Career Roadmap
Sara's work combines: Acting & Theatre, Education, and Teaching / Mentoring
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Dance Therapy/Therapist
The New School
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Dancers:
High School
Bachelor's Degree: Theatre/Theater
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life took a while to figure out
1.
Had a passion for ballet and never considered an alternative.
2.
Moved to New York danced with Joffrey ll and soon after got injured and was told I would never dance again.
3.
Found myself in a musical theatre dance class, with no clue what that meant, but knew I loved it!
4.
Was taken under the wing of Chet Walker who introduced me to the great Gwen Verdon.
5.
Gwen granted me a scholarship that paid for all acting, singing & dance classes for a year.
6.
For the next 10 yrs I worked w/the best in the business on some of the biggest stages.
7.
One night on stage I felt unfulfilled and decided to go to college- 10 yrs after leaving HS!
8.
I graduated w/a certificate in dance/movement therapy and am excited to give the gift of dance to others.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
HS counselor said: You should stop narrowing your choices of what to do as a career-dancing is too limited and you won't make any money. Some family said: You should go to college right out of HS if you want to be taken seriously in this world. Dance teachers said: You shouldn't try to be a dancer- you're not thin enough, you're lacking turnout/extension. Agents said: you didn't book the gig because you're too quirky/not All American enough/too exotic/too tall/too short/too sexy.
How I responded:
I may not have had the best technique, but I had great artistry and I believed that those who appreciated it most would support me, and the others...well, they didn't matter. Early in my career I learned to stop being what I thought others wanted because the moment I did that I would lose an opportunity in which they were looking for me. I never forgot why I was in NY-if I had to quit my survival job for a dance gig, I did- there was always another waitressing job. I was my only competition.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I was never above a job. If I needed money I took the job dancing at weddings/birthdays, working @ a tradeshow- I did what I had to, to stay in dance class and stay focused on my goals and keep the noise out!