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Things to know before becoming a dancer

Question from Amanda: What do the dancers need to know before they start dancing?

Nicole's response: I loved your question so much I decided to poll a cross-section of the dancers I know. They come from all sorts of different backgrounds and experiences, but all are involved professionally in dance. They interpreted your question in a variety of ways!

So here we have it, in no particular order:

TOP TEN THINGS A DANCER NEEDS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING OUT:

1) That dancing is passion, love, vision, fearlessness, bottomless commitment and an eternal source of meaning....

Jo Kreiter, Founder/Artistic Director, Flyaway Productions, San Francisco, CA

2) I don't know what one needs to know before embarking on this journey. The field of dance encompasses a lot, and there are many different ways of being a part of it. So it all depends on what you want from it and what you are willing to put into it.

Nusha Martynuk, Professor of Dance, Oberlin College, OH

3) New York City is not the only place to go to pursue dance. Other cities like Philadelphia, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Chicago, and Minneapolis offer a variety of opportunities whether you are pursuing a professional career or just want dance to continue to be a part of your life.

Carmen Boston, Dance Educator & Administrator, Washington, D.C.

4) It is one of the most rewarding experiences in your life.

5) It is hard on your body but great for your mind.

6) You will have to fight a lot if you want to do it professionally, but never let your dreams get away without trying.

7) Somebody is going to do it, so why not you?

Nadia Adame, Freelance Dancer/Choreographer, Madrid, Spain

8) It is helpful to have some body awareness and ability to listen to one's own body so that one knows how to read warning signs of impending health issues.

Stephanie McGlynn, Dancer/Psychotherapist, Sebastopol, CA

9) I think there is not much a dancer needs to know before they start dancing, except just to start. Starting out, it's important to remember to not compare your own progress with others and to stay true to what feels right to you and what doesn't. You might feel you have to fit into a certain mold, but actually, as you advance you will become your own dancer, with your own movement, style and language. That's why it's important to explore the many facets of dance, and listen closely to what your body and mind want and feel.

Jacques Poulin-Denis, Freelance Dancer/Actor/Musician, Quebec, Canada

10) One needs to know nothing except that one must dance, and not forget that feeling, ever.

Janet Wong, Rehearsal Director, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, NYC, NY

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