College Dance Training Can Actually Be Helpful

DURING UNDERGRAD I REMEMBER READING AN ARTICLE THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE CONS OF DANCERS WHO JOIN THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD AFTER UNDERGRADUATE DANCE STUDIES.THE MAIN IDEA SURROUNDED THE LACK OF EXPERIENCE AND INABILITY FOR DANCERS TO ADAPT TO THE LIFE OF A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST. UPON ENTERING MY COLLEGIATE DANCE PROGRAM, ALTHOUGH I WAS BRINGING A SOLID TECHNICAL FOUNDATION, UNDERSTANDING OF PROFESSIONALISM AND A RESPECT FOR MY CRAFT, MY GREATEST POSSESSION WAS MY UNDYING PASSION. THROUGHOUT COLLEGE I ISOLATED MYSELF WHEN I REALIZED THAT MY WORK ETHIC AND SERIOUSNESS CAUSED SOME CLASSMATES TO TREAT ME UNFAVORABLY. I EXPERIENCED BEING RIDICULED FOR MY FOCUS, INTENTIONALITY AND LEADERSHIP. ALTHOUGH THIS TREATMENT DID NOT COME FROM EVERYONE IT BECAME A DRIVING FORCE FOR ME TO CONTINUE PURSUING MY STUDIES WITH INTENSITY, FORETHOUGHT AND EXCELLENCE. SOME MOMENTS WERE TOUGHER THAN OTHERS BUT I KEPT MY EYES AHEAD. I REMAINED FOCUSED ON MY DREAMS. I KNEW WHAT I WANTED TO ACCOMPLISH IN MY CAREER AND DECIDED TO ALLOW MY TRAINING WITHIN THE DANCE PROGRAM AND ITS ACADEMIA TO WORK FOR ME. I KNOW BOTH THE PRESSURES AND EXCITEMENT THAT CAN AT TIMES BECOME A DETERRENT WHILE TRAINING TO BE A PROFESSIONAL DANCER IN A COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY SETTING. AT TIMES YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN CAMPUS FUN AND BUCKLING DOWN. FOR ME, THE TRAINING DID'NT STOP WHEN I LEFT THE STUDIO OR THE STAGE. I SUBMERGED MYSELF IN THE CRAFT AND KEPT NOT ONLY MY GOALS BEFORE ME BUT MY ACTIONS. I LEARNED TO CARRY MYSELF THE WAY I SAW MYSELF, BECOMING A REFLECTION OF MY FUTURE ENDEAVORS, CIRCLES, COMPANIES AND OPPORTUNITIES. I WANTED TO GAIN MORE THAN GREAT TECHNIQUE. I WANTED BULDING BLOCKS FOR ME TO WALK IN PROFESSIONALISM, BEAUTY AND LONGEVITY OF CAREER. I APPROACHED MY COLLEGE DAYS AS A DANCE MAJOR AS IF I WAS A HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER DANCE LEGEND. THE MORE I LEARNED IN DANCE ACADEMIA, THE MORE I SAW MY DREAMS A REALITY. IT IS ONE THING TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE AND GO ON TO A COMPANY OR PROJECT JUST TO DANCE. IT IS ANOTHER THING TO BUILD A PROFESSIONAL NETWORK, HAVE A GREAT REPUTATION PRECEDE YOU AND HAVE AMAZING OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED TO YOU DURING THOSE COLLEGE YEARS AND MOST CERTAINLY BEYOND. THE OVERALL FOCUSES OF THAT ARTICLE I MENTIONED, IT STIPULATING THE CLEAR DISCONNECT OF A COLLEGE-TRAINED DANCER CROSSING OVER INTO THE PRO-LEVEL, HAVING LITTLE TO NO EXPERIENCE IS THE VERY THING I WAS ABLE TO HONE IN ON AND OVERCOME. THIS IS TO BRAG STRICTLY ON MY GOD. EVERY SINGLE PLACE I HAVE GONE AND WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE THUS FAR, LEADERSHIP IS IMPRESSED AND A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHERE I HAVE TRAINED AS THEY WAIT FOR ME TO NAME A WELL-KNOWN, HIGHLY PRESTIDGIOUS CONSERVATORY OR PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM. I RECEIVED AMAZING TRAINING AT MY UNIVERSITY BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES I'D MENTION MY ALMA MATER AND PEOPLE SUDDELY LOOK BLANK.LOL MY UNDERGRATE PROGRAM WAS A HUGE BLESSING TO ME. THING THAT HAVE BUILT ME ALONG THE WAY ALSO BECAME A MAIN REASON I STARTED THE TRINITYCO MENTORSHIP CONNECTION. I WANT DANCERS TO KNOW THEY CAN DOMINATE IN THEIR CAREERS EVEN FROM COLLEGE. I BEGAN MY PROFESSIONAL DANCE CAREER AS A JUNIOR COLLEGE STUDENT, HAVING WORKED WITH FIVE PRO DANCE COMPANIES AND ONE THEATRE COMPANY. I CURRENTLY WORK WITH AMERICA'S #1 DANCE COMPETITION AND AM A DANCER WITH COLUMBIA CITY BALLET. I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO GLEAN FROM DANCE LEGENDS I STUDIED DURING UNDERGRAD AS WELL AS WORKING WITH PHENOMANAL ARTISTS OF ALL GENRES OF DANCE/CREATION. THERE ARE NO LIMITS!.