can i dance professionally, rule request?

[u/fairly_forgetful]

This is sort of a meta post, hope this is ok!

I have noticed a lot of posts in the last few months from dancers of varying levels (many yet to begin!) wondering if they could ever dance professionally. The answer is almost always "it depends", or if it's being asked in a strictly ballet, join a company kind of capacity, if you're old enough to ask here and you aren't already in a pre-pro track it's almost always "no".

Can we maybe have a rule added or something in the sidebar or in the pinned post with a paragraph or so summarizing this? Because I see it so often, and I think many of us who comment here regularly are growing less patient with it, and it is not the fault of the poster, but it is a bewildering request, and one that I don't think many other professional athlete forums are fielding. (Unless the users in the basketball subreddit are getting asked often if they have a chance to play professionally...)

The reality is just for so many dancers, you just need to take class (it is so so often somebody asking who has not even started dancing yet) and see what the reality of dance is- and then talk to the teachers who are above you. Real life teachers, not internet teachers. The people watching you dance, who know your technique and your body and your drive. Once you are a few classes in you realize how big the mountain is ahead of you, and you get to focus on enjoying your hobby.

I'm not sure if it is because part of ballet is the ease/effortless look of good dancing that makes people think they could pick it up- or the idea that good turnout or having the right kind of feet somehow magically turn you into a really good dancer. But I see these posts so so often and I never want to be discouraging to someone who truly has not even taken their first class yet, but it is confusing and a little strange and even maybe belittling to pro dancers that so many people seem to think they could pick up a professional career from zero training within a year or two.

and sorry if this is too meta- I have seen these posts a lot and I wanted to jumpstart a discussion about it.

[u/MamanClassique]

I think it’s 100% because professionals make it look so beautiful and effortless that some people think it’s maybe “not that hard” to become a professional. I also think that it’s pretty common knowledge that you can play basketball for fun without trying to join the NBA. But I feel like with ballet a lot of people don’t know that you can just dance for fun? Idk, but I do find it curious that there is SUCH a fascination with becoming a professional ballet dancer.

[u/PlumLion → u/MamanClassique]

I think there’s a lack of awareness that you can dance just for the joy of it as an adult.

People tend to think of ballet as something you do while you’re growing up and then you either go pro or you quit. And understandably so, almost everyone I knew who danced as a kid moved on to other interests around the age of 16-18.

[u/MamanClassique → u/PlumLion]

I’ve definitely thought of this as well. This perception of ballet is the predominant one but I think it’s slowly changing. I’ve spoken to a few dancers who have grown up dancing who expressed frustration at the idea that you couldn’t perform anymore once you’ve graduated from high school. So it does make sense that a lot of people still view ballet this way even if we know it’s not accurate.

[u/PavicaMalic → u/MamanClassique]

We have one contemporary ballet company in DC (Movieus) in which many of the dancers have non-dance primary jobs. The company has grown and is doing more performances, including at the National Gallery of Art. It's a model I think has potential for adult dancers in other cities.

[u/MamanClassique → u/PavicaMalic]

Oh yes I’ve heard of them! I like that there are more and more small companies popping up that allow dancers to have a career/life outside of ballet.