One evening, my mom and I were talking about college majors. She told me that rather than majoring in something as difficult as chemistry, I should think of pursuing a simple major such as dance. It was at that moment that I had to correct her. Dancing, while amazingly fun, should not be considered “easy.”

Everyone has a talent, and dancing is a talent that many people have. The major difference between someone with the talent and an actual dancer is literally the blood, sweat, and tears invested in learning the art of dance.

A natural talent in the art of dancing is highly important, but two things that are more important are commitment and dedication.  As early as five years old, dancers, who often start off as gymnasts or ballet dancers, begin the process of becoming professionals.  Formal training becomes crucial during the high-school years as the average ballet or modern dancer typically begins his or her professional career sometime around the age of 18.

Dancers seeking professional status spend a significant amount of time focusing solely on dance. Aside from dancing in the studio, their day is composed of eating, breathing, and sleeping “dance.” This is all centered on the fact that the typical day of a professional dancer is spent as follows: rehearsing for most of his/her waking hours before performances that can run late into the night.

Dancers are the product of an artistic and athletic mixture of talent. Dancing is known for its aesthetics and being visually appealing. Athletically, dancing is as serious as any sport, for it is an art that calls for rigorous daily practice and continuous training to keep the dancer in top physical form. This could help explain why dancers experience one of the highest rates of nonfatal injuries while on the job.

Based on this statistic, it should come as no surprise that the length of a dancer’s career is quite short.  Most dancers, in fact, experience the unfortunate fate of ending the “dancing professionally” chapter of their lives in their mid-to-late 30’s.  For any other type of artist or career, this is extremely early but, for a professional dancer, it leaves them in a situation akin to that of a professional athlete. This has to do with the fact that ballet is indeed highly demanding, physically and time-wise. The human body can only take so much rigorous training. However, once this short but irreplaceable chapter is over, former dancers often go into a field that still centers on dance.

While professional dancing is not a common career choice, dancing for fun is.  Dancing is indeed a fun and healthy activity. On a less-intense level, everyone should push him or herself into taking part in the pleasures of dance. However, on a professional level, it is certainly not for everyone.  So honor those dancers committed enough to perform on those stages night after night because, to them, it’s not just dancing; it’s life.