“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” ― Confucius
As high school juniors begin to
explore higher education choices, it is no secret that many parents hold their
breath and hope their children will not choose to major in the arts. Dance, music, art and theater are wonderful,
but are they fields you can make a living in?
If someone majors in dance and it doesn’t work out, what will he or she
have to fall back on? Is going to
college for something as “frivolous” as dance a waste of money?
People tend
to believe that majoring in dance simply means taking a myriad of technique
classes for four years only to graduate and begin auditioning for a performing
opportunity that may never come to fruition.
The good
news for college students who are passionate about dance, their parents,
and everyone whose life has been touched by dance, is that this assumption
could not be farther from the truth.
As dance
has grown and continues to grow, so has the number of possible dance
careers. Dancers will always have the
option to audition for professional and regional companies, but there are also
a multitude of other possible career paths available in the field of dance.
Choreography: College students who major in
choreography spend time learning about dance composition. They learn how to manipulate movement phrases
in various ways, and they learn about different styles of dance, different
choreographers, and gain a historical perspective on dance. These students can go on to become company
choreographers, free-lance choreographers, or musical theater choreographers
and are also able to teach dance composition courses.
Dance Education: Students who major in this area will be
required to take classes in educational philosophy and practice as well as
dance courses. Their courses may include
dance history, music for dancers, anatomy for dancers, class and lesson
planning, foundations of elementary education, foundations of secondary education and foundations of special education. Many colleges also offer the option of state
teacher certification to enable the graduate to teach in public schools. These graduates can teach in private studios,
private schools, or public schools. A
terminal degree such as an MFA would enable the dancer to teach at the college
level as well.
Dance Therapy: Dance therapy combines the study of dance
with psychology. In order to be a
practicing dance therapist, using dance as a form of psychotherapy, a graduate
degree is necessary. Dance therapists
work in private practices, hospitals, schools and prisons.
Dance Scholars: Dance scholars study dance technique, dance
history, and dance notation and can get jobs with dance companies, in the
television or film industries, or in libraries and museums. Their job is to preserve dance for future
generations through research, writing, and recording dance.
Dance Journalist: A dance journalist combines dance studies
with English classes. Journalists get
jobs writing about dance, editing books on dance, or as dance critics for
magazines, newspapers and online publications.
Dance Science: Dance Science is a relatively new
field of study. It combines dance with
the study of anatomy and kinesiology.
Dance scientists work with dancers to educate them about their bodies
and healthy, efficient ways of dancing.
Those studying dance science often choose to pursue graduate courses in
exercise science or physical therapy.
They may work with dance schools or companies, designing strength
training programs, or in injury rehabilitation programs that work with dancers.
Arts Management: These students combine their love of dance with
the study of business. These majors
graduate and become company managers, booking agents, grant writers, arts
advocates, and community outreach activists.
The career
opportunities for dancers are numerous and all have one common
denominator: they require a love of
dance. A parent whose child decides to
major in dance need not panic because dancers are not just performers
anymore. They are the people that keep
the art form alive, and by doing so, they preserve a very important part of our
culture.
