I'm having a hard time coping w/life now that I'm no longer pursuing a dance career. Help!

Question

I decided to stop trying to become a professional dancer and am having an awful time coping. I'm depressed and feel like my right arm was cut off. I've lived in NY for 10 years taking countless classes and auditioning but never got picked for any shows or companies.

I tried leaving the city for a year to start a new life working 9-5, volunteering in the local theatre and opening a new chapter in my life. That didn't work out for several reasons so I moved back to NY.

Being here again w/o dance in my life is killing me. I'm not able to hold down a job, feel lost and don't know how to make things better.

I attempted teaching class but didn't enjoy it at all.

Dance was my life, my breath, my soul.

Answer 1

Obviously, dance IS your life, which is why you can't give it up.

The competition for the paying dance roles in NYC is fierce. So if you can't see yourself moving to a less-competitive city (Philadelphia? Baltimore? Atlanta?), you should try to aim for a position in arts administration. This would strike a balance between volunteering in the theatre and holding down a regular 9-5 job. If you stay in NY, you'll need to seek out the more "fringe" dance scene - the non-paying dance roles with other dancers who live and breathe dance, so they create their own pieces and perform wherever they can.

Being a dancer does not just mean pursuing a dance career. You are a dancer. Don't give that up. You can still dance while being paid to do other things.

I wish you the very best and my heart goes out to you.

Answer 2

quitting cold turkey in any situation is tough. maybe you should take up dance again, but not just as a career choice.

maybe try out a part time job, and auditioning for dance roles? or a full time job and dance classes as a hobby? i cant imagine my life without dance, and it pretty much just sounds like you tried to cut out an entire part of you.