A dance career can be incredibly fulfilling but also quite challenging to build.  Whether you're feeling a bit nervous for your dancer or have complete confidence that they'll make it big, here are a few things you can do to help support them on the journey ahead. 

Just because you love dance and have a talent for it, doesn't mean you'd enjoy the hustle and bustle of making it your career.  The good news is if you've spent a significant amount of time with dance, then you've acquired some great skills that will serve you greatly in ANY career field you choose.

Being a professional is about more than just exchanging money for movement.  Being a professional also calls for the use of wisdom in choosing the projects that are in your best professional or personal interest.  Exercising such wisdom means you'll sometimes have to turn down a gig.  Continue reading to discover when it's best to walk away from your dance job.  

So often dancers lack the professionalism that warrants the next job offer, and many times it's simply because they've never been taught what it means to be professional.  If you want to set your dance students up for success, here are four ways you can help them develop a great work ethic. 

If you're already certain that pursuing a professional dance life is the right move for you, you may want to consider planning your transition now.  Here are five ways you can start preparing for dance life after graduation.

Any one of us can be in business simply by filling a need.  That's what Erin Carpenter, founder of Nude Barre, did.  According to her feature in Dance Spirit, Erin turned one of her biggest dance problems into a successful business.  

Conferences are often viewed as a bit lofty for lesser known companies or independent choreographers, and I never attended them because of this image.  However, I recently put my big girl leggings on and attended a big dance industry conference for the first time.  

Here’s a behind-the-scenes look on how I built new connections and gained new career insight at a dance conference. 

Traditionally, dancers have just figured things out along the way. But instead of fumbling through your journey until you find something that works, you should approach your dance career like the business that it is from the very beginning. Here are five things that every dancer should do when building their career.

Once you've been working for a bit, getting work becomes about more than just how well you move.  At a certain point, people will begin to talk about your talent AND your work ethic and attitude.  Keeping some basic guidelines in mind will get you far, but here's the secret that will get you even further.

Finding work as a professional dancer can be tricky, to say the least.  There just seems to be far more dancers than there are jobs.  I searched high and low for dance work, tried a few different approaches, and actually found something that worked.  Using the tips I'm about to share, not only was I able to find consistent work, but work also found me!  

Everyone has intense passion for the dreams they're waiting to come true, but that's just it...they're still waiting.  They feel like they're ready, they're talented, and they're qualified, but their dreams jobs have yet to manifest.  That's okay.  Great things take time to come to pass.