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Thread: How long can you really dance...?

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    Default How long can you really dance...?

    I'm 21 years old and I began dancing at the age of 19 to pay for school. I'm embarrassed about it, but I haven't been all that serious about school since I've beeen making all of this money. I do plan on graduating way before age 25 because I know I can't just dance forever, but part of me feels that I love my job so much, even after I graduate I still would rather dance than have a 9 to 5 right away. I know dancers who are over 40 and they look great, but when I tell non-dancers (customers, friends from school, etc...) this, they think I'm crazy! Does it sound crazy to want to dance long-term even after obtaining a degree? Or are they right?

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    Veteran Member winter2003's Avatar
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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    Listen to your body...and mind....if you want to, look like you want, are happy then do not listen to others...in this profession listening to yourself is key...

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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    not crazy at all....it makes sense if you like your work and the money that comes along with it. There's a reason that there are many strippers with college degrees.

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    Senior Member nicole4's Avatar
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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    Just my 2 cents

    I feel that if you want to continue dancing, and are having fun with it then why not go ahead.I think you should definitly finish your degree in the mean time, and try not to let the money distract you too much.

    Once you have the degree, understand that if you dont get a main stream job, the time lapse may be hard to explain to employers once you decide to"go legit". I dont know what field you are studying, but maybe your degree would allow you to be self employed or consult etc. and then you would avoid the time lapse questions.

    Most importantly you MUST treat the dancing as a business/profession. Budget your spending, and SAVE a large portion of your earnings, sooner or later you are going to want to retire/change professions and if you have nothing to show for the time spent dancing, $$$ wise, then you will resent your decision to delay entering the job market.

    Its great to enjoy your job as a dancer, just remember it is a job and everything should be fine.

    Personally, I have a plan, and want to use dancing to get me there. Like any good plan its a bit flexible but I know why I want to dance and that is to allow me financial freedom to pursue other interests.

    OK stepping off my soap box now lol

    BTW what area are you studying in school?
    As I have matured,I have learned "that one good turn....usually gets most of the blankets",-)

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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    Keep in mind that it's not just about your looks, but also dancers are prone to getting burned out sometimes and just need a break/change.

    But please, please, please get your degree. I got my BA in '01 and have been dancing since, saving and traveling. I know as long as I have that I'll be okay and I am saving. In fact I'm meeting with my financial planner this afternoon!

    I've met dancers who look great in their late 30's - 40's but unfortunately some of them are still dancing because they can't do anything else and are not happy people. Dancing is supposed to give us freedom from certain things that 9-5ers have to put with, but if you're not careful, you'll wake up one day trapped by the very thing that was meant to give you freedom and flexibility.

    To keep your resume fresh, try doing volunteer work with flexible hours in a field related to your degree/ non-dancer career path. Take care of your mind, body and finances and you can dance for many more years if that's what you want.
    "She has written so well, and marvellously well, that I was completely ashamed of myself as a writer...But this girl, who is to my knowledge very unpleasant and we might even say a high-grade bitch, can write rings around all of us who consider ourselves as writers"

    Ernest Hemingway on writer, aviation pioneer and horse trainer Beryl Markham


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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    I am a third generation dancer. Although, my grandmother didn't go to college. My mother and aunt both did. They used dancing as a stepping stone. My aunt is doctor and my mom just got her masters. I'm working on a biology degree. I already have a degree in criminal justice. That doesn't get me far. So, I'm still dancing. I love to dance. I did ballet for years. I make a good living and I don't want to stop, yet. So dance as long as you want. Just make sure you have a plan.
    Smoochies...

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    God/dess velvet's Avatar
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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    wow your grandmother danced as well? burlesque i'm assuming?
    As quoted by Luckyone:
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    Methodus saved my life!

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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    Thank you for your advice, ladies... BTW I am pursuing a BA in English and am planning on becoming a primary school teacher (at least for now), but I'm just a little concerned about taking a pay cut once I start working. I love children and I really, really want to teach, but I don't know if that's enough money for me. You know?

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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    Dancing is supposed to give us freedom from certain things that 9-5ers have to put with, but if you're not careful, you'll wake up one day trapped by the very thing that was meant to give you freedom and flexibility.

    Wow that's really deep. I totally look at dancing as something that is going to set me free (despite outcries of "exploitation" and "degradation")...I am going to try to remember what you said here, it's definitely something I need to keep in mind in my life.

    Make your own safety net so you can dance when you want to stop, not when you have to.
    "When I squinted the world seemed rose-tinted and angels appeared to descend; to my surprise with half-closed eyes things looked even better than when they were opened!"

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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    Hey AngleEyes I am in your exact same predicament. I too love dancing but am in school for my Medical Assisting degree. When I graduate I will be 24 but do not want to quit dancing then and go to work full time. When I finnish school I want to travel Dancing and do it untill I can't do it anymore. There is nothing wrong with this infact this is very smart as your earning potential goes down the older you get for many dancers. If you can get a good 10 years out of dancing and have a degree under your belt that is awsome. Remember there will be a time when you can't make the same amout you could once due to looks, energy whatever so eventualy you will want to do something eles. I am excited to go into the Medical feild but I also LOVE dancing and want to see the country while I can and think dancing can provide me with this. When it comes time to start a new career you can always make something up like you were traveling , or taking care of your family or something. There are ways around this without outright lying. Well good luck!

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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    I used to work in the corporate world. I hated working 5 days a week, 8 hours a day with only 2 weeks of vacation. I hated that everytime it came to get a raise, I was at the "mercy" of the bosses. I hated that my goals and tasks were set by a boss and given to me. I am now a stay-at-home mom and I love it. I don't dance because I need the money, I dance because I really love to do it. I like the freedom that I have with it. I get to spend those nice, warm summer days playing with my daughter outside. I can take her to play groups or go bike riding with her...do anything. I work 2 nights a week. That is all I want to do for now. Will I dance until I am 50? Who knows, but what I do know is that it's what I want to do right now...and I will keep doing it until I am done...not when someone else says that I am done.

    Finish your degree...and don't worry about the "lapse in time". It can easily be explained as taking time off and exploring the world. In the end, it's all about what makes you feel good. If you love dancing, then dance!! You'll be so much happier doing something that you really love to do and leaving it behind when you are ready. Good luck!

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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    Quote Originally Posted by lilac666 link=board=27;threadid=8085;start=msg94065#msg9406 5 date=1081456399
    There is nothing wrong with this infact this is very smart as your earning potential goes down the older you get for many dancers. If you can get a good 10 years out of dancing and have a degree under your belt that is awsome. Remember there will be a time when you can't make the same amout you could once due to looks, energy whatever so eventualy you will want to do something eles.
    I would like to disagree with this comment. I can dance circles around girls 10-16 years younger than me, and my income reflects this. I know a lot of other dancers in my age group that are the same way.

    Don't insantly think that once you get past your mid 20's that everything starts to fall apart. I travel with a girl who is 12 years younger than me, and she sleeps longer, takes more breaks at work, and usually falls asleep in the car on the way home from work (she doesn't drink). If you watch what is happening at the club you will find the older dancers work more often because they can! They still have the energy to take care of themselves while working 40-60 hours a week, and they make bank.

    Now if a girl uses drugs, or drinks heavily all the time, of course she will not be able to keep the pace of a younger dancer. But if she approaches her job in healthy manner, then she can go for a looooong time. Now with great plastic surgery techniques to keep the looks up, a dancer could easily dance into her 50's, if she invests in the looks department.


    Promote yourself and earn more money! This is a business that is owned by strippers for strippers. Let's make that money!


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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    I'll try to explain how "growing older" as a dancer has helped and hurt me. On the plus side, I have seen so many different customers in so many different situations that I virtually always have a 'formula" which will allow me to sell myself successfully.

    Plus side #2 - I have also seen so many different club situations that I can always tell immediately whether or not a club's setup/management is a winning or losing proposition, so I can avoid wasting effort under unfavorable conditions.

    On the "minus" side, even though I still look fairly good on the outside, on the inside things are definitely getting older. This means that knees, toes, neck etc. start to ache sooner and keep aching longer than they used to 10 years ago. And what I used to be able to accomplish in a 45 minute workout now requires 90 minutes !

    Minus side #2 is of course the "burn out" factor. After a while you can't help getting tired of the same old dressing room and customer bullshit, no matter how much you love dancing or how good you are at it.

    In my own case, it's the "burn out" factor more than anything else which has driven me towards semi-retirement already. Of course this has been aggravated greatly by the recent increase in 'extras' and the associated increase in bust risk.

    On the subject of higher education+part time dancing vs full time dancing, I'm going to offer an opinion which is contrary to what many others have posted. Providing that a girl is able to treat dancing as a profession, and also provided that the girl has the discipline to save and invest, in many ways she's better off dedicating 100% of her efforts during her peak earning years to earn the greatest amount of money possible working as a dancer. Then after she retires from dancing, she can invest in an up to date college degree with the money she's saved (vs. trying to enter a field with a 10 year old degree), and she can accept an entry level position in that field without having to answer 10,000 questions as to what she's actually been doing for the last 10 years.

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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    Angel Eyez,

    Here's a thought. Why not finish your degree and work one or two days a week at a homeschooling center? Lot's of people who homeschool their kids will send them one day a week to learn math or history or subjects they aren't comfortable teaching. These places are typically really laid back - you could teach one or two days a week and dance as much as you want AND have something to put on your resume.

    Lena



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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    "Here's a thought. Why not finish your degree and work one or two days a week at a homeschooling center? Lot's of people who homeschool their kids will send them one day a week to learn math or history or subjects they aren't comfortable teaching. These places are typically really laid back - you could teach one or two days a week and dance as much as you want AND have something to put on your resume."

    That's a good idea, Lena... I think I will check into homeschooling. That sounds like the most logical thing to do.

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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    Quote Originally Posted by miss george link=board=27;threadid=8085;start=msg94055#msg9405 5 date=1081455313

    That's very good advice for dancers who have degrees. It's difficult to reenter the 9-5 work force with a big gap on your resume (or the word "stripper").

    AngelEyez, there's nothing wrong with dancing after you get your degree. Just make sure you SAVE. If you don't save (or continue with more school), you're just wasting your time.

    Exactly!! I've seen alot of girls that didnt go to college or save, then came the time to quit and they had absolutely nothing to show for all the years of hard work!
    It's difficult to reenter the 9-5 work force for more reasons that the huge resume gap, at least for me, I have a hard time giving up the leniency in schedules and the ability to work extra when a few extra dollars are needed!


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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    Exactly!! I've seen alot of girls that didnt go to college or save, then came the time to quit and they had absolutely nothing to show for all the years of hard work!
    I have also seen this happen in many cases, and it is a sad situation. Usually the dancer has been in a position of earning 'easy money' for many years based on her extremely good looks. Because of this the dancer didn't have to expend a lot of effort on working out or in developing her "selling skills" earlier in her dancing career, because guys just seemed to line up to spend money on her. The dancer was also usually very popular inside and outside the club, and was a major partyer. The dancer blew money on whatever she felt like, since if she needed more money guys just seemed to throw it at her.

    However, as this dancer approaches age 30 or so, the natural good looks start to go downhill as the wrinkles start appearing. Because the dancer never had to develop a disciplined workout program earlier, once her metabolism starts to change the pounds seem to pile on from nowhere. Guys who used to stand in line waiting for this dancer to finish private dances with other guys now start looking in new directions (like the new 21 year old dancer who just started working).

    The dancer's earnings potential starts to drop, but her decade of partying and frivolous spending habits lag well behind the income decline. As a result, the dancer quickly finds herself in a situation of being in financial trouble, but at the same time no longer having the stunning good looks to automatically attract guys and their money, and also never having developed the "sales skills" or discipline to earn money the hard way the way that most other dancers have to. For girls like this dancer, not having earned a college degree earlier has left her in a disastrous position, since about the only "straight job" she's qualified for is a checkout clerk at WalMart !

    However, a different dancer could have had entirely different results. If for example a different dancer had dedicated herself totally to dancing as a career, she would have established a disciplined workout program from the beginning. She would also have paid a great deal of attention to her appearance via diet, minimal partying, perhaps even plastic surgery.

    As a result, a different dancer would have maintained maximum earnings potential for the entire 10 years. The same discipline would have been applied to spending habits, meaning that the different dancer would have saved and invested say $ 500 a week throughout her 10 year dancing career. So 10 years down the road, when this dancer starts to think about retiring, she has built up a nest egg of $300 or $400 or $500,000 (depending on how well she did at investing). That kind of a nest egg can provide her a $20 or $25 or $30,000 a year in dividend/interest income FOREVER.

    So when this different dancer finally decides to retire, not only does she have cash for college tuition, but she also has the dividend/interest income from her nest egg. She can then obtain a college degree of her choice, and get an entry level 'straight job' in her chosen field as soon as she graduates without having to worry whether or not the new 'straight job' by itself will allow her to make ends meet.

    The difference in the two cases is, of course, discipline and professionalism.


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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    I was going to suggest that you substitute teach and dance as needed...

    Also, it's really easy to explain the 10 year gap to potential employers - you can always just say that your boyfriend/husband took care of you.

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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    Quote Originally Posted by AngelEyezXYZ link=board=27;threadid=8085;start=msg93791#msg9379 1 date=1081405002
    I know dancers who are over 40 and they look great, but when I tell non-dancers (customers, friends from school, etc...) this, they think I'm crazy! Does it sound crazy to want to dance long-term even after obtaining a degree? Or are they right?
    No, it not crazy. If you look good and you work at a nice place , making good money, why not?

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    Default Re:How long can you really dance...?

    This is partly the reason why I'm doing a lot of travelling around my country (Australia). I don't want to have to depend on the $$ here (Gold Coast). I'm investigating my possibilities so that I can work at a handful of clubs to maximise my ability to make over $50,000 a year.

    I personally plan on doing this for the next 5 years (until I'm 30). I got into the game late and got into the 'smart stripper' game a year later. I don't want to waste my next year.


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