I have now finished my Master’s degree in Event, Festival, and Exhibition Management and I have started my own business. In the process leading up to graduation I started working on my CV and applying for jobs. Entering the professional world is a daunting process, especially since I realised my CV is not an ordinary one and predictably, not an ordinary company's first choice. What I once thought was a weakness became a strength as I became an entrepreneur.
I am a dancer and have been so since the age of four. Dance is my passion and what I have prioritised most of my life. I started ballet when I was 4 years old after begging my mother to find me a dance class. It did not take much to convince her since from what I hear, I was always dancing around the house anyways. I did this type of dance for nine more years, but along the way I picked up another style that was a better fit for me, Irish dancing. I started at 10 years old and at almost 25, I am still into it, not wanting to give it up completely just yet. Dancing is, and will always be, part of who I am. Even if growing up means getting a “real job”, I do not regret having made dance a priority. I now lack the “usual” work experience but have gained so much along the way.
Why I don't regret having prioritised dance over jobs during school and university.
1. Dance taught me to be disciplined, dedicated and persistent
When you have been attending dance lessons 2-6 days a week for over 12 years, you learn a thing or two about discipline and dedication. You do not get better at anything overnight, but especially not at something as technical as dance. You focus on working on the tiniest details, and yet, it can be months before you master the steps. It doesn't matter; you keep working until you get them right.
There are times I have had competitions and have not been happy with my placement. This, unfortunately, happens more often than any dancer would like to admit. However, you sulk for the rest of the day after results, and the following day, you are back in training doing your best to improve while strengthening your resilience.
2. Dance taught me to set goals
Not everyone has goals even though everybody should have them. Dance makes you strive for more and makes you set goals—short term and long term. It is not necessarily a "competition goal" like winning one event or another, but perhaps learning a new step, being more fluid in your movements, or making your teachers proud the next time you perform. Dance taught me to define and decide what I want and aim towards it.
3. Dance taught me it is not enough to "want it"
Stepping on the previous point, setting a goal and knowing what you want is not enough. "I want it more than anyone/anything else" is a good motivation, but on its own it will get you nowhere. While in high school, I was at a somewhat difficult situation when my dance teacher’s studio was a three-hour drive from my house. I was very lucky to have amazing, supporting parents that drove me back and forth once a week for a full year so I could have the training I needed to achieve my goals.
But a class once a week would not be enough, so I practised everyday by myself with my good friends, the mirror and my camera, so I could watch and correct myself. It was hard at first, but once it became a routine, at exactly 7pm every day I would go out into the garden where my parents built a small practice area for me and I would drill my steps. I became so punctual with my training, that neighbours started using my music as a curfew alarm for their small kids to come back home from the neighbourhood park. Since cross training was also necessary, I woke up an hour earlier than needed every day to train before going to school. I lived by the quote "Everyone wants to win, but not everyone is willing to prepare to win" - Bobby Knight.
4. Dance taught me to manage my time
Dance taught me to be aware of time and use it wisely. I was in school every day from 7am to 3pm, and from the ages 13 to 17 I was at the studio from about 5pm to 9pm. This left me with about 2 hours to do homework after school and before dance, and the option of going to bed late to finish if needed. I would prioritise my work and start doing the quick, easy tasks in school after I finished the assigned work in the classroom, and I would ask teachers to give me the tasks in advance and get them done during the weekends. I did whatever it took to dedicate my afternoons to dancing and still fulfil all my education duties while being a top student.
During my last year of studies, I attended full time university education and trained 3-5 times a week. At times I have had more training hours per week than contact hours at university, but have managed to submit all my assignments on time to the best of my ability, attend dance lessons and go to the gym.
5. Dance taught me to use my resources and problem solve
As I mentioned before, competition is a big part of dancing, and it does not always go as you want. From a cancelled flight the day before competition to an undesirable placement to a sprained ankle; sometimes life brings unforeseen curveballs, and you need to become a quick thinker and learn to solve problems under pressure as quickly and efficiently as possible.
If you have done everything in your power to ensure you are ready to compete and perform well, then as disappointing as it may be, placing low at a specific competition can simply be because the circumstances did not allow you to excel. For instance, if on competition day your shoe strap breaks even when you polished and checked your shoes the night before, you face two options, either quit the competition or find a way of fixing your shoe as quickly as possible—usually by using lots and lots of tape to strap your shoe in place. The shoe might look just fine to the judges, but actually be a little wobbly. As a result, your performance might not be as good as it would have been if everything had gone smoothly. Another example is not knowing how to improve. Sometimes teachers tell you what needs to be perfected or improved, but sometimes they do not tell you how it can be done. In these cases, I have had to use my own resources and come up with ideas after doing outside research and applying concepts to see if they work, but specially, if they work for me, e.g. how to improve stamina.
6. Dance taught me adaptability and how to work and communicate effectively
This point is a crucial one. As a dance student, I have learned to work with different kinds of teachers; from the teacher that is sitting down in the corner giving you corrections, to the very active teacher that follows you around the room and every other kind in between. I also learned how to do partner work with either my best friend, the student I disliked or a complete stranger the choreographer paired me up with at the moment. As part of competition teams and show troupes, I have also learned to blend in and become a cog in the wheel to achieve positive results and the final goal.
As a dance teacher, I learned that every student learns in different ways. To begin with, I was given a small group when I was 14 years of age, there was a 28 year-old and a 12 year-old and I learned how to cater for both of them in the same class. I had to be flexible, adapt my instructions and my approach even if the level of dancing was the same for both. When I switched jobs, I was given more groups and more responsibilities. I learned how to give simple explanations and adapt information according to age, education and backgrounds. I taught three-year-olds, adults, and a mixed-age group ages ranging between 6 and 14. I led parent meetings, took minutes, sent formal emails to my boss, but also informal messages to colleagues. The key thing I learned was that everyone is different. If you observe, listen, and get to know the people you are working with, it is easier to understand what they need from you and what you need from them to achieve a goal.
7. Dance taught me to be independent
While this may be a little indirect, dance presented me with many opportunities to be independent and be my own person. I had the chance to travel abroad without my parents for dance workshops and competitions from the age of 13, and while my teacher was present, she would not pick up after you and you were expected to handle yourself, bring all your stuff to class, manage your spending money, eat right to keep healthy, etc. Eventually I started travelling without adult supervision, and at 17 I was flying to a new continent by myself and loving every minute of it.
8. Dance taught me to be my best
As a dancer you are always pushing yourself to improve, and you aim for a perfection that does not exist. Every time you dance is an opportunity to better yourself and seek excellence with every step. However, there is a great sense of achievement when you do something better than the day before, regardless of what that might be. I do not only want to excel at dancing but also in other areas of my life. I gave my best in every assignment, exam, presentation while in school and I now do my best work with every project I do for my clients. Dance taught me that you can't always be the best but you can always be your best, and that makes you grow no matter what the outcome. It is not always about the win, and while the win is great you are taught to appreciate the journey and help others along the way.
9. Dance taught me to be prepared
Preparation is the key to success. Being prepared gives you a sense of security. Before a competition you drill and practice, you think of every possible scenario and what you would do if you fall on the stage, if you bump into another dancer or mess up the choreography. You hope you will not need a backup plan but are ready for it if you do. You eat a healthy diet, sleep well and train for months. The day of the competition you wake up early and get ready. You arrive to the venue with enough time to warm up and find your stage. You focus and remember all you have done, and then, you are ready to go.
10. Dance taught me I didn't need a traditional job to learn, and learn fast
Being a fast learner is essential in the dance world. Picking up choreography quickly is a skill that is necessary to hang in a cutthroat world. That is, definitely, practice for other scenarios as well. In the dance world, I worked as a Teacher, Camp Counsellor, and Dance Department Coordinator. All this Irish dance related experience, led to a job as an Administrative Assistant in a small sports and culture firm. Within those jobs, I have had many roles such as choreographer, costume designer, advisor, carer, secretary, photographer, personal trainer, hair stylist, and many others. I have had to learn fast to keep the pace and try to keep a step ahead when possible; I have had to innovate and be creative; and I have had to learn from experience.
I have been provided with the opportunity of being involved in a professional environment without the strict etiquette that many jobs have. That does not mean that these jobs have not been challenging. On the contrary, I believe that I have had to develop both a quick learning mind, and my critical thinking skills.
All these abilities can easily be transferred into other areas of my life. Dance has helped me develop many skills and aptitudes. I know I did not go the traditional way of working in a shop or being a waitress during my school years in order to gain experience or make my way to higher positions. When I started applying for graduate schemes and other roles, I did not get a single interview, which makes me think I might have been perceived as inexperienced regardless of my high marks. However, I do not regret my choice of having prioritised dancing over getting a traditional student job. I thank all the learning opportunities and skills for life dance has provided me over time. I now have my own business and I am very proud of how I have been able to put all my experience together in a way that works for me, and helps my clients. If you would like to find out how we can work together visit my page here!
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