The reality of a dancer’s life is often more complicated than what we imagined as young students. We must become not just powerful artists but also skilled marketers, social media managers, and self-care experts. This, coupled with the need to pay rent and buy food, can create a heavy schedule of work and art. Time management and communication, essential to maintaining any career, are especially important in project-based work in the arts.
But when opportunities to work in our chosen art form arise, of course our first response is to say yes.
The tendency to overcommit is complicated. As dancers, we love what we do and want to perform. We think we can do it all. We often need multiple income streams simply to make ends meet. And in our post-pandemic world, there is also a subtle fear that life opportunities will again be taken away. As a result, we may want to take on everything while we have the chance.
But we simply cannot produce our best work or stay healthy when we take on too much responsibility. This is when we’re more likely to get injured or sick. We have to rush from one project to another, risking accidents, being late, not eating.
As a dancer, artistic director of a professional dance company, and choreographer, I am frequently seeking artists for hire. I always have candid conversations with dancers at auditions and before we begin the rehearsal process. We give them contracts to sign, which include the payment details and rehearsal schedule.
Most producers understand that artists are juggling demanding schedules—schedules they often have little control over—and are willing to compromise. Still, every cast includes dancers who are simply overcommitted. “Oh, I will only miss a couple rehearsals” is a common response, or “I can learn off video.”
In our ever fast-paced lifestyle and state of global trauma, we have lost the ability to step back and ask, “Can I fulfill my job obligations?”
We often overcommit with the best intentions, trying to balance a steady paycheck with freelance dance work. In those circumstances, communicating is key. Be honest and up front with everyone, including yourself. Let the production team know of work schedule conflicts ahead of time, if and when you can.
Part of learning to say no is trusting the process. If we can’t take on a job, we need to remind ourselves that there will be other chances to dance, in a time and space when we can give our all. It can be challenging to cobble together a career from a collection of dance projects, but one of the upsides is that those projects tend to come in many different forms: long-term, short-term, minimal and longer rehearsal times. With creativity, and the support of understanding directors, we can find a good fit.
It’s not easy to square our financial and logistical realities with our artistic dreams. But approaching both our careers and each other with care and trust will help us find the right balance—allowing us to take care of our physical and mental health, and to show up for each project at our best.
Photo by Elliston Lutz, Courtesy Jordan.
Amy Jordan is a choreographer, author, coach, and speaker, and the subject of the documentary Amy’s Victory Dance.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings