Alternative Careers?

For most dancers, the ultimate goal is to become a professional dancer in a big company, and move up to being a principal dancer. But in some cases, that goal unrealistic, or unobtaibable. I'm one of those people who would have loved to be a professional dancer, but can't because of my body type and genetics. Let me explain: I'm extremely hypermobile, which causes severe blockages in my lower spine and I have a pretty severe case of scoliosis that makes me even more prone to injuries.

This post is for those of us who love dance, but can't turn it into a career (whatever the reason may be). Of couse there are endless choices you can make as for what you want to do professionally, but these are some options that still include dance and physical activity that I find would be interesting for a lot dancers.

Physiotherapy:
Becoming a physiotherapist would be a great choice for dancers, as we already understand the basic mobility and build of the human body. Anatomy of muscles and bones come natural to us(!)
You probably won't treat many dancers unless you work for a dance company in the physical therapy department, but you'll definitely see a lot of sports injuries. Think of it as helping someone else achieve a goal that once used to be your own. A lot of the time, you'll have long-term patients. You'll see these regularly for basic treatments such as massages, blocked joints, etc.
If you want to do some more indepth studying, osteopathy might be the right choice for you. It's similar to the job of a physiotherapist, but is a lot more difficult (6 years at uni for a bachelor). The main difference between a physiotherapist and an osteopath is that an osteopath can work with your organs as well, without having to operate on you. That's not saying that an osteopath can cure diseases, but it can help with hormonal imbalances, out-of-place organs, inflammed joints and muscles etc.

Dance teacher:
A lot of dance studios want their teachers to have some professional dance experience, but if you show them what you can do and they like it, your chances should be pretty high. To do this, you'll have to have a pretty big CV. Which means you'll have to have won some type of award, or competition or something like that, for the school to consider you a professional dancer. To increase your chances, you might want to take a 6 month teaching course, and prepare some choreography in case they throw you in a class to see how you teach.

Dance therapy:
Yes, this is actually exists! the job of a dance therapist is to "teach dance" to people who are emotionally or psychologically unstable and need help. Dance is an incredible way of expressing your emotions, and it can save people's lives (true story).

Orthopedic doctor:
If you're into all things muscles and bones and physiotherapy isn't your thing, maybe becoming an orthopedic doctor is your thing! You'll be working with bones a lot more than with muscles, but you'll definitely see some combinations of the two, as well as neuroskeletal damage. This is a field that doctors are still researching in, so if you're more into research rather than direct contact with patients, orthopedic research could be something for you to look into.

Dance photographer/videographer:
Dancers are constantly on the search for new dance photographers to help them with their headshots and portfolios, and who better to help them out than a former dancer? You'll already know all of the angles that flatter dancers and that lengthen their lines. On top of that, you'll be able to give them corrections to make their technique look cleaner. People gravitate to people who share their passion, so if the dancers you're working with see that you're just as passionate about dance as they are, they will trust you and will relax a little more, making the pictures look more natural, thus enhancung the dancer's form, technique and personality.

Costume/Dancewear designer:
Who better to design dance costumes than a dancer? Dancers know exactly how the costume is supposed to fit and how it's supposed to look on stage. It's much easier for a dancer to design dance costumes than a regular clothing designer. You'll know what makes a dancer's line the longers and what material to use to make sure that the dancer can dance in without feeling uncomfortable!

Lighting/Set designer:
If you've ever danced on stage, you'll know the importance of good lighting and stable props. You'll make it much easier for dancers to feel comfortable on stage, because they know that you'll make them look good. They'll feel safer knowing that a fellow dancer helped design the set and props, and they'll be less nervous about the backdrop falling on them(!)

Dancer writer:
You could write articles for dance magazines, write dance-related books, etc. You could motivate and inspire young dancers to do their best and to work even harder to achieve their goals. You could review performances, and give advice to other dancers.

Yoga/Pilates teacher:
A lot of dancers decide to teach pilates, yoga or even gyrotonics. A lot of the time, your students will be dancers who are using your classes as crosstraining, or to stretch after a long day of classes and rehearsals. The movements in yoga and pilates compliment those of dance very well and can really help a dancer improve their technique.

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