The Success Factor of Collegiate Dance Training

*Originally written in August 2022. Also, Please excuse the caps lock. I am not sure how this happened but I did not want to rewrite this article in order to maintain its integrity and the validity of my stance concerning the topic. Enjoy.

DURING UNDERGRAD I REMEMBER READING AN ARTICLE THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE CONS OF DANCERS WHO JOIN THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD AFTER UNDERGRADUATE DANCE STUDIES.THE MAIN IDEA SURROUNDED THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND INABILITY FOR DANCERS TO ADAPT TO THE LIFE OF A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST.

I REMAINED FOCUSED ON MY DREAMS. I KNEW WHAT I WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH IN MY CAREER AND DECIDED TO ALLOW MY TRAINING WITHIN THE DANCE PROGRAM AND ITS ACADEMIA TO WORK FOR ME. I KNOW BOTH THE PRESSURES AND EXCITEMENT THAT CAN AT TIMES BECOME A DETERRENT WHILE TRAINING TO BE A PROFESSIONAL DANCER IN A COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY SETTING. AT TIMES YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN CAMPUS FUN AND BUCKLING DOWN. BUT FOR ME THE TRAINING DIDN'T STOP WHEN I LEFT THE STUDIO OR THE STAGE. I SUBMERGED MYSELF IN THE CRAFT AND KEPT NOT ONLY MY GOALS BEFORE ME BUT MY ACTIONS.

 I LEARNED TO CARRY MYSELF THE WAY I SAW MYSELF, BECOMING A REFLECTION OF MY FUTURE ENDEAVORS, CIRCLES, COMPANIES AND OPPORTUNITIES. I WANTED TO GAIN MORE THAN GREAT TECHNIQUE. I WANTED BUILDING BLOCKS FOR ME TO WALK IN PROFESSIONALISM, BEAUTY AND LONGEVITY OF CAREER. I APPROACHED MY COLLEGE DAYS AS A DANCE MAJOR AS IF I WAS A HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER DANCE LEGEND. THE MORE I LEARNED IN DANCE ACADEMIA, THE MORE I SAW MY DREAMS BEING A REALITY. IT IS ONE THING TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE AND GO ON TO A COMPANY OR PROJECT JUST TO DANCE. IT IS ANOTHER THING TO BUILD A PROFESSIONAL NETWORK, HAVE A GREAT REPUTATION PRECEDE YOU AND HAVE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED TO YOU DURING THOSE COLLEGE YEARS AND  BEYOND.

 THE OVERALL FOCUSES OF THE AFOREMENTIONED ARTICLE STIPULATED THE CLEAR DISCONNECT OF A COLLEGE-TRAINED DANCER CROSSING OVER INTO THE PRO-LEVEL. BUT, HAVING LITTLE TO NO EXPERIENCE IS THE VERY THING I WAS ABLE TO HONE IN ON AND OVERCOME. THIS IS TO BRAG ON MY GOD. EVERY SINGLE PLACE I HAVE GONE AND WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE THUS FAR PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHERE I HAVE TRAINED AS THEY WAIT FOR ME TO NAME A WELL-KNOWN, HIGHLY PRESTIGIOUS CONSERVATORY OR PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM. I RECEIVED AMAZING TRAINING AT MY UNIVERSITY BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES I'D MENTION MY ALMA MATER AND PEOPLE SUDDENLY LOOK BLANK.  MY UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM WAS A HUGE BLESSING TO ME. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO GLEAN FROM DANCE LEGENDS I STUDIED DURING UNDERGRAD AS WELL AS WORKING WITH PHENOMENAL ARTISTS OF ALL GENRES OF DANCE/CREATION. THERE ARE NO LIMITS.