Tag: career advice

When You Should—and Shouldn’t—Teach for Free

Ever feel the exciting rush of landing your first gig, only to have your stomach drop when you realize you won’t be paid? If you haven’t found yourself in this tricky situation yet, you might’ve still heard the warning stories from other dancers. And if it’s one of your first serious offers to teach or […]

What to Expect at Your First Dance-Contract Meeting

As a dancer, you get artistic feedback in small doses every day: “Don’t forget to spot,” “Turn out your leg,” “Raise your passé”—the works. But what happens when you land that first job, and it comes time to sit face-to-face with your company’s artistic leadership to discuss your bigger-picture progression? We asked three experts for […]

Ida Saki Talks Training, Challenges, and Her Keys to Success

Former Dance Spirit Cover Model Search winner and all-around goddess, Ida Saki, is one of those rare dancers that captivates on every level. Not only are we obsessed with her silky smooth contemporary moves and impossibly gorgeous lines (those feet!! 😍 ), but we’re just as obsessed with what she has to say. And in […]

We Don't Do It Because It's Easy

Let’s face it: If you wanted an easy, straight-forward career path, you probably wouldn’t aspire to be a professional dancer. First of all, there’s no set path to success. If you want to be a doctor, you go to medical school. A lawyer? Law school. And while there are tons of great higher-ed opportunities for […]

Are You Ready to Go Pro?

It’s a question every serious dance student has to ask as she approaches high school graduation: What’s next? College, or a company gig? A full-time dance career, or…something else? You can’t take this big decision lightly. But how can you know if you’re ready to go pro after high school? What about at age 22, […]