This is the beginning of an occasional series written by a university graduate just beginning his career. A member of Gen Z, Adrian Green has a perspective that differs widely from those born before 1995. Dance Currents welcomes his unique approach, a new stream of thought if you will.
Did you recently graduate from a university with a degree in dance? Are you struggling to find your footing in the dance world? Then you and I have something in common. The professional dance world is a tricky one to navigate; especially after pursuing your degree and becoming comfortable in your university setting. Your professors and mentors may seem more distant, your friends may be states away, and the scariest part is, you’re adulting! In today’s feature, I will be opening up about my own personal journey post graduation as well as offering some lessons I’ve learned as a professional artist thus far.
My Journey
In 2022, I graduated from Point Park University with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Dance with a concentration in ballet. After four years of daily rigorous dance training, endless essays, and a lot of tears, I can proudly say I survived college in one piece. Right after I graduated, I achieved my dream of getting a contract with a professional contemporary ballet company for the 2022-2023 season. During that time, I performed in four intense shows, choreographed several pieces, taught at studios all over Pittsburgh, and even wrote a book of poetry. From the outside looking in it seemed as if all my dreams had come true and I was living the dream; yet I found myself becoming fundamentally unhappy in my life. It was then I realized that dancing in a professional ballet company was not at all what I wanted to do with my career.
So what do I do now? I used to always say, “I can’t do anything other than dance because I don’t know how to do anything else”; which couldn’t have been further from the truth. So when I ended up stepping away from my career as a dancer, there was one question flooding through my mind, “what’s next?” It took me about two months to process such a big change and it was one of the scariest moments of my life. However, during that time a close mentor of mine gave me the best advice I needed to hear and that was, “There is not just one way to be a professional artist”. Throughout college, my focus was purely on dancing in a professional company to the point of my own mental and physical detriment. Since this big transition, I’ve been able to pursue all of the things that bring joy and fulfillment to my life. I’ve since been a professional dance teacher, choreographer, author, and dance journalist; but most importantly, I have never been happier and more confident in my entire life.
Now that’s enough about me! Let’s talk about you and how to help you navigate this deeply complicated and yet rewarding profession.
Life Is Not Linear
In my experience, so many students enter a university setting with a set idea or plan for their future. I can firmly say that whoever you think you are when you enter college at 18 will be a distant memory from when you graduate in your 20’s. Your dance journey is like your fingerprints; it’s entirely personal to you and will look nothing like anyone else’s, but it is your journey to create. It may not turn out the way you expected and that is completely okay and will most likely work out in your favor. My hope is that when you leave college you are able to confidently answer these two questions, “who are you?” and “what do you have to say?” This is a fundamental part of being any kind of artist because in this industry you never know where life will take you and there will be a lot of inconsistencies in your career; but if you can own who you are and what you have to say about the world in which you live, people will respect you and your perspective so much more.
Maintain and Create Connections
Throughout your time in college you’ve no doubt made deep and long lasting relationships with your professors and advisors. Don’t lose that! It is so important to really get to know your mentors and to utilize their expertise to help you navigate the professional dance world. Even after I graduated, I was meeting up for coffee and the occasional cocktail with my professors and consistently attending their performances. This has been incredibly rewarding as not only have I gotten a deeper understanding of who they are but they have continued to mentor me and guide me through my journey.
You can’t stop there however! The professional dance world is all about who you know. You could be the best dancer in the room or the one with the most compelling ideas; but if you’re not actively reaching out for opportunities, they are not going to come. Directors, choreographers, and employers are not going to reach out to you personally if you’re not an active member of your local dance community and seeking opportunities. Take open classes, go see performances, engage with your fellow local artists, reach out to companies/organizations that align with your views, and do not be afraid to put yourself out there. The more you expose yourself in this industry the more opportunities will come your way. This won’t be news for any of you; but the hard truth is that you will most likely hear more no’s than yesses, and please never let that deter you from continuing to put yourself out there. Every opportunity I’ve ever gotten since college was received because I put myself out there and contacted mentors, emailed dance studios and companies, and applied for choreographic commissions; knowing full well I will most likely receive a “no” but I never let that turn me away from an opportunity. Three of the most important things I’ve learned since graduation is to never burn bridges, listen to your intuition, and to always say yes.
Carve Your Own Path
Singer-songwriter Erykah Badu once said, “Too many people are trying to live someone else’s dreams” and “People should find the easiest thing that comes to them and master it.” I think this is amazing advice for any artist because although we all have idols and notable figures we admire; It’s important to not compare someone else’s path to your own. Find what makes you fundamentally happy and it may not be what you originally planned for yourself and that is completely okay. What is most important is that you stay true to yourself and what you do best as an artist and to capitalize on that. Don’t be afraid to experiment, play, and explore different avenues that you enjoy and surrender yourself to the journey and have fun while you do it!
My wish for absolutely anyone pursuing a career in the arts, especially dance, is that you will not allow other people’s perception of you and who they think you are define you. You are a multifaceted and imperfect human being and that is the most beautiful thing about you because that is what makes you a unique individual. Life after college as an adult is scary, but if you are able to fundamentally understand who you are and become the change you want to see in the arts then you will be able to navigate the dance world with ease. Know that you are not alone in this journey and you will find your own personal path and it will be a beautiful one.
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