5 Professionals Share What They Wish They Knew Before Starting Their Dance Career (Part 2)
Earlier this year, I published Part 1 of a series where I ask professional dancers what they wish they knew before starting their dance career. It came as no surprise to me that it quickly became one of my most popular blog posts of all time with almost 500 readers!
Clearly, this topic struck a chord! It is so powerful to hear directly from those who have gone down the path before us and learn from their insight. We are so lucky to sneak a peek behind the curtain and gain access to the knowledge shared by dancers who’ve spent years working in the industry. Enjoy part 2!
Krystle Frey
Pivot Ball Change Podcast Host, Madison Ballet, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Broadway Dinner Theater (now The Palace Theater)
“I wish I knew how to market myself better, how to network better, and to be more confident in my singing capabilities. I felt like you needed to be a triple threat to book work.”
Photo credit: Cait Louise Co.
Nancy Paradis
Washington Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Louisville Ballet, Commercial Dancer in LA MTV Movie Awards, Netflix Promo 2020
“I wish I knew that it was OK to ask for help, for mentorship and for guidance. Once we get into a company we think that the training stops and the performing begins…and it’s just not true. I wish I knew that it was OK to be ambitious and ask to understudy roles, to go the extra mile in order to keep learning and growing. There is an invisible etiquette in ballet and it’s good for us all to honor that…but there’s nothing wrong with asking for additional opportunities if you are willing to work extra hard. I remember just feeling too shy or maybe insecure to have these conversations with my Director and I wish I would have had the support to do so.”
Photo credit: James Franklin
Kaylee Randall
Universal Studios Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa, Royal Caribbean, David Saxe Productions (Vegas the Show)
“I wish I knew how difficult it would be to transition into post-dance life. I wasn't prepared for how much grieving would be involved and how little support there would be from the dance community. Of course, no one is to blame... but I wish I knew that it wouldn't be easy to simply transition from my dance career into something else. Perhaps I could've been more prepared for that.”
Photo credit: Bindman Photography
Kobe Ritter
Freelance ballet dancer - credits include North Star Ballet, En Pointe Indiana Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet Conservatory, Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh, Ballet Legato
“I wish I would have told myself to be patient and let the opportunities present themselves rather than try to force it before I was ready. I would have also told myself to always remain humble, and not let the successes, both big and little, go to my head.”
Photo credit: Elizabeth Pack
Johanna Seidel
Lone Star Ballet, Alluvion Dance Chicago, Esoteric Dance Company Chicago RAW Artist, Movementum Dance Project
“Eating is important! Cross-training is important! Therapy is important! I wish I had been encouraged to speak with a nutritionalist and sports medicine professional to assist in understanding what it takes to fuel and protect a professional dancer’s body to promote longevity for a professional career. Ultimately, when your body is your instrument, you have to put in the extra work and the extra hours to ensure you’re setting yourself up for success. Taking care of your body through proper nutrition, physical care techniques like cross-training, and mental health programs will keep you dancing happier, stronger, and longer.”
Photo credit: Fernando Rodriguez
Wow. This is some powerful advice. I am so grateful to these five dancers for taking the time to give us a little insight into what they wish they knew before starting their dance careers. The road to a professional career has lots of twists and turns - it won’t always be smooth, but you don’t have to go it alone! If you’re feeling lost, remember you can reach out to your teachers, a friend, a colleague, or even a professional Dance Career Mentor for support.
If you found this helpful, be sure to check out the first blog post in this series for even more helpful wisdom!
Meet the Author
Caitlin Sloan is a Dance Educator and Career Mentor based in Madison, WI.
Caitlin received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Grand Valley State University and Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Missouri.
She danced professionally for nine years with companies including Ballet Tucson and Missouri Contemporary Ballet (now Mareck Dance). Caitlin has taught at schools all over the Midwest, most notably serving as Director of The School of Missouri Contemporary Ballet and Youth Company Director for Central Indiana Dance Ensemble. She is currently on faculty at the School of Madison Ballet.
Caitlin founded The Brainy Ballerina® in 2019, a virtual resource providing support and guidance for aspiring ballet dancers. Follow @thebrainyballerina on Instagram for your daily dose of dance career guidance and inspiration.
