We all know that there's no set path to becoming a professional dancer.  Aside from the years of training, dedication, and hard work, no two dancer's career paths will be exactly the same.  So your starting point is here...ready to be a #workingdancer.  Next, you'll need to know where you're going.  Here's some insight to help you find your destination. 

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!  

Blogs allow you to share your thoughts with people all over the world.  What's even cooler is that you can create and curate content on a particular topic and generate income while helping others at the same time.  In fact, blogs have become businesses themselves, propelling their creators into entrepreneur status.  Here are a few steps to help you start your dance blog and make money online. 

When we follow our heart towards those things that move us most, AND we do them in service to others, then we've got some MAJOR purpose driven living going on.  And then, when your purpose becomes your money maker....that's FREEDOM living at its best!

To discover your money maker, you need to find the sweet spot where your passion and other interests meet the need you can fill or are already filling.  I explain it all in this video.  

Paolo Coelho's best seller, The Alchemist, is so powerful because it lights the way for each of us to find our own personal legends.  It's a tale of being open, flexible enough to change course, trusting yourself, trusting love, and following your heart.  There are so many universal nuggets of wisdom and truth in this story, and the following quotes are my top five. 

Choosing JOY is about so much more than happy feelings.  Happiness is linked to external things, like achievements, other people, or ideal circumstances.  JOY, on the other hand, is a state of being.  Learn what it takes to operate from a place of JOY everyday.

How do we sustain our peace, purpose, and joy for the long haul?  How do we push past mistakes?  How do we overcome failures and disappointments to thrive once again?  All of those steps are apart of the dance of life my friend.

While I find it important that each of us be equipped to dance professionally if we so desire, I find it vital that we learn to dance through life.  So, today I want to teach us the steps. 

When you're able to move in and out of styles with ease and skill, you have the potential to be hired for more projects.  In fact, I share a few suggestions on how to become a very hirable and diverse performer in the recent issue of Dance! North Texas, and I have a special snippet just for you!  

When performers are uber competitive, unwilling to help others, unwilling to share connections, or unwilling to share audition info...just to name a few...those are clear signs that something deeper is going on.  In these cases, fear is back stage calling all the shots.  Instead of letting fear put puppet strings on your personal and professional life, operate from this truth instead.  

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.

If you want to experience growth in your dance journey, then you need to be planted in a thriving dance community. Keep in mind, class isn't only for improving movement skills.  It's also where you meet choreographers who could possibly be scouting for talent for their next job.  

Apparently, dancers know where to look for jobs and auditions.  We know where to turn for classes.  We may even know where to turn for help with taxes, insurance, etc.  But it seems to me that we don't know where to find peace to help us weather the storms.  Here are two strategies that have helped me maintain my peace while I'm waiting for my dreams to come true.