You stand alone at the back of the dance studio while everyone else is joking around having a good time between classes. You have tried multiple times to get out of that corner, but you're never included. They might make a space for you occasionally, but they certainly don't treat you as if you're physically in their presence. They never let you get your word in, and when they do, you're either ignored or talked down to. So to the corner you resort, refusing to let them destroy your love for dance.
The social settings of an underdog dancer is just one aspect. That's something that can be easily overlooked if your passion is strong enough. But if your actual dancing is lacking the attention that the others receive, it's hard to stick around.
Life as a dancer is hard. But life as an underdog dancer sucks.
That was me. I was an underdog dancer growing up, both physically and socially. More of us were underdogs physically, but socially, I was the only one left out of my class. I was invited to team bonding sleepovers and selfies during picture week, but being physically invited and mental/emotionally invited are two different things. It's not always the words that hurt, since I didn't have any conflict with those. It was the actions of my peers that tore me apart. As I grew older, I no longer yearned to be accepted. It was tiring and depressing and obviously a failing effort. Thankfully, I found younger dancers who accepted me, so I clung to them instead of my actual class leading until graduation.
No matter how much being left out socially hurt me, feeling like my talent wasn't being recognized hurt so much more. Who got the solos in group dances? There was a group of about four dancers on rotation. Who was in the front and center? Same ordeal. Who had the most stage time? Thankfully, I didn't have as bad of a problem with this, but I know others who have. And they also got lousy, simple choreography when they did have a time to shine. That's when you feel like you're not good enough.
It became tough when I got into high school. I was required to spend a certain amount of hours at the studio, and I obliged because dance was my ultimate passion. But I felt so torn down by people's actions at the studio that I had to find alternatives just to keep my motivation going. Running cross country, managing my brother's soccer team, and finding a job were my outlets. But even then, since my full being wasn't involved in dance, I continued to be looked down upon by some. I was stuck.
I took all of the classes they did, practiced all of the same steps and routines they did, and I could do all of the things that they did. So why was the same person given the same opportunity each time when more than just them had the capability to accomplish the choreographer's goal? Until you are a professional dancer, you should have a fair shot at every role. Otherwise, dancers are telling themselves they will never be anything but the underdog. There are lots of dancers who have told themselves the professional life isn't for them because their self confidence as a dancer is completely gone. What used to be their main outlet from reality is also their greatest nightmare.
First off, this is not an attack on choreographers and teachers claiming they play favorites. Some do and that's awful, but definitely not all are like that. Their claim most likely is "they can execute it the best out of everyone" or "their performance quality exceeds yours," and those are fine and logical reasons to cast the same person each time. But if you have someone who can pull it off 100% each time, why not give someone else a shot to make it happen? And if it doesn't work out, then cast the same person. After all, studio and college dance is about learning and growing and improving; these aren't professional companies, so I believe everyone who has the capability to execute the choreographer's dream should get that opportunity instead of giving it to the person who always gets the lead.
I've taken it into my own hands to stand up for the underdog. From one underdog to the next, I hear your cry: Give us a chance.
As a new choreographer in the college setting, I've made it my mission to pay more attention to the underdogs. We have them in my college, but we make more of an effort to make sure we don't treat them as one. We give them lots of feedback in classes and invite them to all of our social events. The way I see it, the underdogs won't learn, improve, or gain confidence unless thrust into the situations that will give them those things. Yes, not ever underdog is perfect for every role, but they at least were given a chance to try.
Yes, I was an underdog, but that doesn't mean my studio never recognized me. The times I was given the chance to shine, after my shock of being chosen for a lead wore off, I made sure to prove that I could be counted on. And I did become someone to count on. Not as often as some others, but enough to encourage me that continuing dance in college wasn't a crazy idea. I still had no confidence in my professional career; not only was my self esteem still on the low end, but my body became so fragile that I knew it couldn't handle a professional career. Choreography is now my outlet, and while I'm an underdog choreographer, I'm not treated as one.
From one underdog to the next, know your time is coming. Know there will be at least one person out there who will do everything in their power to repair any broken confidence. Know someone out there in the industry will believe in you. Your time may not come when you want it. It may not turn into a situation where you get all the leads, but know that someone will pay attention to you in class and say "let's have this dancer demonstrate this combination" or "let's have you try this part." Any attention like that is good attention, so soak it in, but stay humble. Remember where you came from, and remember how far you can go.
I believe in you, my fellow underdogs.
