Company or college?

Are you a high schooler hoping for a career as a professional dancer?  There is no one perfect way to navigate your choices post-high school, but this post will give you a few tried-and-true options to consider.  (Note: this post is providing guidance to dancers who plan to graduate from “regular” high school, then pursue professional work, not those who attend dance conservatories or who already dance professionally as minors.)

Think about what you want.  Dancing with a company is like jumping right into the “job” world.  Your training is over, and you will be getting paid to dance.  Attending a college with a strong dance program will give you a degree and 4 more years of education.  You will probably have fewer performance opportunities, you will have to take math and English, and you will not be getting paid.  

Talk to your dance teachers, school counselors, and your parents to decide what options may be best for you.  If your dance teachers believe you are strong enough to do well in auditions and get hired by a company right away, this may be the way to go (especially if you feel that you are not as strong academically).  If you are stronger in academics and are unsure if you will be hired right away, taking few more years to train could be a better choice.

If you are still unsure, there is a middle path.  Audition for companies, and apply to your local college or university (it does not really matter if the school has a strong dance program).  If you are hired, retract your college application.  If you are not hired, attend college (decide if you want to live at home or in the dorms, if available) and take basic classes like history and math while you continue to train at your home studio.  After one semester, decide if you want to try to audition for companies again or if you want to transfer to a different college.  Spend the second semester working on your resume or applications, then make it happen the next year.

When everyone else goes on college tours (between junior and senior year, usually), you should go a college and/or company tour.  Make sure you (and your family) are ok with you living in New York or Texas or another potentially unfamiliar location.  Understand that dorm life can be tough, and living on your own can be tougher if you have never been away from your family before.

Put your best work into your auditions and applications.  Be aware of deadlines (early submission is always best).  Your dance teachers, academic teachers, counselors, and parents are all resources to help you.

Once you hear back from your companies or colleges, consider your options carefully.  Sometimes it’s worth it to make less money and live in a more desirable location, or attend a second-choice school if you are offered a full scholarship.  That said, remember not to settle.  Follow your dreams and make the best choice for you, not someone else.