Having a dance career is a challenge to pursue. There's so much that goes into the life of a dancer: auditions, clothes for auditions, shoes for auditions, taking dance classes to keep the body active, paying for dance classes, traveling to dance classes, getting a variety of headshots, getting a variety of body shots, going to the gym, going to see performances, paying for pricey tickets to see the performances, getting good sleep, having fun, and of course, refraining from injury. The list can go on and on, but just from these few examples, one can agree it can get tiring and at times overwhelming. It's well worth it to pursue your dreams and what you love, so that's why I am in this challenging pursuit. But there are so many funny misconceptions from people who don't know much about the dance world.
1. I tell people I am a dancer.
What I think I do What people think I do
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| http://www.dancetouringpartnership.co.uk/rumble/press.htm |
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| Linda Celeste Sims of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater |
2. I tell people I need to get tape.
What I get from the store What people think I buy from the store
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| Office Tape! |
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| Toe Tape! |
3. I tell people I need tiger balm.
What I use on my aching muscles People simply ask "What is tiger balm?"
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| Huh?! Tiger What? |
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| A dancer's best friend! Tiger Balm |
Dance terminology and everyday factors of the dance world can easily be misunderstood by those who are not enveloped in dance or lack enough knowledge about dance in general. Bottom line: dance is more than what it may appear to be to the eye. Behind the scenes and before performing onstage, there's a lot of blood, sweat, and tears that go into great pointe work, effortless lifts in a contemporary piece, and perhaps flawless partnering in ballroom dance. Just because someone says he or she is a dancer does not mean he or she can do a flip or do a head spin. Though I salute all different types of dance, from ballet, to Bollywood, to b-boying, one should not jump to conclusions and assume all dance genres are the same or have the same aesthetics! Also, there is a great span of body types that are accepted and displayed within the dance world. In other words, not every dancer is stick skinny and has 8-pack abs! There are beautiful dancers with great flexibility and talent that come in all shapes and sizes. We can laugh at these misconceptions, but we should also educate the public about what it means to be a dancer!
*mypointetaken*
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