The Goldilocks Method of Goal Setting for your Dance Career
We’ve all heard of the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. While the bears are out one day, Goldilocks stumbles upon their home and lets herself inside. She eats their porridge, sits in their chairs, and sleeps in their beds. Of course, it takes her three tries to find the porridge, chair, or bed that is just right.
Beyond the moral of the story being the need to respect others’ property and think about the consequences of your actions…Goldilocks can also teach us a valuable lesson about setting effective goals for our dance career.
When I work with a dancer, one of the first things I ask is “What is your ultimate goal for your professional career?”
95% of the time, their goals fall on one end of the spectrum: either way too specific, or way too vague. Here are some examples (in the style of Goldilocks):
Too big (aka too broad):
"It doesn't matter where I dance, I just want to be a professional."
Sometimes dancers say this because they feel like being a professional dancer is such a pipe dream that they would be lucky to get a job at all. Or they’re afraid that by narrowing down their options, they would miss out on opportunities.
There are two main problems with keeping your options too broad:
You won’t know where to focus your energy. As dancers, we are always learning and growing. We know it’s important to be well-rounded and seek out education in as many styles as possible. However, sometimes you can end up being just adequate at a lot of styles instead of being excellent in a few areas. When you enter an audition, you want the Director to immediately be able to picture you in their company. If you don’t stand out as having the distinct qualities they are looking for, you will be passed over. By narrowing your focus, you can work smarter to develop the specific skills you need to obtain the job you really want.
You are more likely to take a job that isn’t right for you. You know that famous quote from Alexander Hamilton “If you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything.”? You’ve got to know what it is you want out of a career to make it happen. Dancers who don’t have an intention for their career often end up burnt out from taking jobs that don’t pay adequately, don’t have a sustainable schedule, and don’t align with their values. You DO have a choice when it comes to your career…don’t settle for a job that leaves you miserable in the name of becoming a professional dancer.
2. Too little (aka too narrow):
"I want to be a principal dancer with New York City Ballet."
Okay, wait. Before you abandon all of your big dreams…I'm not saying that you shouldn't have an aspirational goal! SOMEBODY is going to be a principal dancer with New York City Ballet right? If this is your objective, you should do everything in your power to make it happen.
Here’s why I say that this might be too specific: When you are dead set on only one possible successful outcome, you can feel like a failure if it doesn't happen. I’ve seen far too many dancers give up their careers because they didn’t turn out exactly as they had imagined in their heads.
Here’s what I like to ask the dancers I work with when they come to me with a specific goal like this: “What is it about this specific job that appeals to you?”
So in this example, what is it about New York City Ballet that appeals to you? Maybe it’s living in New York City. Or dancing Balanchine works. Or getting to perform in front of a huge audience.
Once you figure out what it is…then you can determine what other companies might give you the same sense of fulfillment in your career. Getting to the root of why this is your goal can help expand your definition of success while still aspiring for your ultimate dream.
3. Just right! "My goal is to _________ because it aligns with my core values."
Now we're talking!
To really have a clear picture of what you're working toward...you first need to define what your absolute must-haves are when looking for a job. These are the non-negotiables that you aren’t willing to bend on.
The truth is...your career may or may not provide everything you are searching for. You will have to make choices and you will have to bend on certain things. But as long as you stay true to your core values and don’t sacrifice what really matters to you, you are well on your way to a successful, happy dance career
As an aspiring ballerina, my view of the professional world was pretty narrow. I only knew what I had seen other dancers from my studio do. I had no idea of the huge scope of opportunities that were available to me. I didn’t know the right questions to ask to get the answers I needed. And I certainly wasn’t ready to reframe my mindset from that of a student to a professional.
Does this sound like you? Then you are the reason I wrote The Brainy Ballerina Intentional Career Handbook. It’s everything I wish I had known when I was starting out in my career. We dive deep into determining your core values and setting an intention for your career so you can find a goal that is just right for you. Grab your copy and let’s get started!
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.
