<p>This young woman is fortunate to have been able to get two degrees while dancing: many aren’t able to do that, either for financial reasons, or because it is just too hard taking so many classes while simultaneously taking class, auditioning, rehearsing and performing.</p>
<p>Our daughter tried the professional life when she would have been a senior in high school. She left school, got her GED, and danced with a small company (in one of their fundraisers,she also had to do ballet with a huge bear suit; that was the price to pay for the company to be able to hire good choreographers, rent a venue, etc.).</p>
<p>Most dancers in our city live the way this article describes, dancing in 3 or 4 small companies and occasionally doing their own work (both ballet and modern).</p>
<p>Anyway, our daughter decided to stop dancing for awhile after that year, and explore some other areas of herself, other interests, hang out with friends, and get her bearings. I’m actually glad she did this at 18. She may go back to dance, but it will be on different terms and for different reasons.</p>
<p>This article can be inspiring, but it is also sort of cautionary.</p>