How good is a career as a Database Administrator?

Dance career?

• I've been doing some soul-searching since I got laid off from my job as a database administrator about 2 months ago. Even before I got laid off, I had already decided that I disliked working in the computer science field and regretting majoring in it in college. In looking for my passion, I've came back to dance. I haven't danced for about 4-5 years, but prior to that, I danced for 17 years. I have experience in tap, jazz, lyrical, pointe, and ballet. I want to have a career I love, and dance/performing has always been something I've been very passionate about my entire life. Does anyone here have a career in dance (any form, from ballet to ballroom to break-dancing)? What do you do? Instructor? Performer? (I'm 24, so I'm past my prime to get into any major ballet companies or anything, but I would love to do *something* where I can dance and/or be on stage.)

• Answer:

  If you really love dancing and like people then a career as a ballroom dance instructor may be on your horizon. It helps of course if you are in great shape physically but it is not mandatory because you WILL get in shape. The fast track is to get with a contract based studio like an Arthur Murray or the like. They will teach you everything you need to know to teach ballroom and to dance it. You will work with new people at first, so you must be patient. There will be many couples who are wanting to learn a dance for their wedding or couples who want to go on a cruise and be able to dance aboard ship. You will learn to teach groups and one on one private lessons. Be careful about the restrictions put on you about leaving there to strike out on your own. You can make really good money as an independant instructor if you are good at getting and keeping people on an on-going basis. If you go to sponsored dances in your area and demonstrate your ablility and dance with newer dancers who are looking for a capable instructor and they like you, then you may do well. Also you can register with websites like dancepartner dot com. Or you can go to nightclubs and offer to DJ and teach groups of new people there to Salsa or Swing dance, then sign up Private lessons, typically $50 to $60 per hour. If you have a wooden floor at home or use a local dance hall or no contract studio as an independant agent there, it is a lifestyle that many your age have taken up and enjoyed. Or you can put together a Cabaret act with some other girls, much like the PussyCat Dolls and get work at nightclubs.