Dear Colin
It is my dream to join The Australian Ballet, but my Mum says that I should have some plans for when my dance career finishes. My question is how long is the average dancer’s career and what do dancers do when they retire? Also is it possible to study while dancing professionally?
Lenore
Bravo Mum!
I believe that education is the most important detail that should be considered when planning a professional career in dance. All full-time schools now insist on students gaining an academic education at the same time they study dance.
Dance is physical, so the duration of a career is dependent on the physical well-being of the individual. Just as all sports people come to a time when their body will no longer react the way they need it to, the same applies to dancers. This is usually around the late thirties. However, this is not the main reason to have a good education. The reasons people cannot or do not continue to dance are varied and it is only sensible to be prepared.
A large number of the dancers in The Australian Ballet are in the midst of or just completing further education courses. So yes it is possible, in fact it is actively encouraged by our management. This broadens the dancers’ opportunities when they do decide to leave. Ex-Australian Ballet dancers have become lawyers, health professionals, IT technicians, travel consultants, actors, designers and a few are even dance teachers!
Best,
Colin
And some people continue dancing until way after the average retirement age – if not performing all-out in full-on ballets, they’re still involved in dance in one way or another. Ahem… Colin?
(Then there’s people like me, who gave away dance at an early-ish age, and then returned to it inspired by their status as ballet-mums.)
Jen