Ella could barely contain her excitement. She had received a phone call from a choreographer about last week’s audition. The choreographer was producing an Irish dance show and wanted to hire her! Ella had spent years training to be an Irish dancer, but it still wasn’t easy to find work.
One of Ella’s teachers said that it had been hard to find work when she began dancing in the 1990s. She told Ella that the competition for jobs had gotten tougher since then. She also believed that things would probably remain tough in the future. Ella knew that her teacher was right. She had seen several dance companies cut performances or even close because of money troubles.
In addition, most of the productions that Ella had danced in only needed her for short periods of time. She auditioned often. But the performers she was competing against were also talented and dedicated. As a result, Ella was thrilled whenever she received a job offer. Ella knew that training and hard work alone didn’t guarantee regular job opportunities. She understood that she would have to keep working hard to develop a successful career.
Professional dancers face stiff competition for jobs. It is also difficult for dancers to find jobs that last longer than a few months at a time. This means that dancers must look for new jobs more often than people in most other careers.
In addition, cuts to public and private funding could make it difficult for smaller dance companies and performance groups to operate. This also can limit the number of available dance jobs.
Lastly, some dancers fear that the use of computers and new technology will reduce the value of dancing as a communication tool. But professionals such as Louise Reichlin are able to look past these concerns. Reichlin encourages future performers to be both hopeful and realistic about the future.
“You can’t learn to dance sitting in front of a computer,” she says. “Nor do you have to be part of a huge, multimillion-dollar company to achieve success or make a difference.” No matter how technology and the economy change, Americans will likely continue to be entertained and impressed by professional dancers well into the future.
Can you picture yourself using your feet to communicate a message or share a story? Maybe one day it will be you who bows in front of a cheering audience as the curtain falls!
21ST CENTURY CONTENTHow has new technology helped professional dancers? New software allows dancers to create and view choreography on their computers. Handheld devices such as MP3 players give them easy access to a variety of music and dance videos. Finally, dance performances and competitions that are broadcast on television and the Internet have become very popular in the past few years.
