How Do I Become A Professional Dancer

                   To become a professional dancer it takes - hard work, dance classes, a good healthy diet and a true passion for dance. Find a good dancing school, one that has professional dancers on staff. Most ballet companies have an apprentice program. Often dancers are hired into ballet companies from their apprentice programs. Do your research and find the best program for you. 
                   Apprentice Programs look for students with potential for a professional career in dance,
his or her physical capabilities and strengths, attendance in classes, self discipline and maintenance of a suitable body weight. Ballet students should attend at least 5 ballet classes per week, pointe class for female students and rehearsals for performances. Time on stage is very important. You need experience on stage. Dancing in a classroom and performing on stage is different. 
                   Audition - learn how to audition. Go to auditions before you need to  - there are auditions for Summer Ballet Intensives, Apprentice Programs, Trainee Programs and professional paid jobs. Audition until you feel strong and comfortable.
                    A dancers job is demanding both physically and emotionally. It takes long hours of classes, rehearsals and performances. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that dancers and choreographers earned a mean hourly wage of $16.55 as of May 2010 (www.bls.gov). States that had the highest level of employment for dancers were California, New York, Nevada, Hawaii and Missouri.

www.theballetcenter.org