But my kid won’t be a professional dancer…

This is a statement that I’ve heard more than a few times over the years. And I’m here to say– they might be if you let them try. Yes, being a professional in any kind of creative work is hard. But you know what else is hard?  Working at a job you don’t really like and wishing that you had tried for that thing you were passionate about in your teens and twenties.

Was I a professional dancer and actor for my whole career? No. Not even close. Was it always fulfilling? No, it was often frustrating and overwhelming. Do I regret trying? Not even a little. I’m thankful that I was given the opportunity to explore who I am and what I’m capable of through dance

I’ve been able to build a business and a career through the lessons I learned in my twenties when I was auditioning and performing, living the bohemian lifestyle. I was often broke, and I was turned away from more jobs than I got, but I was in awe of myself and the people I worked with every day. It’s an amazing and rare gift to be in a rehearsal with people who are doing what they love with their whole heart and body, even though the returns are not what society would consider markers of success. Money wasn’t our motivator. Though for the lucky few, it can be lucrative.

The beauty of a creative life is that you design it yourself. You get to decide every detail of how you will live it. Does it need to be your sole source of income? Absolutely not, but it could be. Do you need to study at a prestigious university? No, but you could go down that path too. Do you have to live in a big city? Of course not, but I do think we should all explore the world to better reflect it in our art.

So, I say to all the nervous parents worried that their child might become a professional artist of any kind. Don’t worry – it will all work out. It will be hard, but it could be great. Support their aspirations, but be realistic too.

I did it and though I did question why sometimes, I can’t imagine being the person I am today without those experiences as a young adult. Resilient, problem solver, creative thinker, bold, curious. Aren’t these the trait we want for our young adults? Guess where I learned these skills.

See you on the Dance Floor

• Tia Colborne