This type of work is a gamble, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith. It might help to consider what kind of life you’d like to avoid
Read more Leading questions
I’m very confused. I love dance so much that I’ve been working towards a career in it since forever, but now I wonder if it is just a fun hobby. I’m not sure I can make it as a dancer, as I feel I’m not that good and I keep getting injuries. I’ve also heard that dance careers are hard and the working environments are not nice. How do I decide if I want this as a career or just as a hobby?
Eleanor says: Great question. Not, do I be a dancer, but, how do I decide whether to be a dancer?
The pros and cons you probably know. Creative fulfilment on the one hand, financial insecurity on the other; feeling passion about your work versus a long career timeline. You can put the pros and cons in two columns and spend an awful lot of time just staring at the tally. How are you supposed to weigh “artistic fulfilment” against money? Injury against passion? What kind of standardised unit are these things meant to share?
