The worlds we live in..

crewfitnesshub
Oct 20, 2016
3 min read

It's a funny thing 'Work'. For some people it's their job, their income. For others it's their passion, their dream come true! For me it's both. First and foremost I love what I do and I wouldn't have it any other way. I am blessed to be able to move my body to it's extremes and at the same time challenge my mind, dig into emotions, almost every day of my life. As a dancer you're often praised for your elegance and athleticism..but next comes the question, so what is your job? And I am always so thrilled to explain that dancing is my job, how lucky am I! There is another side to it of course. Being a full time ballet dancer is seen as a glamorous sort of profession..the make up, costumes, theatre, autographs! But we also need to survive. Pay our bills, rent, buy our food, our fuel, just like everyone else. In Australia's youthful, social culture, unfortunately the Arts aren't a part of everybody's Saturday night plans. In turn, you may or may not be surprised that professional, contracted ballet dancers get paid below the average Australian adult wage. It's the sad hard truth that when you're a three year old little girl skipping around the studio in a pink tutu doesn't hold much relevance. However, after long hours and years of full time training, when you finally get that call or email to inform you of your first job as a professional dancer, this fact is something you are forced to face. I only bring this taboo subject up because if you have ever met or know a professional dancer you will support me when I say that they don't do it for the money! And it is evident in the first five minutes of meeting them..or seeing them up there on stage, dancing their hearts out! I'm not saying it isn't possible to set up a 'life' and 'future' as a dancer..you learn when to save and when to spend (being the very social creatures we are!). In my fours years of professional dancing I have bought an investment property and a second hand car, I don't call myself lucky but I credit it to a smart work/play, spend/save lifestyle.

I want to share my experiences of recently touring regional Queensland with my close friends and colleagues. Three weeks away from home, bonding and sharing intimate moments on and off the stage that we will all remember years after we retire from the studio. The nine hour bus trips, finding the best coffee in town, adapting to new stages, early morning trips to the beach, coming together for our tenth tech rehearsal and tenth performance! It is one of the toughest industries I know (although I admittedly haven't been exposed to the range of professions out there that the world admires and is grateful for). But it is, at the risk of sounded outright corny, the most rewarding, in every aspect of the word. You learn to grow up from an early age. You learn how to bring your mind and body together..being aware of every little aching muscle after a full day of rehearsals but also loving the feeling of being physically worked and pushed. Walking out of the wings experiencing something different every other night. Crying, laughing, sharing a story or emotion with those around you on the stage..it is something you have to do to believe and few us are fortunate enough to live it everyday.

~SROSEZ