Six Tips for Dancers

Six tips on how to break into the dance business in LA

Six tips on how to break into the dance business in LA by Allen Walls www.nohoartsdistrict.com

The dance business is constantly changing and adapting itself to modern society. What is hip and happening this year certainly isn’t going to be around the next. And how one approaches entering the dance business has changed over the years. A few ways will likely stay the same if you are looking to make dance your profession.

START EARLY:

If you live outside of LA and don’t have the availability to take dance class from teachers who have worked on the professional stage, go to the dance conventions in your city or near you. When taking classes, be sure to study under teachers you relate to and resonate with.

Six tips on how to break into the dance business in LA by Allen Walls www.nohoartsdistrict.com

DANCE CLASS:

Take class, as much and as often as you can afford to, from working choreographers. Always thank them for class so they remember your face, but above all, always work hard on your talent.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:

There are some reputable professional training programs for dancers in LA. It’s a strong foothold to begin your professional dance career because it will expose you to working like a professional.

BE NICE TO EVERYONE:

You never know where the first or next job will come from, so be nice to everyone you meet all the time. It could be someone in class, someone at an audition or maybe a friend of a friend who recommends you for that next job.

GET INVOLVED IN SHOWCASES:

There are many free showcases you can participate in that display your talent and connect you with other dancers who might lead to further work, plus any dancer knows that you can never perform live too many times.

Six tips on how to break into the dance business in LA by Allen Walls www.nohoartsdistrict.com

GET AN AGENT:

Getting an agent to represent you does not mean that you’ve made it in the dance business, but it does help to have someone on a professional level connecting you to auditions and putting you in front of the people who can hire you.

Stay true to your heart as much as you can and study as many styles as possible in all areas of dance. You can never stop learning and you can never stop being a student. No one knows everything and there is always going to be someone a little bit better, a little bit younger…so stay true to what you love because in the end, that’s what’s going to make you shine. Always be the very best you can be. You never know where one show may lead you or who might be watching. So give it your normal 110% and let the universe figure out the rest. Best of luck to you all!

World Choreography Awards www.nohoartsdistrict.com

AUTHOR ALLEN WALLS

Allen Walls has been working in LA, as a dancer, choreographer, actor, director and producer for over 30 years. He has on worked on over 40 motion pictures, numerous television shows, commercials, music videos and live performances. He taught Antonio Banderas his steamy tango in “Take the Lead”, Ben Stiller his crazy Mambo in “Along Came Polly”. He’s danced with Selma Hayek in “Lonely Hearts” and Marisa Tumay, in “Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School”. Allen has choreographed or danced in movies like Rango, “Rumor Has It”, “Shall We Dance”, “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights”, “Dance With Me”, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl”, “Austin Powers: Goldmember”, “Salsa”, and “Mambo Kings”. And as an actor in “Junior”, “Dracula: Dead and Loving It”, “Out to Sea”, and “Valentina’s Tango”, just to name a few.

He is also is the creator/producer of the World Choreography Awards show, an annual award show honoring the best in media choreography.

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1 COMMENT

  1. Great tips. My daughter like to Dance and that’s why recently I admitted him into our local dance and acting Centre as “Studio V 4 Arts”. Although she has not enough knowledge such things but I will keep it in my mind that definitely helps me for her carrier.

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