Careers in Dance College Preparation

1. Careers in DanceCollege Preparation Goal: To be introduced to the various options you have to develop a career using you dance ability and knowledge Objective1: To Introduce various careers in dance and the college pathways to success Objective 2: To identify your talents and skills that would lead to a specific career plan and educational plan that suits your personal needs. Objective 3: Begin Portfolio Preparation

2. Dance Performance and Choreography • Broadway Musicals- New York • Videos-New York and California • Professional Dance Companies-All over the country • Commercials –New York and California • Movies-New York and primarily California

3. College Preparation • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance • Why get your degree if you are going to perform? • Performance careers don’t generally last forever, especially for a dancer • Prepared you for a career transition when this time comes

4. What kind of program do you need? • Pick an program that includes many dance forms and performance opportunities. • A program that is conservatory based • One that includes training in acting and vocals is more beneficial for musical theatre. • There are some musical theatre major programs but you must be able to sing, act and dance and it is highly competitive.

5. Performance Career Needs • Agent- this person finds you auditions on a continual basis and books you paying gigs they get paid by taking percentage of what you get offered for each successful job attained. • To audition for an agent you will need: • Headshot • Portfolio including DVD of you dancing and highlighting ALL of your talents

6. Auditioning • Always come looking good in proper dance attire and with make up and hair pulled back, no jewelry. • Be sure to introduce yourself with a smile and a hand shake to anyone involved. You never know who you will see again. • Try to wear colors that will make you stand out. • Dance FULL OUT! As soon as you arrive you should warm yourself up. • Get there early so you can get a good spot up front. If they can’t see you they won’t pick you.

7. Resources for Auditions and Agencies • www.answers4dancers.com/free-for-you/agent-listings.html • http://www.danceusa.org/ • http://www.casting-call.us/dance-auditions.php • www.philadelphiadance.org

8. Real Dancers

9. Effort and Discipline

10. Self Discipline

11. Starting you own company • Non-Profit Organizations • Including an educational program • Renting theatres • Administrative Responsibilities • Marketing and Advertising • Seeking Grants: Grant Writing

12. Resources for funding and development • http://www.nea.gov/resources/disciplines/dance/resources.html • http://www.irs.gov/charities/topic/index.html • www.danceusa.org • http://www.getty.edu/foundation/funding/ • http://www.pcah.us/dance

13. Career transitions for dancers and Alternative uses for your dance education

14. Dance Education • Studio Education: Requires no certification, but does not pay as much or include health benefits most of the time. • Pre K-12 Education: Requires and Bachelors and Masters Degree; Ed. M. (in some states) and an official state certification that is different for each state. • University Level: • Adjunct Faculty: BA, Bachelor of Arts; MFA, Master of Fine Arts: only a part-time position, many professional dancers do this • Tenure Faculty: BA, MFA or M.Ed. And Ph. D. Doctorate Level: highest level of academic achievement in dance. Can run your own college department

16. National Dance Education Organization • http://www.ndeo.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=893257&module_id=56441

17. Writing for dancers • Dance Critique: reviews dance shows and performances. Works for newspapers generally. • Write for a dance magazine. • Dance Magazine • Dance Spirit • Dance Teacher • Point Magazine

18. Dance Movement Therapy

19. College Pathway to Movement therapy • Dance/Movement Therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, cognitive, physical, and social integration of individuals. • Undergraduate Degree in: • Psychology • Dance Graduate Degree: • Dance Movement Therapy

20. Universities and Colleges • Drexel University • Melbourne University (Australia) • Antioch University New England • Columbia College Chicago • Lesley University • Naropa University • Pratt Institute

21. Dance Administration, historian or research • Full time jobs available in universities, large dance companies and organizations. • Undergraduate degree and Masters Degree. PhD. for University programs. • www.miamidade.jobing.com/Job_Details2.asp?JobID=2590633 • www.cordance.org/dance-research-journal

22. Physical Therapy and Dance medicine • You have a distinct knowledge of the human body and how it works through your art. These are two areas you could apply this knowledge! • Bachelors and Masters Degree • www.iadms.org/index.cfm • www.med.nyu.edu/hjd/harkness/

23. Home work: • Create a list of talents and skills that you have. This can be personality traits, arts skills, academic skills, co-curricular interests. List everyting. • Create one page dance artist career statement that includes: • Pick a career in dance that you think you would be good at and describe why? Include the skills you put on your list in the description. • What pathway do you want to take for college to make this a reality? • What is you dream job? How can you make this happen? • Whatpersonal qualities will it take to work towards you goal?