Dance Major

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HAHAHAHAH! Sorry. I was a professional ballet dancer. By 16 you should be established as a n apprentice through summer programs. By 18 you have accepted to a company. If your daughter is truly interested in making her way in this particular world then the must give us dreams of college until she ages out of ballet due to injuries 28/30.

Not with contemporary.

Contemporary dance companies tend to work with "older" dancers (ie dancers out of college into their late 20s/early 30s. They are also open to different body types than ballet companies.

OP, degreed dance teachers at the studio level make around $25.00-50.00/hour for regular teaching and up to a thousand to two thousand or more plus travel for teaching an in house studio workshop for a couple of hours on a weekend afternoon.

If she is smart, a good and creative teacher/choreographer and markets herself well, she can make a decent amount of money as a twenty something right out of college.

That is not typical. There not a large market for contemporary dancers. Of the dozens of ( contemporary) dancers I knew in college, one has made a career of it.

When were you in college?

There are a lot more opportunities for dancers beyond traditional ballet companies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HAHAHAHAH! Sorry. I was a professional ballet dancer. By 16 you should be established as a n apprentice through summer programs. By 18 you have accepted to a company. If your daughter is truly interested in making her way in this particular world then the must give us dreams of college until she ages out of ballet due to injuries 28/30.

Not with contemporary.

Contemporary dance companies tend to work with "older" dancers (ie dancers out of college into their late 20s/early 30s. They are also open to different body types than ballet companies.

OP, degreed dance teachers at the studio level make around $25.00-50.00/hour for regular teaching and up to a thousand to two thousand or more plus travel for teaching an in house studio workshop for a couple of hours on a weekend afternoon.

If she is smart, a good and creative teacher/choreographer and markets herself well, she can make a decent amount of money as a twenty something right out of college.

That is not typical. There not a large market for contemporary dancers. Of the dozens of ( contemporary) dancers I knew in college, one has made a career of it.

When were you in college?

There are a lot more opportunities for dancers beyond traditional ballet companies.

Not that long ago, and I work in the arts. I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea to major in dance, but it's best to be realistic when painting a picture of future opportunities. I wrote upthread about concentrating on musical theatre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My college roommate was a dance major (modern dance). Ended up getting masters in dance therapy, and seems happy with her life.

OP here, so what exactly is she doing now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not allow it. I'd let her minor in dance, or double major in dance and some more lucrative major like accounting.

You "would not allow it"?? That's one sure fire way to loose your DD. I went to art school. Have a BFA from a top school and MFA from the top program in my field. My parents were definitely worried about my ability to find a job after graduation but I'm doing just fine now. DH also has a BFA from same art school and we both work in our fields of study (he more so than I) and our HHI is over $200k (since that seems to be important to you, OP).

Like a pp said, a lot can change. Also, if she's really good, and motivated, she'll be fine. Also agree that the school you go to is VERY important. So NYU, yes. Towson, no.

[Anonymous]

One of my kids has a friend who majored in ballet at a well known program and is now dancing with a professional ballet company. My child (who also danced when younger) brought back a program from a performance he attended and there were a number of other dancers who had also completed college.

I think the ballet world is changing and they are realizing that dancers with an education and some more maturity are an asset to the company.

You and your daughter might want to spend some time looking up the bios of dancers who are in the jobs your daughter would like someday. See where those dancers went to college or what kind of training they had: that might help you to figure out a good path for your daughter.

[Anonymous]

Madonna was a dance major at Michigan. She left after 3 years to dance in NYC and then to be Madonna. So that's a pretty good career path. Now her daughter goes to Michigan, she's around campus pretty often.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my kids has a friend who majored in ballet at a well known program and is now dancing with a professional ballet company. My child (who also danced when younger) brought back a program from a performance he attended and there were a number of other dancers who had also completed college.

I think the ballet world is changing and they are realizing that dancers with an education and some more maturity are an asset to the company.

You and your daughter might want to spend some time looking up the bios of dancers who are in the jobs your daughter would like someday. See where those dancers went to college or what kind of training they had: that might help you to figure out a good path for your daughter.

Agree with all of this, except that the dance world is changing. It might be changing, but not for the better. I work with ABT fairly regularly, and I would say the culture is largely the same. The only difference now, is that the dance world isn't likely to see another Suzanne Farrell. Those days are done.

[Anonymous]

What about a double major in dance and physical therapy/the sciences needed to become a physical therapist? If dance doesn't pan out, she could work with injured dancers and athletes.

[Anonymous]

I have about 5 friends that majored in Dance from Towson. 4 ended up getting regular job, like HR, management, etc.

One has her own dance studio.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not allow it. I'd let her minor in dance, or double major in dance and some more lucrative major like accounting.

You "would not allow it"?? That's one sure fire way to loose your DD. I went to art school. Have a BFA from a top school and MFA from the top program in my field. My parents were definitely worried about my ability to find a job after graduation but I'm doing just fine now. DH also has a BFA from same art school and we both work in our fields of study (he more so than I) and our HHI is over $200k (since that seems to be important to you, OP).

Like a pp said, a lot can change. Also, if she's really good, and motivated, she'll be fine. Also agree that the school you go to is VERY important. So NYU, yes. Towson, no.

Yes, I would not allow it. Some choices are allowed to be made by my children. Some are not. They are not allowed to pursue any career that puts their life on the line (military, police, firefighter) and not allowed to pursue a career that burns out their body (sports). If they had chosen to do that, they would not have my support.. You are free to disagree and parent your children the way you think is best. But you will not change my mind. I have four, two of whom have graduated from college. So I'm comfortable with the track I'm on in regards to this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have about 5 friends that majored in Dance from Towson. 4 ended up getting regular job, like HR, management, etc.

One has her own dance studio.

That feeds into the idea that the only real career path is teaching other dancers. Pyramid scheme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not allow it. I'd let her minor in dance, or double major in dance and some more lucrative major like accounting.

You "would not allow it"?? That's one sure fire way to loose your DD. I went to art school. Have a BFA from a top school and MFA from the top program in my field. My parents were definitely worried about my ability to find a job after graduation but I'm doing just fine now. DH also has a BFA from same art school and we both work in our fields of study (he more so than I) and our HHI is over $200k (since that seems to be important to you, OP).

Like a pp said, a lot can change. Also, if she's really good, and motivated, she'll be fine. Also agree that the school you go to is VERY important. So NYU, yes. Towson, no.

Yes, I would not allow it. Some choices are allowed to be made by my children. Some are not. They are not allowed to pursue any career that puts their life on the line (military, police, firefighter) and not allowed to pursue a career that burns out their body (sports). If they had chosen to do that, they would not have my support.. You are free to disagree and parent your children the way you think is best. But you will not change my mind. I have four, two of whom have graduated from college. So I'm comfortable with the track I'm on in regards to this.

Op- do not do this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell her to go for it. If it doesn't work out, she can do something boring and responsible later. An accelerated BSN and become a nurse, or law school or whatever.

Creative careers are really the best jobs in the future, as AI and robotics develop.

On the other hand, the demand for waiting staff will always be there too

OP, decline to pay for it at least... Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I know two dance majors. First performed on Broadway as a child/teen and went to NY school for a degree in performance dance. After one year she is not in the team and has changed her degree to art management. Second did two years at a college in the Midwest majoring in ballet. He is now an apprentice at an east coast big city ballet.

[Anonymous]

Op are you local?
What grade is your daughter?
Where is she studying now?
Is she doing the Suzanne Farrell program? Is she with Washington ballet? Is she at Kirov?