3 answers
3 answers
Updated
Marissa’s Answer
Hi Keira! I'm Marissa and for what you want to pursue as a profession can happen. My advice would be to work hard on your dance classes and just keep posting videos of yourself dancing choreography. Also networking is everything as in life and in dance so If you are able to attend any small dance event or big doesn't matter just show up and present yourself to everyone, your talent and hard work will call attention. Have in mind that you already are doing amazing and your goals will get there!
Updated
James’s Answer
Your art will create the market, the market should not create your art. In other words, if dancing is your thing, create some dances. Not with the intention of meeting someone famous, but because you enjoy the expression of movement.
Stick with it! My experience knowing some talented dancers (who have been asked to be in movies, travelled the world, etc.) is that they had an incredible work ethic, kindness, and deep deep motivations to become an instrument for the art they are expressing. Hold onto your deepest motivation/desire, and give it a shot. You may find that the world tests your motivation; thats ok. It will reveal your true motivation and you too will become someone "big."
Best of luck!
Find a community where you are not the worst, but not the best
Stick with it! My experience knowing some talented dancers (who have been asked to be in movies, travelled the world, etc.) is that they had an incredible work ethic, kindness, and deep deep motivations to become an instrument for the art they are expressing. Hold onto your deepest motivation/desire, and give it a shot. You may find that the world tests your motivation; thats ok. It will reveal your true motivation and you too will become someone "big."
Best of luck!
James recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Keira !
Congratulations on being a talented dancer ! Being in New York City, all of the wide variety of opportunities await you in the places that are right for you and it's not on social media. Truth is, celebrities are not sitting around watching dancers on social media - they have enough work to do themselves. So it's good that you may have some videos and can make a reel from them, but maybe it's time to explore all that New York City has to offer for a career that will help you make connections and really be out there !
Dance is an in-person profession and some of your auditions may be online on occasion, but you will have to start joining some professional level dance classes and take any dance class that is offered at your school.
My advice is for any dancer that is versatile and since you are still a student, you have time to develop your talents in many different forms and styles which could be a factor in getting work. If you are in high school, join any dance clubs or activities and audition for a chorus role in any musicals your school does. If you are in college, your dance department will be integral in helping you develop contacts. If you are still in high school, seek Summer Theatre Dance Camps. There is also the Turn It Up Dance Competitions that you can participate in and I have left a link for it below.
You should relax about the future, fame and fortune. That will get you nowhere, to be honest. You have to be into dance because you can't think of doing anything but dance and it gives you joy and satisfaction whether you're paid for it or not. Everyone's dance career goes differently and you must develop a personal doable intent as to why you will dance as a career. It is not all about fame or recognition. You could have a career for 30 years and people will not know your name or face and that is perfectly okay. You do not give yourself fame, other people do. It happens sometimes but doesn't happen for most dancers. Than again, it may happen for ballet dancers and not other genres of dancers. So this is a time that you recognize that you want to pursue professional dance and you will succeed if you take it literally one step at a time.
One thing you can do is learn how to present yourself for auditions. I have left a link below on preparing for dance auditions. Realize that any of the fine arts as well as the performing arts are opinion based and conditional so look at each audition as a learning experience. Do not take it personally. Register with agencies for some work only when you are available. If you are still in high school, it would probably be good to learn how Dance Agencies work, but you need to finish high school first. I left a link for a list of NYC agencies. It is a very serious, commitment driven and sometimes difficult path, but you need to do it when you are fully prepared. It doesn't happen simply by wanting it. It takes a lot of versatility, discipline and knowing how the industry works. You can learn all that in school and in college.
So, you do not need to take yourself "big" right now. Enjoy the journey to the destination. You will need feedback from teachers and directors about when you may be ready. You'll need a lot of experience and a solid resume of shows you've done. Most dance teachers will be very honest with you about your level. It's actually something that others decide about you. I think you can get this in New York City - there are a lot of resources out there, it just takes getting on the internet and doing a search and also asking more specific questions here on Career Village. Don't give up ! You can do it !
SUMMER DANCE CAMPS IN NYC https://www.socapa.org/dance/summer-camps/new-york-ny
SUMMER DANCE CAMPS IN NEW YORK https://bestdancecamps.com/best-new-york-dance-camps.html
2024 DANCE COMPETITIONS https://turnitupdance.com/regional-dance-competitions/
PREPARE FOR DANCE AUDITIONS https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/how-to-prepare-for-dance-audition
NEW YORK CITY AGENCIES FOR DANCERS https://www.nycastings.com/get-your-groove-on-5-nyc-agencies-for-dancers-and-choreographers/
Congratulations on being a talented dancer ! Being in New York City, all of the wide variety of opportunities await you in the places that are right for you and it's not on social media. Truth is, celebrities are not sitting around watching dancers on social media - they have enough work to do themselves. So it's good that you may have some videos and can make a reel from them, but maybe it's time to explore all that New York City has to offer for a career that will help you make connections and really be out there !
Dance is an in-person profession and some of your auditions may be online on occasion, but you will have to start joining some professional level dance classes and take any dance class that is offered at your school.
My advice is for any dancer that is versatile and since you are still a student, you have time to develop your talents in many different forms and styles which could be a factor in getting work. If you are in high school, join any dance clubs or activities and audition for a chorus role in any musicals your school does. If you are in college, your dance department will be integral in helping you develop contacts. If you are still in high school, seek Summer Theatre Dance Camps. There is also the Turn It Up Dance Competitions that you can participate in and I have left a link for it below.
You should relax about the future, fame and fortune. That will get you nowhere, to be honest. You have to be into dance because you can't think of doing anything but dance and it gives you joy and satisfaction whether you're paid for it or not. Everyone's dance career goes differently and you must develop a personal doable intent as to why you will dance as a career. It is not all about fame or recognition. You could have a career for 30 years and people will not know your name or face and that is perfectly okay. You do not give yourself fame, other people do. It happens sometimes but doesn't happen for most dancers. Than again, it may happen for ballet dancers and not other genres of dancers. So this is a time that you recognize that you want to pursue professional dance and you will succeed if you take it literally one step at a time.
One thing you can do is learn how to present yourself for auditions. I have left a link below on preparing for dance auditions. Realize that any of the fine arts as well as the performing arts are opinion based and conditional so look at each audition as a learning experience. Do not take it personally. Register with agencies for some work only when you are available. If you are still in high school, it would probably be good to learn how Dance Agencies work, but you need to finish high school first. I left a link for a list of NYC agencies. It is a very serious, commitment driven and sometimes difficult path, but you need to do it when you are fully prepared. It doesn't happen simply by wanting it. It takes a lot of versatility, discipline and knowing how the industry works. You can learn all that in school and in college.
So, you do not need to take yourself "big" right now. Enjoy the journey to the destination. You will need feedback from teachers and directors about when you may be ready. You'll need a lot of experience and a solid resume of shows you've done. Most dance teachers will be very honest with you about your level. It's actually something that others decide about you. I think you can get this in New York City - there are a lot of resources out there, it just takes getting on the internet and doing a search and also asking more specific questions here on Career Village. Don't give up ! You can do it !
Michelle recommends the following next steps: