Dance...A Real Job?!?

In September I quit my "real job". A job that paid decently, had great health benefits, a pension, etc. I quit my job to teach dance. Full time.

I didn't just fling myself into this though.
I have a degree in Kinesiology. I've been bellydancing since 1998. I've been teaching since 2006. I took classes for 8 years, most of that time 2-3 classes/week and I was a part of several performance groups before I ever taught. I've been traveling across Canada to take as many workshops with other dancers as I can.

Now, I am teaching tribal fusion bellydance and hula hoop classes in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
I'm also trying to train as much as I can.


Here's what a typical work week looks like for me:

Sunday:
Teach for 5 hours straight with no breaks!!
Teach hoop hoop
2 hour performance level bellydance class.
Another hula hoop class.
Beginner bellydance class.
Then I go home and eat LOTS of food! Hahahaha.

Monday:
Teach a beginner bellydance class.
Take a 1.5 hour class at Atlantic Cirque. I'm working on hand balancing, tumbling, silks, cerceau (hanging hoop) and hula hoop.

Tuesday:
Teach a hula hoop fitness class.
Work on choreography, class plans, costumes, research, advertising, etc.
Take a ballet class.
Teach a beginner bellydance class.

Wednesday:
Take a yoga class.
Take a pilates class.
Work on choreography, class plans, costumes, research, advertising, etc.
Teach a hula hoop class.

Thursday:
Pretty much the same as Tuesday.
Teach a hula hoop fitness class.
Work on choreography, class plans, costumes, research, advertising, etc.
Take another ballet class.
Teach a bellydance bootcamp drills class.
Rehearse choreography with Mahari (the bellydance troupe that I direct)

Friday:
Take a yoga class.
Take a pilates class.
Work on choreography, class plans, costumes, research, advertising, etc.
Often I have a gig or several gigs and/or take or teach workshops

Saturday:
Take singing lessons. No I cannot sing. That's why I am taking lessons.
Often I have a gig or several gigs and/or take or teach workshops


I am also taking Yoga Teacher Training that is one Friday, Saturday and Sunday every month.

So, that's my schedule right now, and I love it. It's definitely a full time job.
The fact that I'm able to make a living out of Bellydance and Hula Hooping is pretty amazing ♥