Odds of Hanging On

Odds of Hanging On

Once you get your first professional gig, there's no guarantee that you'll get another one. You might score a spot on an international tour where you thrill at being able to show off your virtuoso flamenco skills. After that, though, it could be years before you score anything near the same level again. There's also the constant threat of injury, which can take you out of the game unexpectedly at any point.

Some dancers do become members of a company that gives them steady work, benefits, the whole package. We don't mean to be Debby Downers, but this scenario is pretty rare. Most dancers work on a contract-to-contract to basis, so there's just not much in the way of job security. When this becomes super-important to you, you probably ought to think about getting a job teaching at a studio or university, where you can find the security that all those non-artsy professionals out there enjoy.