What I Wish I Understood as a Young Dancer
When you're starting out in your career, especially as a dancer who’s trained in a pre-professional setting, you really feel like you know what you're doing. You’ve worked so hard to get where you are, and going into that first professional job, you have a preconceived notion of what you think it’s going to be like.
But honestly - it’s a whole different ballgame.
Now you're getting paid to dance. Expectations are higher. The environment is more intense. And there were so many things I didn’t realize I’d need to unlearn or relearn.
So today, I want to share the lessons I wish I had understood when I started my professional career - things that would have helped me get through some of the hardest moments with more grace and a lot less self-doubt.
1. Your obsession with perfection is holding you back.
I really needed someone to tell me this when I was younger. I thought if I was perfect (every step nailed, always in line, never off the count) I would be protected from criticism, disappointment, or failure.
But chasing perfection actually kept me stuck. It paralyzed me. Instead of being the brave, joyful dancer I had once been I became tightly wound and constantly afraid to mess up. And guess what - I made more mistakes because I was so in my head.
Eventually, I joined a company that encouraged risk-taking. Falling was applauded if it meant you were going for it. It took time to unlearn the fear, but when I let go of the need to be perfect, I rediscovered what it meant to actually dance. And that’s when I started to grow.
2. You do not have to have all the answers.
I used to think that not knowing something meant I was in trouble. But the truth is, saying “I don’t know, but I’m going to figure it out” is one of the smartest things you can do.
Pretending you know everything stops you from learning and stops others from helping you. But when you’re honest about where you’re struggling, you can get support. Admitting you don’t know something is the first step to solving it.
3. Nobody is judging you as much as you are judging yourself.
I used to be sure that everyone in the room was constantly judging me. But most of the time, people are too focused on their own dancing to notice yours.
And the ones who are judging? They’re likely projecting their own insecurities.
There were dancers who made me feel like I didn’t belong. But there were also dancers who took me under their wing, validated what I was experiencing, and helped me navigate company life.
You’re the only one living in your body of course you’re noticing all your tiny mistakes. Other people? Not so much.
4. It’s okay to change your mind.
I grew up in a serious pre-professional school where the goal was major ballet companies. So when I started my professional career, I had my heart set on dancing with a classical ballet company.
I don’t regret taking that path. I had to do it to know it wasn’t right for me. But after two years, I was craving something different.
I ended up joining a smaller contemporary ballet company, and it was exactly what I needed. I was thrown into challenging roles and worked with incredible choreographers. That classical background was still so valuable, but giving myself permission to pivot was what made all the difference.
5. You can be the best dancer in the room and still not get the job.
Once again - it’s not always about you.
Companies have needs you don’t know about. They’re looking for certain things to fill specific gaps, and sometimes, you’re just not the right fit right now. It doesn’t mean you’re not good enough.
Rejection hurts, but once I understood that it was often about timing or casting needs and not about me, it helped take the sting out. And just because it’s a “no” now doesn’t mean it’s a “no” forever.
6. You are going to miss this.
There are days when it’s really, really hard. You’d do anything to take your pointe shoes off and do literally anything else
But please know how lucky you are to get to dance. Not many people get to live a life where they are so passionate about their job. Now, on the other side of my performing career, I miss it more than I can explain.
On the days you’re tired or over it, just remember how lucky you are to get to do pliés for your job.
Final Thoughts
I could talk about this for hours. But if there’s one thing I hope you take away, it’s this:
Asking for help does not make you weak. It means you’re smart enough to grow.
You never have to do this alone. The dance community is full of supportive, amazing people—sometimes, you just have to know where to look.
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.
