There are an array of options including but not limited to teaching dance, fitness, front desk work, arts admin, restaurant, retail, and more. Below are a few things to consider when looking for what might be considered the best fit for your side hustle.
Some jobs will require specific certifications such as teaching pilates or being a personal trainer. Other positions you might already be qualified for without any additional schooling.
Interested in becoming a physical therapist? A PT aide position might allow you the chance to shadow a PT and see what the day to day life looks like. Want to open up your own dance studio? A part time job in arts administration might help you to develop a business skillset. Don’t stress too much about the future though. Sometimes a job has its place in the moment and is not connected to any long term goals.
As a dancer, expenses can build up quickly. Between taking class, cross training, food, and PT it can add up. Perhaps working at the front desk of a gym is a good fit as it would allow you free access to use the facilities. Or maybe you are very committed to taking dance classes on a daily basis and want to work at the front desk of a studio. Buying local foods might be of value and therefore working at your local health food store gives you a discount on your weekly grocery bill. Take a look at where your expenses are coming from and then determine if you are able to gain employment through an establishment you already frequent.
It is important to work in an environment where there is an understanding that sometimes dance might take priority. A performance or audition could happen somewhat last minute and you need to call out of work. Working in an environment where there is some wiggle room in the schedule or you can easy find coverage for a shift makes a big difference.
It is often an important question to consider whether or not you would like your side job(s) to be either related or unrelated to dance. For example, teaching dance or working for a dance non profit you will still be in the “dance world.” Working at a restaurant or a gym you will be removed from that world. Some dancers enjoy keeping their side jobs separate from dance to broaden perspectives while others are interested in staying close to dance and serving the community in ways beyond performing.
Some side hustles come and go while others might become a permanent part of your routine. You might even discover a new passion outside of dance. Aside from the role of supplemental income, side jobs also have the potential to expand our experiences beyond the studio and stage.
I have never been the biggest fan of a full meal prep but having some ingredients already made can make a world of difference, especially on busy days. At the beginning of the week I like to prepare a 1-2 carbs (rice, quinoa, pasta, potatoes). 1-2 proteins (fish, chicken, or turkey), some roasted veggies, raw veggies for dipping, some cut up fruit, and a sweet treat. This variety easily allows me to assemble salads, grain bowls, snacks etc without feeling limited to one specific meal. Many ingredients can be used in a variety of ways.
While fresh fruit is delicious and my personal favorite, frozen and dried fruits are perfect to layer in for a more economical option. Dried fruit is great to add on top of an oatmeal or yogurt bowl as well as making a trail mix medley. Likewise, frozen fruit can be used to make smoothies. A favorite of mine is adding frozen wild blueberries in my morning smoothie.
Some of the cheapest foods also provide a whole host of nutrients. Pantry staples like lentils, black beans, rice, quinoa, oats, nuts, and seeds are fairly inexpensive and can be used as a base for many meals. For example, black beans and rice can be used for a burrito bowl (add some fun toppings like cheese, avocado, salsa), or rice and lentils can be paired with cucumber, tomato, and some dips. You can always add an additional protein source like ground turkey to a burrito bowl or grilled chicken to the rice and lentils to meet your protein needs!
As someone living in NYC Trader Joes and Whole Foods tend to be the best priced stores. The fruit stands also have some great produce. I try to be somewhat selective about where I buy each of my ingredients. For example, I will buy pantry staples like rice, beans, nuts, crackers, nut butters, and jams at Trader Joes because of the low prices. Certain fruits like papaya, melon, and mangos I often buy at the fruit stands because they are the cheapest. With a little bit of awareness, selectivity can help you save and continue to enjoy all your favorite items.
I love meeting a friend for a coffee or sometimes working from a coffee shop but on a daily basis I typically make my own coffee or matcha at home. I bought a french press coffee maker for under $30 which is perfect for making hot coffee or cold brew. Matcha lattes can easily be made with some matcha powder, a baking whisk, and bowl! Making your morning beverage at home can save you large chunk of change while still enjoying your favorite morning drink.
I often remark that my type A nature is coursing through my veins. I grew up in a highly stressful academic environment and dance provided an outlet to escape the chaos. Throughout my younger years dance was something I did for fun. It was full of joy and healthy challenges I was eager to conquer. Moving to music was when I felt the most alive, when I felt a connection to something much larger than myself.
As things shifted in high school, my type A tendencies poured their way into my dancing. I became more concerned with not only how I looked physically but also how “good” my dancing was. Years later I am often questioning what I defined as good. I wanted to be “correct” and do things “right.” I was far more caught up in the product than the process. It became less about the experience of dance and more so about dancing for some end result tied to a sense of self worth and perfection. As I made my way through the latter part of high school and into college, this perfectionism mixed with a whole host of injuries and disordered eating seemed to exacerbate these ideals. I was continuously tied to everything that was wrong with my body, wrong with my dancing, and wrong with the career choices I had chosen to make thus far.
My first year upon graduating college I joined a trainee program. It was a welcoming and supportive environment and yet I entered this program in the same perfectionist mind-state. Then something shifted around year two of being “on my own,” no longer associated with an institution or program. I was taking open classes in NYC and I felt like the tiniest of fish in a huge pond. (Side note: many days I still feel like this, though the pond feels ever so slightly more manageable).
After a conversation with a coach, I started to get really curious about dance, a word I had never associated with my dancing before. Instead of going into the room looking to be the best dancer, or the thinnest, or the most flexible (all things I had at one point been so very consumed by), I started to explore how I could reconnect to the joy of movement. This shift in my mindset provided a much needed change in my dancing. When I had approached class striving to be the best, it actually stunted my potential for growth. I was boxed into these feelings of how I needed to perform a certain way.
Shifting my mindset brought me back to all the beautiful reasons why I choose dance in the first place. Why I fought through countless injuries and disordered eating to pursue something that I loved. When I approach my dancing now, I am in a continuous process of asking myself; how can I be generous with my movement? Where does the generosity in movement originate? How can I cultivate a dance practice that is rooted in moving for reasons that are abundant and joyful? This shift in approach to dance is not perfect. There are still plenty of days when I take class and find myself resorting back to my old thought patterns and ways of relating to movement. Other days though I feel much lighter and free in the studio, open and available to what is possible.
In this episode we speak with Kurt Douglas. We discuss what drew him to the Limón technique and the principles behind it, reframing moments of failure, finding a community that serves you, leading by example as a teacher, and more.
About Kurt: Kurt is currently an Associate Professor of Dance at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. He received his BFA in Dance from the Boston Conservatory and an MFA in Dance from Hollins University. He has danced professionally with the Jose Limón Dance Company, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Ballet Hispanico, Lar Lubovitch, and Aszure Barton and Artists. Kurt is a reconstructor of Limón’s work and on the board of directors for the Limón Dance Company. Additionally, Kurt has conducted Limón Dance workshops both in the US and abroad, and is on faculty at both Limón for Kids and the Limón Institute.
If you have further questions for Kurt, you can reach him through email at kdouglas@berklee.edu.
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In this episode we speak with Samantha Daly all things Gyrotonic ® and Gyrokinesis ® including the path to becoming an instructor, various types of courses offered, making the shift to virtual teaching, how the method can be a form of rehabilitation for dancers, and more.
About Samantha: Samantha is a graduate of the dance program with Alonzo King LINES Ballet at Dominican University of California. She is a certified Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis instructor and has taught at Marin Gyrotonic, Spiral Studio, and the Seed Center. She currently teaches at San Francisco Gyrotonic in addition to a variety of virtual classes.
Samantha’s Website: spiralingsam.com
Samantha’s Instagram: @spiralingsam
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In this episode we speak with Thomas Vacanti. We discuss the principles of the SAFE BARRE ® technique, finding a cross training routine that connects to our dance practice, carving out time for rest, finding mindfulness practices that bring us inward, and more.
About Thomas: Tom is the dance program director and an associate professor of dance at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He has a BS in Dance from Skidmore College, an MFA in Performance and Choreography from Smith College, and a Certificate Degree in Costume Design from Boston University. Tom has danced professionally with The Florida Ballet, Tampa Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Ballet Mississippi, Ballet Michigan and Ballet de Panama. He was also chosen by Jacob’s Pillow, to represent the USA in their Russian/American Exchange Program. Tom is currently co-artistic director of Pioneer Valley Ballet in addition to being certified in the SAFE BARRE ® technique.
Thomas’s Website: thomasvacanti.com
Safe Barre: www.maisonmunz.com/
Support our podcast: https://www.patreon.com/movementtowardchange
Instagram: @movementtowardchange
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“You learn to recognize patterns and habits that are interfering with your ability to move and think.”
In this episode we speak with Shannon Lee Jones. We speak about the importance of staying present and slowing down, techniques to calm the nervous system through awareness and connection, distributing tension in the body, and noticing inefficient movement patterns. We also discuss how one can distribute tension in the body, and take care of themselves in order to help others.
About Shannon: Shannon is an Alexander Technique teacher based in Boston, Massachusetts. She is currently an assistant Professor of Dance at the Boston Conservatory teaching Alexander Technique. She received her teacher’s certification with Tommy Thompson at the Alexander Technique Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Alexander Technique International. Prior to moving to Boston, Shannon worked as a professional actress both on Broadway and touring nationally.
Shannon’s Email: sjones@berklee.edu
Support our podcast: https://www.patreon.com/movementtowardchange
Instagram: @movementtowardchange
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In this episode we speak with holistic health coach Becca Scott. We discuss what it means to look at your life from a holistic viewpoint, focusing on how one feels instead of appearance, checking in to see if your goals are serving you, and more.
About Becca: Becca received her BFA in Dance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her certification in holistic health & nutrition from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She currently has a virtual health coaching practice and is passionate about helping individuals gain a better understanding of how to take care of themselves so that they can feel their best and take care of what matters most to them.
Becca’s Website: thisisbeccascott.com
Becca’s Instagram: @coachingwithbecs
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In this episode we speak with Daisy Kate Jacobson. We discuss her journey from dancing at Juilliard to a professional career in dance, the importance of listening to our bodies, navigating injuries, discovering a work/life balance and more.
About Daisy: Daisy grew up in Manhattan Beach, CA where she trained at South Bay Ballet. She received her BFA in Dance from The Juilliard School in 2017 and joined LA Dance Project soon after. At LA Dance Project, Daisy has performed new works by leading choreographers such as Benjamin Millepied, Justin Peck, Shannon Gillen, Kyle Abraham, and Ohad Naharin.
Follow Daisy on Instagram @Daisykate_j
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In this episode we speak Boston-based dance and fitness instructor, Taylor Cocco. We discuss the importance of creating a safe space within the classroom, helping students to navigate the pressures and aesthetic norms within dance, exercising for strength instead of appearance goals, and encouraging dancers to trust their bodies. Taylor also shares with us a new female empowerment workshop she has created, “U-CAN.”
About Taylor: Taylor is a passionate and dedicated individual who has been in the education space for the past 9 years. She has a degree from Dean College in the Arts as well as Suffolk University where she studied public relations and communications. Over the past few years, Taylor has found herself working within the school systems, theater groups, and dance studios all around the New England area. She is currently a judge for local dance competitions, a dance educator, 305 fitness instructor and just found her own company, “U CAN.”
U-Can Academy Website: u-can-academy.com
U-Can Academy Instagram: @u.can.academy
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