaheim, CA 92803
Audition Hotline: (714)781-0111
If you are cast in a show at Disney World in Florida, you become a member of Actor’s Equity. Disneyland in California operates under the union called AGVA.
Remember, Disney is “the happiest place on Earth.” Your smile is the most important thing at the audition, so remember: sell, sell, sell!!
The following is an excerpt from an interview with Disney performer, Aaron Hagedorn:
C.O.: So I understand you performed at Disneyworld. What has dancing at Disneyworld taught you and overall how was the experience?
A.H.: Dancing at Disney World was a great experience. It was my first professional dancing job and it taught me a lot about myself as a dancer and as a person. Dancing in the parades and shows takes a lot of energy and stamina. Performing in the hot Florida heat in the middle of July is no easy task. Learning choreography quickly is a plus with Disney because those who pick up quickly often get promoted to swing/understduy positions. Disney World is a great place for dancers just starting out. I recommend it with two thumbs up.
The Dance Information Sourcebook tells all about dancing at Disney and other theme parks all over the country!!!
Back to Top
Having a Successful Dance Career in New York or Los Angeles
The Dance Information Sourcebook contains extensive information for having a dance career in New York and Los Angeles, from the author’s experience of having lived and danced in both cities. If you’ve always dreamed of moving to one of these cities, this book provides information for making the big move and starting your dance career there, as well as those who are already living and dancing there.
SAVE YOUR MONEY BEFORE MAKING THE MOVE! I definitely recommend going to New York or LA with some money in your bank account. Since it may take some time to find a place to live and a job, make sure you have enough to tide you over for a while.
“But what if I’m not sure if I want to live in New York or LA?”
The decision of where you live should be based on what your career goals are.
FOR EXAMPLE: If you are a dancer who wants to perform in Musical Theater, if your ultimate goal is to be on Broadway, then of course going to live in New York is the best choice for you. If you want to perform on television, dance in videos or in films, then Los Angeles is the best place to go. Of course, every facet of the dance industry is represented to some extent in both cities, but there are more chances to land jobs in certain areas of dance in certain cities. If you love jazz dance, then maybe you should consider going to Chicago to study and eventually perform with one of the city’s famous jazz companies.
In addition to positive advice like you see above, The Dance Information Sourcebook contains a plethora of information and resources for having a successful dance career in New York and LA, including the following:
-New York Vs. LA for a Dance Career
-Interviews with Professional Dancers Who Live and Dance in NY and LA
-Making the Move and Finding a Place to Live
-Where to Train
-How to Find Auditions
-Contacts for Dance Jobs
-Contacts for Non-Dance Jobs
-National Tour Casting Companies
-Dance Agents
-Casting Directors
-Dance Organizations
-Dancewear Stores
Back to Top
Other Cities Where You Can Live and Dance
In addition to providing extensive information about having a dance career in New York and Los Angeles, The Dance Information Sourcebook features all you need to know to have a dance career in the following cities, including:
-Finding Auditions and Jobs
-Shows that Use Dancers
-Production Companies
-Talent Agencies
-Dance Companies
-Dance Schools
-Casting Directors
-Interviews with Dancers from Each of These Cities
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, often called the entertainment capital of America, has a lot to offer dancers. For one thing, there are a lot of shows going on in this desert town, and it’s growing by the minute. For another thing, the weather is fabulous. You can bask in the year-round sunshine and warm temperatures that this Nevada desert town has to offer.
Moving to Las Vegas can mean the start of a long-term career in dance. Many of the shows are long-running shows, and once you get a contract, it is easy to keep renewing it year after year.
Therefore, it is a good place to find steady, long-term, reliable employment as a dancer.
For a long time, a lot of shows in Vegas had been characterized by the “showgirl” style. While many Las Vegas shows are still this way, recently a lot of new and diverse shows have come to town, and now there are more, different shows with other styles of dance.
Do you have to be tall to be a Las Vegas dancer? Unfortunately, the height requirements still exist for a lot of the typical, long-running Las Vegas shows. However, with the addition of new shows all the time, which don’t necessarily sport “tall showgirls,” there is hope for shorter dancers, too.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois has a lot to offer an aspiring dancer. This city is known as the Jazz Dance Capital of America. It is the birthplace of jazz dance as we know it today. It still remains the best place to go if you are a jazz dance-lover. The schools and companies that focus on jazz dance are plentiful and three of the most famous jazz dance companies in the world call Chicago home. If you aspire to be a professional jazz dancer, then you may want to think about going to Chicago to study in the company school of one of these companies. If you love jazz, there is no better place to go to hone your skills, than Chicago.
In addition to the jazz dance scene, Chicago has a lot to offer dancers. There are many chances to perform in industrials, musical theatre, and television. There is a plethora of opportunities for dancers there. It is a friendly city and with Lake Michigan right there, it has plenty of beauty and recreation as well.
Florida
This sunny state has a lot to offer dancers because it is a popular vacation place. And where you find vacationers, you’ll find entertainment, and opportunities for dancers! Of course, you probably already know that Florida is famous for all of the Orlando attractions: DisneyWorld, Universal Studios, and Sea World. These parks are full of opportunities for young performers.
Although the most concentrated area of opportunity for dancers is the Orlando area, there are other opportunities all over the state. Then of course since Florida is a southern, coastal state, it is a large place for cruise ship ports, and a lot of cruise ship entertainment producers are based there. There are also lots of theaters that hold opportunities for the dancer interested in musical theater.
Branson, Missouri
Branson, Missouri is a beautiful Midwest town set in the Ozark Mountains. It is a hidden treasure, a rather unlikely setting for a large performing arts city. You can find musical revues, celebrity impersonator shows, Irish Dance, Ice skating, and Chinese acrobatic shows there. Since Branson is in a very Christian area, there are also some religious shows. The busy season in Branson is during from September to December, and during Christmastime, and you can find a troupe of Rockettes performing the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. National touring shows also visit Branson throughout the year
International Dance Job Opportunities
This chapter is for the adventurous dancer who wants to travel abroad and perform. One of the best ways to do this is by dancing on cruise ships, but there are many, many other opportunities to travel the world and dance. The Dance Information Sourcebook gives you an entire chapter of information and job contacts you can use to get dance jobs in other countries.
Here is an example of a listing found in Chapter 10: International Dance Opportunities, under “International Dance Agents and Casting Companies.”
A.I.D.A.
An International Dance Agency
Claudiusstr. 7
10557 Berlin
49 0 30 398 449 62 phone
49 0 172 82 83 817
www.aida-dance.de
Contact Pamela Jarmuske
This agency represents dancers for shows in Europe and features online representation. You pay a nominal fee per year for an online portfolio. Your resume, headshot, and video clips of you performing, if you wish, can appear on the site.
The Dance Information Sourcebook also provides dancers with the following valuable information:
-List of American casting directors and production companies that send dancers abroad
-Casting sources for European shows
-All about performing in Japan plus job contacts for:
Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios Japan, and other shows in Japan
-Job contacts for Disneyland in Paris, shows in Guam, London, Turkey and more
-All about performing abroad including visa information
Back to Top
Should I Join Equity?
Actor’s Equity Association
165 W. 46th St.
New York, NY 10036
(212)869-8530
www.actorsequity.org
This is the union for Broadway shows, some national tours and some musicals all over the country. Some dance shows are covered by Equity as well. This is the union that you as a dancer will have to be most concerned with, especially if you want to perform on Broadway. However, whether or not it is a good idea to join is a controversial issue among performers right now.
Should I Join Equity?
Your choice to become a member of Equity or not depends on what your career goals are. If your ultimate goal is to be on Broadway, then becoming an Equity member would be a good idea, because at most Broadway auditions, only Equity people are allowed to audition. At some auditions, even if it calls for only Equity people, non-Equity performers are permitted to audition after all the Equity people are seen and only if there is time. (It often means waiting a long time - in some cases, all day – and there is always the chance that you will wait all day and then not be seen) At still others, there is an actual Equity call and a non-Equity call. In any case, being Equity will ensure that you will always have the chance to audition, and audition first.
So it doesn’t necessarily mean that you must have Equity membership to have a chance at Broadway--talented performers can get cast on Broadway who are not Equity members, because if a casting director sees a performer at an audition that he or she wants to cast, and he or she is not Equity, they can make them Equity if they want to--but having Equity membership already does mean that you will have a better chance.
The downfall of an Equity card is that once you become Equity, you cannot perform in non-Equity productions anymore, unless you give up your card. So that may mean missing out on some great shows, for example, many tours have gone non-Equity in the recent past.
THE DANCE INFORMATION SOURCEBOOK CONTAINS MORE INFORMATION ON UNIONS, INLUDING:
-More advice from professional dancers about joining Equity
-How to become a member of Equity
-Benefits of Equity membership
-Information on other Unions
Back to Top
Guidelines to Maintaining a Steady Dance Career
-Keep training. First and foremost, you must train your instrument: your body. You must think of your body as an instrument that must be fine-tuned. You cannot expect to do well at auditions unless you are going to dance classes regularly. Keeping up with your technique is of utmost importance, and especially keep taking ballet classes. But you don’t need me to tell you that you need to get your butt in class! Secondly, you need to get other training and keep up with that as well. For example, you need to study acting.
Every dancer should study acting. As soon as you study acting, you become a better dancer. You need to branch out and study other things, also, so that you open yourself up to more opportunity in the performing arts world. The dancers who work are not the ones who only do ballet and jazz. The dancers who work are the ones who are versatile and can do ballet, jazz, tap, and act as well.
One equally important thing that dancers should study is singing. I cannot stress enough how important it is to study voice.
If you can sing, you will probably increase your chances of getting a dance job by 300%.
-Promote yourself constantly. Do lots of submissions, all the time. Go to auditions regularly. Remember that you are going to get out of this business what you put into it. Perhaps it is more accurate to say that you will put more work into it, than what you will receive in return. But that is the nature and the reality of the business. If you really want to succeed at this, you have to work really hard. I’m not going to lie to you and say that it is easy. However I am going to tell you that it is possible, and you can do it! Keep your head up and remember that a determined performer will succeed!!
READ THE DANCE INFORMATION SOURCEBOOK FOR The Complete list of the 15 Guidelines you need to follow in order to maintain a steady dance career!!!
Back to Top
It’s All About Attitude
Proper Attitude During Rehearsals is Essential to Staying Employed as a Dancer.
You will have no chance of being hired again, or being recommended for another job if you don’t have a pleasant, hard-working attitude. Since in many dance jobs you will be dancing, living, and socializing with the same people day in and day out, it is of utmost importance that you are easy to get along with. This, as well as the willingness to work hard, are even more important than talent in many casting directors’ minds. What’s the point of having a great dancer if she thinks of herself as a diva, cannot cooperate at rehearsals, causes drama within the cast, and no one gets along with her?
The following is a quote from Jade Esteban-Estrada, which is an excerpt from an answer to this interview question:
“What advice would you give to young people interested in pursuing a career as a professional dancer?”
Most importantly-learn to be nice to people. If we have a bad day or a bad audition we are going to be in a sour mood. You never know when you start to curse out the casting director outside the building if the next person who will have the power to hire your is within an earshot. I don't want bad energy in my dance company or any project that I'm a part of and I don't care how talented you are. Sometimes other performers will not be so courteous. That has nothing to do with you. Be pleasant and be known as that "great person to work with." Once you get known in the business, it will be the deciding factor in you getting a future job. Guaranteed.
Read the Dance Information Sourcebook for complete information on:
-Etiquette and proper attitude during REHEARSALS
-Etiquette and proper attitude during AUDITIONS
-Dressing properly for auditions
-and MORE valuable advice
Back to Top
Advice From Professionals in the Industry
The following quotes are practical career guidance from excerpts of the many interviews in the Dance Information Sourcebook with professionals in the industry.
I talked with David Storey, who was in the original cast of 42nd Street and now is an internationally acclaimed teacher and choreographer: What traits do you see in students who end up succeeding as professional performers, and what do you try to instill in students who aspire to professional careers in dance?
D.S.: One of the common rules most choreographers watch for are the dancers
that talk and the dancers that don't. As a rule, insecurity comes out in dialogue about other dancers or about how brilliant they are themselves. This is always a RED LIGHT. The ones that are focused, support other dancers and don't need to brag are the ones that work. Be careful of feeding into any drama. Just streamline, focus on improving yourself and don't lean towards any negative situations around yourself. Always try to learn, change and grow. Don't put yourself out, or let anyone else put you in a box.
Here Jessie Hilf, New York City-based professional dancer, answers the question: Do you have any advice for young people who want to pursue a career as a professional dancer?
J.H.: If there is anything else in life that would make you happy, then do it. It is a tough career and if you are not completely dedicated to it you are not going to make it. I am not saying that if it is your dream you shouldn’t do it, you just need to make sure that it is what you really want to do. Once you make the decision to do it, stick with it, don’t ever give up. You may have to go to as many as 100 auditions before you get a job. Many people who are famous, like Fred Astaire, were turned down many, many times at first. And remember, “Shoot for the moon! Even if you miss you will still land amongst the stars!”
FOR MUCH MORE GUIDANCE FOR YOUR DANCE CAREER, READ THE DANCE INFORMATION SOURCEBOOK!!
Back to Top
Making a Living While Pursuing Your Dream
While living in New York, LA, Las Vegas, or Chicago and auditioning for your dream dance job, you are going to need to work and support yourself in a way that is flexible enough to allow you the time to do your auditions and take dance classes. Most dancers work as a waiter/waitress or bartender. But if you don’t want to do those jobs, there are many other choices out there that are perfect for performers. Author and professional dancer Cheryl Obal provides several examples, as well as contact information, for work that she and other dancers have often done which are well-paying jobs that you can schedule week-to-week, according to your audition schedule!
One example is Promotional Work.
Also called promotional modeling, this is a great job for entertainers. It is an easy job during which you promote a product or service. You may hand out samples, answer questions from people, or encourage them to participate in a questionnaire about the product. The marketing/advertising firms often hire dancers, actors, etc. for these jobs because we are people with outgoing personalities who speak well, present ourselves well, smile a lot, and have lots of energy. It is usually a perfect situation for entertainer-types because the jobs are generally one day up to a week at a time, so they are short-term assignments, and you can usually pick and choose the days you can work. So, you can plan your work schedule around your auditions! Also, since almost everyone who works at these events are fellow dancers, actors, etc., so it is a good place to network! I have made many career connections at promotional events. The pay is good too.
Promotional modeling usually pays between $15-25 an hour. You are paid by 1099, so no taxes are taken out.
One of the best companies to apply to is:
Encore Nationwide
www.encorenationwide.com
Director of Promotional Marketing: Heather Gettings
hgettings@encorenationwide.com
Write to her and tell her that you are interested in applying to work as a promotional model. She is very nice and great to work for. Encore has many different events going on all the time, all over the country. She’ll ask you what area(s) you can work in, and whenever something comes up for your area, she’ll email you. Respond right away because events fill up quickly.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PROMOTIONAL WORK INCLUDING MORE COMPANIES YOU CAN APPLY TO, AND MANY, MANY MORE JOBS THAT DANCERS DO AND THE CONTACTS FOR THESE JOBS, READ THE DANCE INFORMATION SOURCEBOOK!!!
Back to Top
Advice for the Young Dancer: Going to College for
Dance
Topics that are covered in The Dance Information Sourcebook about going to college for dance:
-Questions to ask when seeking a college dance program
-Is going to college right for me?
-B.A. Vs. B.F.A.
-The Top 15 College Dance Programs—the ones attended most by dancers who ended up performing professionally.
-A list of 200 other college dance programs.
-Advice from professional dancers who’ve gone to college for dance
Here are some of the benefits of college dance training:
1) The training you get in college or university dance programs is excellent, and you will most definitely grow in technique and ability. The intensity of the training and rehearsal schedules in college will prepare you for the rigorous rehearsal schedules you will have as a professional dancer.
2) There are many opportunities to perform and choreograph in college productions.
3) Colleges and Universities often have partnerships with professional companies, in which you may have opportunities to perform. Also, your professors may perform in or even run their own dance companies and they may know other company heads and producers. Therefore, it is a way to connect with opportunities.
4) Who says you have to make a choice between "diving into the biz" or going to college for dance? You can do both at the same time if you want to! Many colleges let you perform on the side while going to school, and some even give you credit for it. You can also perform in the summer, or take a break from college to perform. I personally left college to perform in Japan, then returned to finish my degree when the job was over. I also performed in a modern dance company while in school. I was given credits for both of these experiences, and those credits helped me graduate early.
5) Taking college academics makes you a well-rounded person.
6) Once I got out into the "real world" I found it easier to get a non-dance-related job to support myself while I was auditioning because I had a degree.
7) Being away from home and making a 3 or 4 year commitment to a college dance program teaches you a great deal about life. It makes you responsible, it matures you, and it prepares you for a life of working in the performing arts. It teaches you how to get along with other people and it teaches you about how to achieve something through hard work. And believe me, there is no better example of hard work than college finals week, the week you present your dance show, or worse yet, when the two of them fall on the same week!
RELATED TOPICS FOR YOUNG DANCERS IN THE DANCE INFORMATION SOURCEBOOK:
-Going to an Arts High School
-Summer Programs
-Preparing Yourself for a Professional Dance Career
-Job Opportunities for Young Dancers
Back to Top
|
