A career as a professional dancer is exciting, yet can be incredibly challenging. The reward of success is undeniable, yet the hours of hard work, rejection and trying times are countless. If you’re in a transition and looking to go in a new direction, know you are not alone and there are a lot of other careers in the dance industry that may be a good fit for a former dancer or professional.
Here is a list of some REAL WORLD jobs you’ll LOVE as lover of dance!
1.) Arts Administration
Ever wonder how a dance company runs? The arts admin side of the business includes a variety of necessary jobs that go into making sure things run smoothly. From marketing and social media to fundraising, events and concert planning, this role is great for those who are detail-oriented, extremely organized and passionate. You could help plan the annual NYCB Gala in an arts admin position, or lead marketing efforts for Jacob’s Pillow. The possibilities are endless!
2.) PHYSICAL THERAPIST
If you’ve faced injury as a dancer, you know how disheartening it can be to recoop and take time to heal and repair. Perhaps it was even a career ending injury. As a PT, you could help dancers create programs for injury prevention or assist in strengthening muscles and compensations post-injury. A lot of ballet companies, broadway shows and even theme parks have PT positions that are strictly for the talent to utilize. That’s definitely one way to make your *broadway* debut.
3.) Dance Teacher
The most obvious profession for a dancer to transition into is becoming a dance teacher. However, there are many different paths to take your dance teaching career. For instance, you could teach at your local studio or open your own studio. Many K-12 schools across the country offer dance programs for students to learn, grow and perfect their craft in an academic environment. You can receive a K-12 dance teaching degree at many college dance programs these days that also offer degrees in Dance Performance. Lastly, if you work up to your Master’s Degree, you could teach dance at a college level!
4.) DANCE FASHION DESIGNER
To finish off our list of careers, we have to give a shout out to Joey + Jacki, our JJ brand founders. After long, successful careers in dance, they’re always bringing you the coolest dance wear… and better yet, these sisters are STILL dancing, too!