Dancers typically have very little (if any) free time in their schedules, but unfortunately dance is expensive. Between pointe shoes and master classes and entry fees, dancers may find themselves...well, broke. Especially for students, getting a summer job is a great way to earn some extra money to fund your dance career (and maybe pay off some loans)! Here are some of the best summer jobs for dancers... Amusement Parks Amusement parks are a great way to break into the entertainment industry. Many amusement parks have performances or entertainment departments that can provide you with dance or performance experience. Even if you are working in another department, every employee in an amusement park is part of the entertainment business. There's a reason many amusement parks call their employees "cast members" and use terms like "on stage" and "off stage" to describe parts of the park. Regardless of weather or crowd conditions, employees are expected to put on a show for their customers and provide them with excellent guest service and quality entertainment. Dance Stores Local dance stores are often looking for extra help, and their employees are usually members of the dance community. By working in a dance store, you can learn about the dance retail industry, give advice about merchandise to other dancers, and possibly get a good employee discount! Dance Camps Many dance studios and schools offer dance camps, so look for a job assisting or even teaching at one of them! Getting some teaching experience can't hurt your dance career, and if you're lucky, you'll be paid for your time. Theatre Programs Like jazz squares, children's theatre camps and workshops are a crowd favorite, and are often looking for choreographers and/or dance teachers. Look into programs like these and see if you can find yourself a job! Dance Captain Professional, pre-professional, and local productions may already have choreographers, but dance captains come in handy during the rehearsal process. See if any theatre companies are putting on a show this summer, and try reaching out to see if they need a dance captain. Dog Walker Want a fun way to stay in shape this summer? Start your own dog walking business in your neighborhood and get your steps in while taking care of some furry friends! Crafting Dancers are also artists of many forms, so if you have a knack for crafts or other art forms, try making your own little business and selling your work! Some cool ideas for dancers would be painting/bedazzling/redesigning old pointe shoes, making wreaths out of old pointe shoes, making doll replicas of dance costumes, or anything else you can find on Pinterest! Assistant at Dance Intensives Many young dancers board at their summer intensives, and these programs hire "resident assistants" (or a similar title) to look after these students in some way, shape, or form. Look into intensives and see if you meet the qualifications for this kind of position! Tour Guide Schools, museums, and other places hire tour guides to show their guests around. Being a tour guide can help you practice your performance skills and get some exercise in! If you are a college student, your school might even be hiring tour guides for the summer. Interested in applying for a job? Create or edit your resume (see CONTACT for my resume as an example!) or design your own website (with Weebly, like this site!) to create an online portfolio. Happy summer, and happy dancing! Photos from MTL Blog and ABCDance If you live in the Salem, New Hampshire area, consider applying to Canobie Lake Park! Hundreds of jobs are available and you can work in a fun environment with flexible hours and awesome team members! Visit canobie.com or click the button below!
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Students at Westfield State University visibly upset after news broke that the school would be tearing down their set a week before opening night in order to clear the stage for a televised political event. Photo from Facebook You really can't make this stuff up.
A few nights ago I was scrolling through my Facebook feed when I came across this photo with a captain describing what happened at WSU. According to students at WSU, they had built this extravagent set for their upcoming production of Urinetown, and have had this space booked since last Spring. Last week (two weeks before the show goes up), school staff members were beginning to tear down the set because they had double booked the space for one of the production dates. Senator Elizabeth Warren was set to speak at this event and MSNBC would be filming. The show was going to moved to a black box theatre that would only be able to fit 13 of the 35 cast members on stage and would not be able to have this set. By looking at the photo, you can see the funds, heart, blood, sweat, and tears that had gone into that set. And it was being taken down for a PR event. First of all, I would like to take the blame off Elizabeth Warren. I'm not just saying that based on political views, but she isn't the one to book her own events. Her people probably didn't even know there was supposed to be a musical in that space, and that the set was being destroyed on the event's behalf. The school was basically sweeping the show- and more importantly, the students- under the rug for this event. Not to mention, knowing Senator Warren's platform I don't think she would have been okay with any of this. But what I am saying WTF to is the fact that any sane human would think that destroying this set and throwing away all of this students' hard work was a good idea. What I am most horrified about is that this was real life. We've all seen an episode of Glee or some other TV show where the arts are underrated, but this is proof that shows like Rise and Bunheads weren't lying. There are actually awful people that are willing to hurt the arts and its students for selfish reasons. All I have to say about these people are they are unjustified, cruel, and not fit to be working in education. How many times do we have to say that the arts are important??? How many times do we have to spell out the benefits of the arts??? How many times do we have to stick up for kids that like to do something other than play sports??? Never underestimate the power of the arts (and social media), because news broke this past Friday that MSNBC has pulled out of the event after hearing what the school was planning to do to its students. I am so happy for these students and grateful that someone came to their senses. However, I think it's pathetic that the school did not make this decision themselves. Someone that works in education should ALWAYS put the students first. Long story short, I am proud that these students stood up for their art and saved their show. I just wished they didn't have to defend it in the first place. If you'd like to read more about this story, read about it here: http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/04/msnbc_cancels_westfield_state.html |
AuthorWelcome to my blog! Popular PostsArchives
September 2020
Offline Updates7/16 Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the showcase I was selected to choreograph for at NYU was unfortunately cancelled. However, I was able to turn my work into a mini-documentary about the choreographic process and art prevailing during these trying times. You can watch my video my clicking the button below!
9/18 Follow my new Instagram just for my dance things!
12/23 I was one of NDEO's Guest Bloggers this year! Read "Teaching is a Vocation. Not a Fallback" on their Behind the Curtain Blog!
9/27 I will be presenting my research at the National Dance Education Organization National Conference next week! See my research project by clicking the button below!
4/15 While working on PMA's production of The Addams Family, I got to combine my two favorite styles of dance (ballet and musical theatre) for "The Moon and Me"! Watch my talented students dance by clicking the button below!
2/20 I am choreographing PMA Theatre Guild's Production of The Addams Family! Come see these amazing high school students perform at Presentation of Mary Academy in Methuen, MA April 13 & 14! Tickets available at the door.
2/20 I am stage managing BSU's Dance Kaleidoscope this year! Show dates are March 29-31 at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA. Come see this student choreography showcase!
11/5 I will once again be dancing in a BSUDC concert! Tickets to WinterDance are now available!
8/24 NDEO's National Honor Society for Dance Arts has published one of my articles in their newsletter! Read an updated version of "Audition Advice" here:
5/16 Interested in learning about movement concepts? Visit Becca's new Educational Dance website!
5/8 BSU Dance Company's Dance Kaleidoscope 2017 is now on Youtube! You can watch my performances by visiting the VIDEOS page!
4/23 I recently performed for the residents of Allerton House in Hingham, MA! You can watch part of my performance here!
Amesbury Children's Theatre presents...James and the Giant Peach Jr, featuring choreography by me! Click for tickets!
2/8 My piece "Barefoot" is now available to watch online! Click to watch!
2/5 Happy to say I have been cast in BSU Dance Company's Spring concert Dance Kaleidoscope! I will be dancing in 3 faculty choreographed pieces, including excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty in which I will be dancing the role of Lilac Fairy! Show dates are March 31-April 1 at Bridgewater State University.
Click the button for more info! 1/15 Ballet with Becca is now on Facebook! Click to visit the page, and be sure to like it while you're there!
1/14 I am happy to say I will be attending artEmotion's summer intensive in June! I will be dancing in the one week artEmotion Adult Program. If anyone would like to join or audition for any other artEmotion program, visit their website!
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