What does it mean to be a professional Dancer? How many are there? If i go to Bank manager and ask for mortgage as professional dancer , will i get it? It seems a very fleeting profession.
Professional Dancer
Like anything, it means that dancing is their career, they get paid for what they do. They are professionals, not unpaid amateurs.
You need to understand these issues, especially when criticising some of the amateur dancers in the show.
You need to understand these issues, especially when criticising some of the amateur dancers in the show.
In a nutshell a professional dancer is someone who is paid money to dance or to teach dancing. It needn't necessarily be their full time job, they may just teach a couple of classes, but if they get money then they are professional.
The sad thing is, that anyone who can dance half a dozen steps can legally set themselves up with their own school and start teaching - legally - they do not have to be qualified. This is why when looking for dance teachers you should always look for a qualified teacher - if they advertise themselves just as professional the chances are they are not qualified.
To be qualified they have to take a series of strict examinations to prove their knowledge. Competitors fall into 2 categories - amateur and professional. If amateur they may get sponsorship (but a pittance in the UK) but will not earn money except in certain circumstances; the professional competitors will earn their money teaching, coaching, demonstrating, but even they will take the necessary exams to become qualified - although very often not until they stop competing and want to start judging.
Hope this ramble hasn't bored you to tears! My apologies if it has.
[BTW - yes, it can be very difficult for someone who is a pro dancer to get a mortgage!!!!!!!]
The sad thing is, that anyone who can dance half a dozen steps can legally set themselves up with their own school and start teaching - legally - they do not have to be qualified. This is why when looking for dance teachers you should always look for a qualified teacher - if they advertise themselves just as professional the chances are they are not qualified.
To be qualified they have to take a series of strict examinations to prove their knowledge. Competitors fall into 2 categories - amateur and professional. If amateur they may get sponsorship (but a pittance in the UK) but will not earn money except in certain circumstances; the professional competitors will earn their money teaching, coaching, demonstrating, but even they will take the necessary exams to become qualified - although very often not until they stop competing and want to start judging.
Hope this ramble hasn't bored you to tears! My apologies if it has.
[BTW - yes, it can be very difficult for someone who is a pro dancer to get a mortgage!!!!!!!]
Originally Posted by kaycee:
“In a nutshell a professional dancer is someone who is paid money to dance or to teach dancing. It needn't necessarily be their full time job, they may just teach a couple of classes, but if they get money then they are professional.
The sad thing is, that anyone who can dance half a dozen steps can legally set themselves up with their own school and start teaching - legally - they do not have to be qualified. This is why when looking for dance teachers you should always look for a qualified teacher - if they advertise themselves just as professional the chances are they are not qualified.
To be qualified they have to take a series of strict examinations to prove their knowledge. Competitors fall into 2 categories - amateur and professional. If amateur they may get sponsorship (but a pittance in the UK) but will not earn money except in certain circumstances; the professional competitors will earn their money teaching, coaching, demonstrating, but even they will take the necessary exams to become qualified - although very often not until they stop competing and want to start judging.
Hope this ramble hasn't bored you to tears! My apologies if it has.
[BTW - yes, it can be very difficult for someone who is a pro dancer to get a mortgage!!!!!!!]”
“In a nutshell a professional dancer is someone who is paid money to dance or to teach dancing. It needn't necessarily be their full time job, they may just teach a couple of classes, but if they get money then they are professional.
The sad thing is, that anyone who can dance half a dozen steps can legally set themselves up with their own school and start teaching - legally - they do not have to be qualified. This is why when looking for dance teachers you should always look for a qualified teacher - if they advertise themselves just as professional the chances are they are not qualified.
To be qualified they have to take a series of strict examinations to prove their knowledge. Competitors fall into 2 categories - amateur and professional. If amateur they may get sponsorship (but a pittance in the UK) but will not earn money except in certain circumstances; the professional competitors will earn their money teaching, coaching, demonstrating, but even they will take the necessary exams to become qualified - although very often not until they stop competing and want to start judging.
Hope this ramble hasn't bored you to tears! My apologies if it has.
[BTW - yes, it can be very difficult for someone who is a pro dancer to get a mortgage!!!!!!!]”
Thanks. Kaycee, i did not realise this, but did wonder are there professional shows you can go, away from tv cameras, you can enter and make a nice steady living.
Originally Posted by kaycee:
“..... the professional competitors will earn their money teaching, coaching, demonstrating, but even they will take the necessary exams to become qualified - although very often not until they stop competing and want to start judging.
.......[BTW - yes, it can be very difficult for someone who is a pro dancer to get a mortgage!!!!!!!]”
“..... the professional competitors will earn their money teaching, coaching, demonstrating, but even they will take the necessary exams to become qualified - although very often not until they stop competing and want to start judging.
.......[BTW - yes, it can be very difficult for someone who is a pro dancer to get a mortgage!!!!!!!]”
It seems to be really hard work and stressful. My teacher has had to take exams, run a business (and account for studio rental and costs of other teachers' employment), practice for competition, pay for coaching (which can be really quite costly), pay for overheads of travel and accommodation when entering competitions, and so on.............
So Strictly can be quite a nice steady income for those who do it.
Originally Posted by soulmate61:
“Ann Widdicomb was paid last year for dancing,
hence she is a professional dancer.
”
“Ann Widdicomb was paid last year for dancing,
hence she is a professional dancer.
”
She was paid, yes,... But did she actually dance?
Originally Posted by kaycee:
“[BTW - yes, it can be very difficult for someone who is a pro dancer to get a mortgage!!!!!!!]”
“[BTW - yes, it can be very difficult for someone who is a pro dancer to get a mortgage!!!!!!!]”
My impression is that children of professional dancers/teachers often follow in parents' footsteps despite having seen it from the inside. Is this so?
The inference is that despite dancing being no way to wealth and security the children can see real attractions.
