At this point in life, I strictly TEACH -- it's the teaching I love. I don't perform any more except for a little in my own show that I gear toward my dancers, NOT ME.
Any and all dance jobs I get I give away to my dancers and have been for a long time now. I must have given out at least 50 dance jobs over the years. I did that even when I was actively performing, as well.
You would not believe, though, what people ask for when they ask for a "Dancer". They want them not to be a top-notch dancer. They want them to be beautiful, have an excellent figure ... and on and on. This area is very difficult for me as some people will go as far as to say they don't want anyone with a certain color hair or they don't want anyone more than 5 pounds overweight. Oh yes! Private parties are great, and, yes, the $$ are good, but even with that, you must remember ...
No matter how short the performance is, you must prepare your costume, prepare your music, don't eat before dancing, fix yourself up to a maximum, drive there, perform, and drive back. Anyway you look at it -- it takes up most of your day. It's a wonderful feeling afterwards, though. But mainly, what I am trying to say is:
The "Wonderful World of Entertainment" can be as cruel as it can be wonderful. In a lot of cases, the public is more concerned with what you look like. I usually tell people giving a party that a dancer may look one way when she arrives; however, once in performance, she takes on a whole different glow and looks altogether different. |
