Welcome to our new series on “Dance.” I have been asked to head a series of articles that would assist the dancer through the maze of decisions, joys and heartaches that are often experienced in the dancer’s life.

Having been in the dance world since the age of three, spending most of my life either, studying, performing, choreographing or helping dancers, makes this project a particularly challenging and exciting one. Since most dancers must make life decisions that require dedication and commitment often unforeseen by the dancers themselves or their family, I will, along with guest dancer-writers, endeavor to share our insights and experience. Your questions and feedback will be an important part of keeping these articles lively and informative.

In our new series, we will examine the decision to become a dancer, the training of a dancer, the pathways to becoming a professional, the young professional getting started, the seasoned professional and what that means, and how to extend your career.

We will also cover hard and often major questions:

• Am I too fat, too tall, too old, etc. to dance?
• When do I know when my career is over?
• If I’m not dancing, am I still a dancer?
• Am I a “quiter” if I stop dancing?

After having spent years preparing and training and working at dance, how do you cope with the transition?

What do I do after my career is over?”

We will discuss what is being done now with and for the handicapped dancer. Is it possible to dance while or after major injury or illness?

What are the spin-off careers that are based on skills developed as a dancer?

All of the above areas consist of information that are geared to help put some perspective on ones life in dance, but by no means attempts to say, “this is the only way.” Dance is a career that comes out of love and creativity. There is always a way to “Dance,” be it performing on stage or using dancer’s skills to create beauty and movement in our society.

For comments or information, please e-mail us at jdivito@sag.org

 

Joanne DiVito, Dance Editor
Administrator – Career Transition for Dancers  
Former Broadway dancer, Choreographer and Director
What is a dancer?   In its simplest form, someone who moves their body to the rhythm of music, sounds or just a pulse inside them.  This obviously is a simplistic definition, but in dance, the body is an instrument that allows someone to “show” rhythm, “show” music, “show” style, “show” spirit.   It is an all-encompassing art form that requires an intelligence of the body, mind and spirit.