From Ballet to Business: How My Dance Training Prepared Me for Entrepreneurship
Photo: Nichole Manner
When I was in college, people asked me ALL THE TIME what I was going to do with my dance degree. Sometimes they were truly curious and supportive of my major choice, but more often than not their question came off as patronizing.
Well, the short answer to that question was work as a professional dancer (which I did!). But the long answer is that even if my career as a ballerina hadn’t panned out, dance training gave me SO MANY transferable skills that have served me in virtually any career path I have gone down.
From Dancer to Educator to Administrator to School Director and now Entrepreneur, I owe much of my success to the skills I learned in the dance classroom. I may not use my knowledge of past repertoire or how to count Stravinsky in my everyday life these days…but the skills I developed that allowed me to flourish in these areas have given me success in the business realm.
Chances are you will find yourself in a career outside of performing one of these days. Whether it’s still in the dance realm or not, here are three lessons dance taught me that I use every day as an entrepreneur.
1. Great things take time
We’re ingrained in a culture of instant gratification. We stream any show directly to our TV with the click of a button or have Starbucks delivered to our door in a matter of minutes. But as much as we love quick fixes, there will never be a quick fix for learning ballet. It takes time, dedication, and perseverance. The same principle rings true for business.
Did you know that bamboo grows its roots for 5 years underground before growing 90 feet in the air within 6 weeks? There’s no such thing as an overnight success, even when it seems like it to those outside the process. When the progress I’m making seems slow and monotonous, I think back to the millions of pliés I have done in my life, all in preparation for something much bigger. It took years of daily practice, but eventually, it led me to a professional dance career. I’ve been through the process and seen what can happen when you take your time to build a solid foundation. This lesson has been essential to persevering through some of the tough times in business.
2. I can do hard things
When I started my business, I was initially excited by all of the flashy parts. Picking out a name, choosing a logo, writing my mission statement - and then reality set in. I quickly learned how much I didn’t know about starting a business (taxes, finances, SEO, oh my!).
I think back to my very first ballet class. I was so excited to go shopping for my first leotard and ballet slippers and put my hair in the perfect ballet bun. I thought ballet looked beautiful and fun - I had no idea how much I was going to have to learn before I could do the steps I had watched on stage. But I took that first step, and the next, and kept going. I came to roadblocks and figured out solutions.
Ballet taught me that it’s OK to not know everything - what’s important is being open to learning and knowing that I have the skills and tools available to me to find the answers. Whether it’s a Google search, reaching out to my coach for guidance, or signing up for a new class - I can take that roadblock and build a bridge to climb right over.
3. It’s OK to pivot
When I first started my dance career, I was convinced I wanted to dance in a classical ballet company. However, after going down that path for a few years I realized it wasn’t for me. I needed to have the courage to let go of outside expectations and pivot to a career that was truly fulfilling for me, even if it was different than my original plan.
Throughout my career, I have repeated this many times. Not in a flighty way, but with well well-thought-out intention to develop my career in a way that aligns with where I am in each moment of life. It’s what led me to start my business and what continues to allow me to evolve.
When I first started The Brainy Ballerina®, I exclusively intended to sell only printable resources for use in the ballet classroom. While this is still a huge part of my business, I realized that dancers needed so much more personal guidance when it comes to their careers. It’s what led me to start offering Career Mentoring and working 1-1 with dancers on the cusp of a professional career. Making a change can be scary, but because I have done it many times in my career (and will many more!), I knew I had to lean into that discomfort to continue evolving.
The takeaway?
The time you spend in the dance studio is setting you up for success no matter which career path you choose. Dance education teaches us to be disciplined, creative, adaptable, organized, team players, critical thinkers, and so much more. These attributes are invaluable as you make your way through life, on the stage or off.
Can you name a time that the skills you learned in dance helped you succeed in another setting? SHARE in the comments!
Meet the Author
Caitlin Sloan is a Dance Educator and Career Mentor based in Madison, WI.
Caitlin received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Grand Valley State University and Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Missouri.
She danced professionally for nine years with companies including Ballet Tucson and Missouri Contemporary Ballet (now Mareck Dance). Caitlin has taught at schools all over the Midwest, most notably serving as Director of The School of Missouri Contemporary Ballet and Youth Company Director for Central Indiana Dance Ensemble. She is currently on faculty at the School of Madison Ballet.
Caitlin founded The Brainy Ballerina® in 2019, a virtual resource providing support and guidance for aspiring ballet dancers. Follow @thebrainyballerina on Instagram for your daily dose of dance career guidance and inspiration.
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