Dance majors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even when opinions on it aren’t sought in the post, without fail, every single thread about the performing arts inevitably devolves into whether it’s a worthwhile degree (and warnings about waiting tables). So tiresome!

Agreed! Even when people ask about double majors or minors, the kids get labeled recreational. They just can’t win. I’ve known lots of professional dancers who went on to have successful artistic careers while pursuing other career interests, sometimes in tandem and sometimes concurrently. I’m a retired professional dancer who did just that. I didn’t major in dance and I always regretted missing out on critical artistic development and community through undergraduate dance. Fortunately, I found it after college by moving to a big city. But my technical development suffered by not studying dance in college and I never really found my people until after graduation.

[Anonymous]

That’s great! Dance is a wonderful profession for those who choose it. So is football and many other sports, whether as an athlete, coach or behind the scenes contributor. So I do wonder why dance is recognized as a legitimate course of athletic study and sports are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do dance majors do for work when they graduate?

Temp jobs as administrative assistant.
I had a roommate who was one. Lamented her dumb degree that wasn't paying her rent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Applying as a dance major can be a great strategy for a great dancer with less than stellar stats. At many schools it's easy to change your major once you're there.

It's not a "great strategy' because "great dancers" get nothing out of colllege. They are too old. They should be in dance companies by then.

You’re showing your age and I hope you’re not in any position to advise dancers coming up now. This may have been true for ballet dancers 20 years ago, but even ballet companies these days are partnering with colleges to train their recruits and some companies have started their own undergrad programs to hone talent that won’t flame out early. In modern dance the options are even more plentiful.

Which ballet companies?
My understanding is that competitive ballet companies train their apprentices starting from a young age at their feeder schools. I don't know of any that take in apprentices from outside programs. And many don't graduate into apprenticeships with the company. After 17-18, if one is not picked up by a company, game over.

Which modern dance companies - that actually provide a living wage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dancer will not be majoring in dance. Dance is an activity, not a future.

That’s easy to say when you have a mediocre dancer. Talented dancers have more options.

Cruise ships?

That’s one path. Other grads I know have been hired by professional companies including Mark Morris, Elizabeth Streb, Nederlands, Pilobolus, and Martha Graham Company. Some are running their own companies or studios. Others are teaching in private studios, or go on for MFAs and teach in universities as adjunct or tenured faculty members. A few have managed to balance high level careers while dancing in well regarded local companies part-time. It’s not an easy path and requires sacrifices, but dancers who are driven, disciplined, and talented can make it work. Those who have potential but can only see one path flame out and those who lack talent or drive give up. The others just keep working and evolving.

Mark Morris - gross fat slob
Elizabeth Streb - needs grants to survive
Nederlands - foreign company sustained by the state
Pilobolus - meh
Martha Graham - she's long been dead and the company pretty much died with her, even the Ford Foundation passed her up because they knew she wouldn't use their funding to create a lasting legacy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Applying as a dance major can be a great strategy for a great dancer with less than stellar stats. At many schools it's easy to change your major once you're there.

It's not a "great strategy' because "great dancers" get nothing out of colllege. They are too old. They should be in dance companies by then.

You’re showing your age and I hope you’re not in any position to advise dancers coming up now. This may have been true for ballet dancers 20 years ago, but even ballet companies these days are partnering with colleges to train their recruits and some companies have started their own undergrad programs to hone talent that won’t flame out early. In modern dance the options are even more plentiful.

So this explains why young ballet dancers who seek year round conservatories only to attend and never get picked up. If they are truly partnering with colleges, a lot of families should stop uprooting and separating their families for an empty and expensive dream.

m


Yes, the pp is wrong. If for ballet you summer associate with a major comosny and are affikiated by 17/18 . Many are tutored to finish high school equivalency. I don't know any pro ballet dancers who finished college and then were picked up by a major company. A few, with family backing , attend college after, after but it is rare. Modern dance is a slightly diffferent story but careers are rare and never financially successful. You shouldn't squander $40k-$93k a year on a dance major. Your professional options are thin and running a studio rarely breaks even. I know far too many former pros who had to resort to running studios and teaching class. Many are bitter (like all of my teachers); quite a few becine alcoholics. Then there are the $$ surgeries to repair the body. I've undergone three and preparing for my fourth. Have your kid read Gelsey Kirkland's " Dancing on my grave". subscribe to Dance Magazine and start reading. Read the want ads

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even when opinions on it aren’t sought in the post, without fail, every single thread about the performing arts inevitably devolves into whether it’s a worthwhile degree (and warnings about waiting tables). So tiresome!

You are mistaking the criticism. I am not criticizing these young dancers. I am criticizing a system that spits out dancers without fall back plans and over eager parents close their eyes to it all. Maybe you are the exceptions. But there are dancer majors at institutions all over the country and their prospects aren’t terrific. I think dancers can be much better served, that’s my only point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even when opinions on it aren’t sought in the post, without fail, every single thread about the performing arts inevitably devolves into whether it’s a worthwhile degree (and warnings about waiting tables). So tiresome!

You are mistaking the criticism. I am not criticizing these young dancers. I am criticizing a system that spits out dancers without fall back plans and over eager parents close their eyes to it all. Maybe you are the exceptions. But there are dancer majors at institutions all over the country and their prospects aren’t terrific. I think dancers can be much better served, that’s my only point.

Any parent considering a dance major should consider college this way -
like any seller (except the most well funded institutions), they respond to market demand

Meaning, if there is interest in clown studies, there will be a program created for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do dance majors do for work when they graduate?

Temp jobs as administrative assistant.
I had a roommate who was one. Lamented her dumb degree that wasn't paying her rent.

Oh Jebus, read the thread. Lots of opportunities for dance majors after college in a wide range of jobs. Your roommate may have lacked imagination or skill. Or maybe that entry level job was a stepping stone to something better. I started out my arts career as an unpaid intern.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dancer will not be majoring in dance. Dance is an activity, not a future.

That’s easy to say when you have a mediocre dancer. Talented dancers have more options.

Cruise ships?

That’s one path. Other grads I know have been hired by professional companies including Mark Morris, Elizabeth Streb, Nederlands, Pilobolus, and Martha Graham Company. Some are running their own companies or studios. Others are teaching in private studios, or go on for MFAs and teach in universities as adjunct or tenured faculty members. A few have managed to balance high level careers while dancing in well regarded local companies part-time. It’s not an easy path and requires sacrifices, but dancers who are driven, disciplined, and talented can make it work. Those who have potential but can only see one path flame out and those who lack talent or drive give up. The others just keep working and evolving.

Mark Morris - gross fat slob
Elizabeth Streb - needs grants to survive
Nederlands - foreign company sustained by the state
Pilobolus - meh
Martha Graham - she's long been dead and the company pretty much died with her, even the Ford Foundation passed her up because they knew she wouldn't use their funding to create a lasting legacy

Wow I’d love to see your resume, oh anonymous poster blasting world renown professionals with real careers. A company surviving on grants and state support means they are accomplished enough to earn that support. Duh. You clearly don’t know how successful arts companies and organizations are funded. Do you think ticket sales keep the lights on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s great! Dance is a wonderful profession for those who choose it. So is football and many other sports, whether as an athlete, coach or behind the scenes contributor. So I do wonder why dance is recognized as a legitimate course of athletic study and sports are not.

It’s a performing art, similar to theater, playing an instrument, etc. The arts have long been a part of higher education studies.

Are you really this clueless? Or just feigning ignorance?

[Anonymous]

Fwiw, there are sports related majors. Sports management, sports studies, I’ve seen coaching, etc. Dance isn’t just straight dancing. There are history classes and classes about how to teach to children. Most income some sort of choreography component, as well as anatomy.