Dear upcoming dance majors,
First of all, congratulations on following your passion and pursuing what you truly love. Contrary to what people assume, it’s not stupid, nor is it easy; It’s admirable. People often go their whole lives following a path of what they are ‘supposed to do.’ You are paving your own path and it’s one that is going to have a lot of ups and downs, but it will also have both small and big rewards if you keep working hard and believe in yourself. If you are having any doubts about pursuing dance this seriously, know that you aren’t alone, I was in the same position.
Leaving your dance friends and studio behind isn’t going to be easy, but always keep those experiences and memories close to your heart because they got you this far. Don’t go into this with any major expectations, you’ll be disappointed. Instead, go in with a positive attitude and readiness to learn everything and anything and you’ll be just fine.
Think back on your own technical and artistic growth since you began dancing; you’ve come a long way. College is going to help you grow so much. It’ll only take one semester for you to realize how much growth can and will happen. I promise you that you’ll surprise yourself with your own capabilities. Thinking back on my senior year of high school, I would have never imagined that I would be able to do the things I can do now. Your ideas and ability of dancing will be reinvented.
Everything you thought you knew about dance will be put into new perspectives because of what you’ll be taught. Suddenly you find yourself knowing answers to questions you hadn’t even thought of. You’ll discover techniques that you’ve never even heard of, or have an even clearer understanding of a style or genre of dance that you thought you knew so well. You will learn about people and events that shaped the art form that you love so much. You’ll look at your own dancing, and other works in a whole new light because suddenly you understand the nitty gritty details that you never saw before. You will become a new dancer.
More likely than not, you are going to encounter people who criticize or question your choice to pursue dance. You’ll hear things from, “how are you going to get a job?” to “dancers don’t make any money.” Don’t let these comments get to you. You know why you’re doing this, and you know how hard it is going to be. Don’t let others’ ignorance keep you from your dreams.
There are going to be highs and lows. This is for certain. There are going to be days where you’re mad because you couldn’t get a combination right, or you couldn’t keep your balance. You might not always get the part, and your calves might feel like fire from the barre combination. There are going to be days when you don’t feel like dancing. Push through; it always turns around.
You can’t have a rainbow without a little rain. While you may have to go through some lows, you will also experience so many wonderful things. You will find yourself nailing pirouettes, or picking up a combination you thought you couldn’t do. There are going to be so many moments where you feel pure and utter joy because you really love to dance. Your whole idea of what it means to dance and why you love to dance, are going to become so clear to you.
Lastly, being a dance major is harder than most people think. There are factors that go into this major that most people don’t have to think about. Your body is your instrument and you have to treat both your body and mind well. So, as you enter this next chapter of your life, be excited. So many things are going to change over the next four years but let that be something to embrace. Keep giving it your all and don’t let the passion die. Most importantly, keep on dancing.
Sincerely,
A very proud dance major
