The End Game

mamboqueen

mamboqueen

Well-Known Member
I'm curious to hear thoughts about this. I was thinking last night about competitors who make it to the top and repeatedly win (I was thinking about this originally in a pro/am context, but it would apply to am/am, too). Now, with the high-ranked amateurs, the next progression is usually fairly obvious: they go pro and continue competing or teach.

But what about the rest of us who don't make it that far. How many times do you win the "big ones" before you decide to move on? Or what else would precipitate your moving onto something else. And lastly, what would you want to do after the competing is over -- if and how would you remain in the danceworld?
 
I sooooooooooooo want to have this problem....I would love to make some big splashes in pro/am and then go pro.....and even beyond that I think I would really enjoy owning a studio some day even with all of the hassles and foibles
 
My dream is -- first win the lottery -- and then open offer up schooling in inner city Boston for financially disadvantaged kids (a la Mad Hot Ballroom) and get them inspired to be the best. In fact, I'd love to have the kind of teachers/program that fenixx was describing in the "rumba development" thread.

Not sure I'll make it past my very first hurdle, though ;)
 
mamboqueen said:
I'm curious to hear thoughts about this. I was thinking last night about competitors who make it to the top and repeatedly win (I was thinking about this originally in a pro/am context, but it would apply to am/am, too). Now, with the high-ranked amateurs, the next progression is usually fairly obvious: they go pro and continue competing or teach.

But what about the rest of us who don't make it that far. How many times do you win the "big ones" before you decide to move on? Or what else would precipitate your moving onto something else. And lastly, what would you want to do after the competing is over -- if and how would you remain in the danceworld?
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Whether i would ever be in a position to leave amateur competitive dancing is really the question for me...but I'll put my two cents in.

I work full time, and can't see myself ever becoming a highly competitive pro. Ideally I would dance amateur forever. I enjoy watching newcomers' progress, though, so I could definitely see myself teaching at some point..maybe doing some low-stress pro-am stuff.

I have also thought about trying the international world out. I have been an American dancer for 6 years now and have always wanted to start learning latin especially. We'll see where my momey takes me:)
 
HCMikeC said:
Whether i would ever be in a position to leave amateur competitive dancing is really the question for me...but I'll put my two cents in.

I work full time, and can't see myself ever becoming a highly competitive pro. Ideally I would dance amateur forever. I enjoy watching newcomers' progress, though, so I could definitely see myself teaching at some point..maybe doing some low-stress pro-am stuff.

I have also thought about trying the international world out. I have been an American dancer for 6 years now and have always wanted to start learning latin especially. We'll see where my momey takes me:)
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..that was supposed to be "where my MONEY takes me"...not where momey...or mommy takes me..haha
 
I started way too late to reach the top, but I can't imagine not having dance in my life in some form. I'm not patient enough to be a teacher. I would love to have a studio but I have no business sense as I'd only let my friends in, and I'd love to design dresses full time - I don't mind forgoing the sewing stage! In fact I'd want my own empire with a couple of studios attached to a health/fitness club, with sports massage, physio, osteopath, chiropodist, hair dress, and makeup artist attached, with a shop with all dancers needs and a place to buy and exhange dresses. That's all, and this is all dependent on winning the lottery as well. Better buy a ticket at some point.
 
LMAO! I love a person with dream, fluffy! And frankly, I admire your "one stop shopping" philosophy. Need a partner??!!
 
Not that I've ever been a top dancer, by any means, but this is related to how I decided to become a pro.

After having danced pro/am for 4 1/2 years (in the Arthur Murray world ONLY) I had started to place really highly in the national level Arthur Murray competitions. And all I could think was, "Really? That's it? I'm done? I'm in the top 5 now?" And it just wasn't what I wanted -- the pond was too small, and I didn't like the thought of just getting to the top and sitting around waiting for someone else to come along and finally beat me. So I decided to teach.

Not that there might not have been other options (and I had extenuating circumstances, like that my husband teaches for AM) but that's what I decided to do. :)
 
My dream would be to start a trade school for partner dancers (like the North Bennett Street School and other prestigious schools), with an emphasis on Music, Physiology, and Teaching. Of course, winning the lottery is imperative.
 
sunderi said:
"Really? That's it? I'm done?
Click to expand...


I wonder what it is that gets people to this point. And would you prefer to, for instance, win first a couple of times in (for ams, I"m guessing) the nationals (for pro ams) USDSC or Ohio, and go out on top, so to speak....rather than wait for someone bump you off the perch? Is there a point where winning time after time after time gives you no real incentive to keep competing? Does it become unchallenging?


Of course, winning the lottery is imperative.
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I'm seeing a recurring theme. Maybe we need to have a little df lottery pool and take our chances as a group ;)
 
pooling our money together for a lottery ticket

My father used to always do that with his chums at work and they won several times! Unfortunately, it was Soviet Russia, so they only win goat...
 
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