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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

Advice on career in dance

30 replies

sylv165 · 05/05/2023 12:12

My daughter has been dancing since she was 2, and is now 11. She has started talking seriously about wanting a career in dance, but I am clueless as to what the options are. She is a bit of an all rounder - in the past year or so has passed Grade 4 exams in acrobatic arts, ballet, modern, musical theatre, and lyrical, and grade 3 contemporary and tap. She also competes with the competition team and is generally successful, usually places in top 3 in solo.

So she is a reasonable standard for her age, but because she spreads herself across many different styles I don't think she could (or would want to) go down the traditional ballet route. Her favoured styles are contemporary and acro, but I would say modern is probably her strongest. Has anyone got any tips as to what she could do career-wise with this background? And what she should be focusing on between now and then if she really does want to start taking it more seriously? I'm sure she is good enough to get into a dance course of some kind when she is 18 as some senior girls in her dance school have been accepted, but just not sure what comes after that.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 06/05/2023 16:00

Funded places at dance schools are competitive but worth going for.

Lonecatwithkitten · 06/05/2023 15:51

@sylv165 I would say competitions are not essential my DD has never done a competition in her life and got fed up at grade 3 with tap, but is a italia Conti doing MT.
She has a friend who has never done and exam or competition - first year at Bird being chosen to represent the college in dance all the time.
If she enjoys the competitions and exams great, but there are plenty of great dance schools that don't do that stuff and get students into the top schools for tertiary training.

Original poster
sylv165 · 05/05/2023 21:16

Thank you both for your replies. She is definitely more interested in dance rather than MT, her singing voice is fine but not good enough to make it a career. Sounds like keeping it broad is the way to go. I will look into associates programmes - are there any you would recommend?

I wish I could save more @VariationsonaTheme, currently most of my spare cash seems to be sunk into costumes, competition entry fees, extra lessons…🤣

OP posts:
VariationsonaTheme · 05/05/2023 16:36

If she’s not thinking of joining a vocational school until she’s 16 or 18, then keep doing as many genres as possible, whilst remembering that almost all auditions will include a ballet class. Add in singing if she’s thinking MT. Adding an associate programme in whichever genre she prefers would be good.

And get saving - vocational training is very expensive and not all courses attract student loan financing.

Lonecatwithkitten · 05/05/2023 13:20

Is she interested in just dance or MT?
If MT she needs to strengthen her singing and acting.
She could dance or MT degrees or diplomas that can lead to performance careers, choreography and teaching.