It’s heartening to see friends keep in touch and keep a track of your achievements. Their wishes and most importantly their appreciation means a lot to me. It keeps me grounded and aware of my achievements as a human being.
A lot of aspiring dancers and choreographers ask me what it takes to be really successful in the tough and competitive world of dance. And the answer lies in passion towards your performing art.
Yes, my advice to new dancers coming into the world of professional dance is to have the passion to keep going on and on. Of course, practice will make your technique great, but it is the passion and the unique individual personality that will take you a long way.
If you have the passion to keep going; in your unique style and personality, nothing can stop you. And above all you must also be professional. This means you need to be responsible for your actions. Try not to follow others and be another sheep in the herd. The key to understanding yourself and finding footing in this industry is to pave your own path and create your style.
Apart from this attitude also matters a lot. Always remember dancers dance on the floor, let the success not enter your head because one can never dance in the air. You need to be on time, courteous and be pleasant to your fellow dancers and choreographers. Hold your head up high and let the confidence reflect in your abilities. They will eventually speak for themselves. A true dancer will always be a dancer.
You need to seek out the right agent and manager; one who will really work for you and one who understands what kind of person you are and what type of jobs you will like to do. You also need to have great portfolio, just like models even dancers need photographs. Take the time to know what you look great in and let your pictures show your personality, versatility and your dancing skills. A choreographer, is just like a model to a designer. With that I mean dancer is a commodity, a package that needs to be presented well. When you feel that you have it all together, make the extra effort to know the choreographers. Know what they like and dislike and be respectful of what they are asking for during the audition.
Remember during an audition be open to anything, do not underestimate your potential. Just when you think you are not going to get the job, that’s when you will get it. You have to show up and do your best every time. Like I said, it is the passion and the love that makes all the difference. I have worked all over the world with international legends like Madonna, Britney Spears and their dance troupe and what binds all of them is this sheer passion for dance.