Hi
I'm a college student and I love dancing the Tango but I want to know about what my career would be like as a ballroom dancer please give me some advice!
from Alesia

The many doors that will open to you are to
much to see right now. i started teaching when i was 19 and now i compete full time making money traveling and teaching.

Alesia, Love of dance can take many forms - as a profession or as an active amateur. I've chosen the later for most of my career; however I am considering turning pro (after dancing and competing as an amateur for 14 years). Any dance pros want to add they thoughts?

Hi Ken,

I am also thinking about turning pro. It is a tough decision. So much of it depends upon whether or not there are partners available! The problem is, it is such a permanent decision! Many of my peers, who trained with me, turned pro a few years ago. I would be interested in people's thoughts on the pros and cons of turning pro.

Turning Pro Pros and Cons
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Pro:

Earn money teaching dancing.

Get paid to compete in Pro/Am events rather than paying for it.

Have a job you love doing something you love.

Interesting tax deductions related to your new career.

Con:

More difficult for pro women to find pro partners than for amateur women to find amateur partners.

Entry-level for Pro competition is MUCH higher than for amateur competition, and is much more demanding in terms of age, body type, and fitness level.

Not as many male students out there as female students, and more female teachers than male teachers, so getting private students for Pro/Am competition is not always easy.

Some people report that after they've turned pro they've lost most desire to social dance because they dance all day for their jobs and they just want to get out of the studio and do something else.

Despite the glamorous trappings, it is not an easy way to earn money.

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The bottom line is that if someone who isn't a top amateur competitor loves teaching dancing, especially helping complete neophytes learn to dance, then that's why they should turn pro.

(The ironic thing is, though, that the top amateur competitors are allowed to teach anyway and so don't have to turn pro. But I won't get into that here....)

Great synopsis Laura. I've spoken to a lot of pros, and I would concur -- most tell me that social dancing is just a fond memory since they started teaching. However there are exceptions - I know a few local teachers that teach all day and then love to go to the evening parties.

It does seem that the pool of male or female partners is smaller among pros.

I am new to ballroom dancing and I was wondering how can someone dance fulltime, without teaching, and have enough money to pay for coaches and costumes and competitions, it might sound stupid but I was wondering what money is there to get besides from teaching.