Getting work as a ballroom dancer

[pygmalion]

If you go into ballet or jazz, even though there's tough competition, there ARE jobs. Other than teaching, are there jobs for ballroom people as working dancers? What can they do with their skills?

What additional skills, other than dance, should a ballroom dancer have in their back pocket, if they want to keep working as dancers?

[mamboqueen]

well, single guys could always do well as hosts on cruise ships! I'm coming back as a male ballroom dancer next time around! :lol:

Web design?

[pygmalion]

Theater?

[Laura]

I know of some ballroom dancers who got jobs on cruise ships. Not sure what they're doing...if it's being a featured performer in the show, or teaching, or being just part of the regular dance cast in the production numbers, or what.

[Warren J. Dew]

From what I've heard, the cruise ship employees do shows and teach introductory classes, as well as being expected to pitch in on things not related to dance. And as mamboqueen pointed out, men can be dance hosts and get free passage, though I think that position is otherwise unpaid.

Burns & Fairweather apparently supported themselves on shows and competitions, and didn't teach, during their competitive career. But they are really exceptions.

For a while, there was the American Ballroom Theatre company; I think it eventually broke up because the various pros decided they'd rather have the better income from teaching.