Photo credit: little seismic dance company (Katie Faulkner)

When asked about "current curiosities," Bay Area choreographer Katie Faulkner wrote:

How will I go about making the next dance? What is “a dance” anyway? Who best to make the work with? How do I balance simultaneous interests in theatricality, movement invention, improvisation, music, physicality, simple imagery, media, and humor? How do I structure a technique class in a university setting that is relevant year after year? How do I preserve my own body? How can I get my work or myself out of the Bay Area? How do I have a life outside of dance so that I have a life to make dances about? How can I pursue professional development and pay my rent at the same time?

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From Blog Director Jill Randall:

Back in March 2017, a colleague asked me to compile a list of a few blog posts to use within her college course as they discussed "the economic realities of dance in America." Today I share the list with the readers of Life as a Modern Dancer. 

This topic is a thread throughout the blog and its 5 years of posts, sharing ideas from hundreds of dance artists around the United States. We strive to have open, honest conversations about careers in dance and sustainability within the field. By sharing and questioning, the hope is to strengthen the field overall.

Essay: “In 2016, have we expanded beyond the 'one job' model for dancers in the United States?”

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/2016/05/in-2016-have-we-moved-beyond-the-one-job-model-for-dancers-in-the-united-states.html

“How do you pay the bills?”

There are over 157 artist profiles on the blog. Click on 3-5 different names and read the first section of the profile, which includes the question, “How do you pay your bills?” Notice the variety of responses.

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/artist-profiles/

A Job Survey/Self-Assessment for College Students

The many ways to have a career in dance:

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/2015/05/repost-new-job-surveyself-assessment-for-modern-dancers.html

Artist Profile: Keith Johnson

Keith Johnson’s story was the initial inspiration for Life as a Modern Dancer, sharing about the economic reality of a life in dance in the United States.

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/2015/05/artist-profile-100-keith-johnson-long-beach-ca.html

Artist Profile: Tami Stronach

Tami Stronach has a children’s theater company AND a modern dance company.

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/2016/07/artist-profile-136-tami-stronach-brooklyn-ny.html

Artist Profile: Molly Heller

Molly is a dance artist and business owner.

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/2015/05/artist-profile-96-molly-heller-salt-lake-city-ut.html

Artist Profile: Annie Rosenthal Parr

Annie is a Bay Area dancer and owner of two studios.

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/2012/10/artist-profile-10-annie-rosenthal-parr-mill-valley-ca.html

Artist Profile: Linda Carr

Linda teaches full-time at a public high school.

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/2016/10/artist-profile-142-linda-carr-berkeley-ca.html

“What are the skills a modern dancer needs in 2017?”

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/2017/01/what-are-the-skills-a-modern-dancer-needs-in-2017.html

On Teaching

One of the biggest financial pieces is learning how to teach, and embracing the role that teaching most likely will play in your life as a dancer. Read 50 different perspectives here:

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/2016/08/speaking-as-a-teaching-artist-fifty-perspectives.html

17 Awesome Examples: Arts Administrators Around the United States

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/2017/01/15-awesome-examples-arts-administrators-around-the-united-states.html

"Making Dance and Giving It Away: Cid Pearlman Performance’s Year of Free"

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/2016/10/making-dance-and-giving-it-away-cid-pearlman-performances-year-of-free.html

Building a Dance Company: Making a Budget

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/2015/02/building-a-dance-company-creating-a-budget-for-2015.html

Building a Dance Company: Financial Advice from Six Choreographers

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/2017/08/building-a-dance-company-some-financial-advice-from-four-choreographers.html

Questions We Ask Ourselves: On Commuting

http://blog.lifeasamoderndancer.com/2014/10/multiple-perspectives-on-commuting.html

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