DANCE MAJORS

So what happens to dance majors after graduation? Many can agree that “Dancers heading out into the world will face all kinds of choices to support their artistic projects, and they will succeed more often if they are prepared” (Van Dyke). As most artists know, making a living off of art and/or entertainment can be rough. Graduated dance majors have a degree and resume for credibility, but landing a job is the most difficult part. A lot of graduates are in companies during their studies or join one after graduating, but there’s a very unpredictable downside to being a dancer. The body is a dancers paintbrush, it wares down over time except dancers can’t just run to an art supply store to buy another body. Dancers age which causes their bodies to lose flexibility and strength. World renown dancer and choreographer Mia Michaels doesn’t dance much anymore due to her age and current physical health, yet she is still able to choreograph/teach to dancers at conventions and master classes. Though that’s the case of someone famous, not all dancers have it made. 

 

A study shows that “few people continue working only as dancers for more than ten years. . . in the longer term the survey suggests that after ten years, teaching, choreography and other dance related occupations are the areas where the majority will be working if they remain in the profession” (Montgomery and Robinson). It appears that most dance majors are unable to actually dance after a certain amount of time. And exactly how do dance majors make a living if they aren’t dancing?  Even though dancers may not have the ability to dance, they still have the ability to be employed as teachers, choreographers, administrators, studio owners, and other dance related occupations. It would appear that “it is common for the artists to have been engaged in more than one of these dance activities” (Montgomery and Robinson). It turns out that “those employed in dance rely heavily on non-dance jobs” to make a living and/or earn special health benefits and retirement plans (Montgomery and Robinson). A lot of dancers have to rely on either their job or spouse’s job to make any income. It just so happens to be that the support these jobs give them is what helps them make-it in the dance world.

 

I had the privilege of working with a former Florida State University dance major, Orialis Serrano Ashley this past summer. After graduating FSU in 2003, Orialis danced with Cleo Parker Robinson Dance in Denver, Colorado from 2003 to 2005. She moved to California in 2006 and began teaching/choreographing for the Murietta Dance Project. She is now happily married with a child and makes a living off of choreographing for other studios and teams all over the country while maintaining employment at MDP. This is a prime example of the potential that lies within all dance majors. “The program helped me improve immensely with the process of choreographing and dancing overall,” says Ashley. Even though the program has changed a lot overtime, it is apparent that it yields a great amount of reward if the effort is put in.