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/Old_Weird_1828]

I wish people didn’t think the whole goal of dance was to “go pro.” Same with thinking the goal of ballet is pointe. It’s super unlikely to get into a professional company even if you dance since toddlerhood and you’re the best in your school. That would be like thinking every kid who plays little league is going to be a professional baseball player. Also pointe work really isn’t for everyone and you can still become an advanced ballet dancer without it. Dance is for everyone and should be enjoyed as a healthy activity. I wouldn’t choose to only sign up for a gym membership if there was a good chance I could be a professional body builder in a year. It makes me sad that people can’t enjoy just doing a thing because it makes them feel good without having to have ridiculous expectations for it.

[u/julieisonline → u/Old_Weird_1828]

period! couldn’t have said it better