Have you ever wondered what happens to dancers after high school? Generally, most people assume that you either become a professional or give it up. Well, unfortunately this leaves most of us with a paradox, as not everyone wants to give it up or wants to become a professional. So, I decided to create an article based on the options that I've come across for continuing a passion for dance after high school, as I recently graduated high school this year. In fact, since this website is called, "Dance News BC", I've included links and information on options for dance in BC for all different levels, with most of these being ones I have tried out myself. So here we go!
1. First of all, you can always join a dance club at the university/college you decide to attend. Some of these universities include UBC, SFU, and UVIC.
UBC
For example, UBC has multiple dance clubs for different styles of dance such as the "UBC Latin Dance Club", the "UBC Dance Club", "Dance Horizons", and "UBC Ballet Club". All of these options are all different as they generally focus on different styles of dance with the "UBC Ballet Club" focusing on ballet. As a side note, they do have a competition team that you can audition for that includes weekly rehearsals (1 hour), competing at competitions, and performing at events, fundraisers, and showcases. They also have options for attending just the classes or the recreation team, so be sure to check out those options. Now personally, I haven't checked these options out fully, but when I do I'll let you know. As for the "UBC Dance Club" this club mainly focuses on ballroom dancing and latin dancing, and I do believe they teach different levels as well. There's also the "UBC Latin Dance Club" where they teach Salsa, Bachata, Argentine Tango, etc, so if you're interested in that you can learn a new skill or two. Another option is "Dance Horizons Company" where they compete in jazz, contemporary, and classical movement styles, there's also DHX (Dance Horizons X) which is a new competitive performance team that involves auditions and focuses on hip hop, jazz, and contemporary, and then there's the "Dance Horizons Crew", which focuses on hip hop alone and is also a competition team. I believe that they also have drop in dance classes with the information on their website, so you can also check out those options. Another option is Unlimited Dance Club, which focuses mainly on hip hop, with drop in dance classes. There's also the Thunderbird Dance Team, which is a performing dance team specializing in Hip Hop and Jazz that involves auditions.
UBC Ballet Club Website: ubcballetclub.weebly.com
UBC Dance Club Website: ubcdanceclub.com
UBC Latin Dance Club Website: ubclatindanceclub.com
Dance Horizons Website: dancehorizons.ca
Unlimited Dance Club Website: unlimitedubc.blogspot.com/
Thunderbird Dance Team Website: thunderbirddanceteam.com
SFU
For SFU there are lots of options including the dance classes that they offer for credit in Modern, Ballet, and Jazz, but most of these classes are reserved for their dance majors/minors. One of the clubs for hip hop is the SFU Hip Hop Club that involves multiple elements including breakdancing, popping, locking, house, etc. Another is the "Dance 4 Life Crew" that is also a hip hop dance team. There's also the Ballroom Club (SFUBDC) that involves weekly dance classes.
SFU Hip Hop Club Website: facebook.com/sfuhiphop
UVIC
For UVic they have the "UVic Dance Company" and the "UVic Ballroom Dance Club", the latter has drop in dance classes, while the former involves auditions. There's also the UVic Swing Dance Club for swing dance.
UVIC Dance Company Website: uvicdancecompany.wixsite.com/uvdc
UVIC Swing Dance Club Website: uvicswing.blogspot.ca
UVIC Ballroom Dance Club Website: uvicdance.com
2. Second, you can take drop-in dance classes. Now I know by now if you love to dance you've probably already looked at different options, and may have even tried some of them. You're probably thinking, "Lauren, I've seen that done that, but it's not enough". Well, I've got news for you, have you really looked? I've been like all of you reading this thinking it wasn't enough, and it isn't but if you look hard enough it's there. It just takes time, right place right time, also I have more suggestions so settle down! Some of the places that I've found you can take drop-in dance classes at include Harbour Dance Centre, Debbie Lee Dance Company, Goh Ballet, and the Landing Dance Centre. I'm sure that there are others but I haven't found any yet, or at least close to where I live. If you do know of any please feel free to suggest away :) Now out of all of these options I've only taken dance classes at Harbour Dance and Debbie Lee Dance both of which are really great options!
Harbour Dance is focused more on hip hop and jazz, but they also offer ballet, belly dancing, and tap. I took their summer intensive a few years ago, and I took modern ballet, jazz, tap, and acro, and all of these were great, and recently I took a ballet class there. But I think they only teach acro for kids generally during the camps, but they may have changed that by now. Also, they do have an Intensive Training Program, and two other dance companies for Jazz, Contemporary, and Hip Hop, I believe, so feel free to check those out if you're looking for something more intensive. They have classes for all types of dance and most of them are age 16 and up with a select few being 14 and up, so you can check out that. They also have progressive workshops for certain dance styles like tap, ballet, and hip hop for beginners, etc. So those are nice options, if you want a continuous program.
As for Debbie Lee Dance they mainly focus on ballet (also pointe), which is awesome, because they actually teach, if you know what I mean. Because while there are lots of dance classes out there, sometimes you really do want corrections like you had at your old studio and they have levels from absolute beginner all the way to professional, even some of the Ballet BC dancers take classes there sometimes. They also offer progressive workshops for beginners, which are great for beginners or those getting back to dance. The classes are some of my favourite in town and the atmosphere is great, if you'd like more information feel free to check out the link below, and you can also contact me by email, if you want to know more about it.
From what I know about the Goh Ballet Adult programs, I heard that they mainly teach ballet, as for the Landing Dance Centre they teach Ballet, Tap, and Contemporary. For Goh Ballet, I have heard that they also offer auditions for the Nutcracker annually during the Spring time for adults as well, so that's a nice feature. There's also Pro Arte Centre which has adult dance classes in ballet and jazz. Along with the Richmond Academy of Dance which offers tap and ballet classes. Again, I don't know much about the last two schools but I'll let you know if I do :)
Harbour Dance Centre Website: harbourdance.com
Debbie Lee Dance Website: debbieleedance.com
The Landing Dance Centre Website: www.thelandingdance.com/
Goh Ballet Website: gohballet.com
Pro Arte Website: proartecentre.com/
Richmond Academy of Dance Website: richmondacademyofdance.com
3. Other dance styles are also new options have you ever considered learning hip hop or tap or ballroom dancing or salsa? There are always way more classes for adults as a beginner, and also for ballroom and salsa, there are so many adults who participate in competitions etc. that it's endless.
4. Taking a minor/major in dance at a university such as SFU.
5. Taking fitness classes that involve dance or have an underlying theme such as yoga, pilates, zumba, simply stretch, acrofit, aerial silks, ballet barre, etc. There are so many possibilities and an endless supply of these classes at rec centres like Sungod, South Delta Rec Centre, North Delta Rec Centre, YMCA, etc. Basically any rec centre has these as the standard nowadays. I have personally taken all of these fitness classes before with my favourites being aerial yoga, yoga, simply stretch, and zumba. Some of my favourite studios I've added in links down below. Although, I haven't been to acrofit before but it's a nice option.
Zumba: Latin dance, varies per instructor
Simply Stretch: Stretches with multiple different pieces of equipment
Pilates: Stretching and may involve equipment
Yoga: Stretching and about becoming peaceful
Acrofit: Acro movements such as learning handstands, etc.
Aerial silks: Involves going upside down and using acre/gymnastics with silks suspended in the air
Ballet Barre: Repetitive ballet steps for strength and fitness
Ballet Barre Fitness Website-Surrey, North Shore, Yaletown, and Port Moody:
Yoga Generation Website (for aerial yoga and regular yoga)-Coquitlam:
Acrofit-Surrey: acrofit.ca
6. Joining a professional or pre-professional training program/Dance Company such as the Arts Umbrella (has all three options).
Arts Umbrella: artsumbrella.com
7. One other option is becoming a dance teacher which involves taking the certifications/programs such as RAD, Cechetti, ISTD, etc. There are options for teaching ballet, jazz, tap, etc.
RAD Ballet: radcanada.org
Cecchetti Dance: cecchetti.org
ADAPT Syllabus: adaptsyllabus.com
Canadian Dance Teachers Associations: cdtabc.com
ISTD: istd.org
8. Another option is to attend as many master classes or conventions as possible such as VIP Dance Events (one of my favourites), iDance, JUMP, etc. You can learn lots of new tricks and between that and learning dance online, there's so much you can do with a base line of dance knowledge. Check out my other reviews on these conventions and master classes on the main page.For information on master classes specifically ballet master classes, Vancouver Ballet Society, offers many of these throughout the year. Two of the classes that I've taken were taught by Frances Chung and Celine Gittens, which were amazing :)
9. However, if you would like to look up options for a dance company I'll add some of the options below.
Pre-Professional Companies:
Coastal City Ballet (Classical and neo-classical), Arts Umbrella (Professional Training Program: ages 12-16 & 16-20), Goh Ballet Youth Company (16 years and up-ballet)
Professional Dance Companies:
Ballet BC (contemporary ballet), Ballet Victoria, Canadian Pacific Ballet (Romantic and Classical Ballet), Ballet Kelowna, MOVE: the company (contemporary dance)
Semi-professional:
The Source Dance Company (from Harbour Dance: jazz, hip hop, tap, street jazz, lyrical, contemporary).
Ballet BC: balletbc.com
Arts Umbrella: artsumbrella.com
Ballet Victoria: balletvictoria.ca
Source Dance Company-Harbour Dance: www.sourcedancecompany.com
Goh Ballet: gohballet.com
Ballet Kelowna: balletkelowna.ca
Coastal City Ballet: coastalcityballet.com
Canadian Pacific Ballet: facebook.com/Canadian-Pacific-Ballet
MOVE: the company: joshuabeamish.com/
10. Also, remember that you can always use dance as a baseline and incorporate it into acting, singing, etc. So if you do want to become an actor or singer these will be helpful for musicals, concerts, performing as a back up dancer, competing on a dance Tv show like So You Think You Can Dance, commercials, movies, tv shows, etc.
Overall, I hope that you find a way to continue your passion for dance after high school and that these suggestions helped, and thanks for reading :)
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