Hello!
I'm brand new here and so excited that I finally "woke up" to find a BD forum. I have danced this style on an off (mostly on) for the past 6.5 or more years. I still take instruction in our city's Rec. Ctr. with the same instructor as I began with. I love her style and the dance, am am looking to find ways to take this to the next level, though realistically being the mom of 3 young'uns who works p/t, I'm not expecting (or even looking) to go Pro anytime soon.
Which brings me to my question - I'd love to join a more formal troupe for more performance opportunities...time will tell if this is an option. I've always been curious to know how a dancer goes "Pro"? I think I asked this question in a roudabout way to my instructor (who's a bit younger than I, but not by much) a few years back, and I received a somewhat vague answer. I guess in a way I'm sort of embarrassed to ask her again for fear in her mind she'd think, "oh honey, don't ask...you've got a long way to go/will never get there at this pace."
Basically, she started BDing as a teenager, and her instructor was a well-known dancer in this area. I'm not sure but it seems she was "asked" to become professional. I probably have this wrong, but just how much work, training, years, etc. does someone have to complete (in addition to having innate talent, perhaps) in order to go Pro? I don't think BDing is like golf where, once you complete 18 w/a certain handicap/score at a special tournament, you get your Pro card.
1) So, how does this happen (how does one get to call themselves a BD Pro), then?
2) What other levels are there, if any, besides beginner and intermediate (and Pro)?
3) Do dancers offer themselves for hire when intermediate, or is this reserved for a Pro? If so, do you bill yourself an intermediate dancer for hire?
These may seem like stupid questions, but I'm so interested to hear some answers. TIA for your replies!
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