What should I try to do to become a professional dancer?

Question:I looove dancing, and I've been doing several different types since I was really young, but I live in a very small town, so I dont have very many good opportunities...what should I aim for to get farther in the world of dance??! any answers are great!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I looove dancing, and I've been doing several different types since I was really young, but I live in a very small town, so I dont have very many good opportunities...what should I aim for to get farther in the world of dance??! any answers are great!

You sort of already know the answer to your question: get out of your small town as soon as you can, even if it's just for summers at first. In order to become professional, you must train with teachers who have danced professionally. You must also maintain as rigorous a dance schedule as possible: at least 15 hours a week during your high school years (not counting rehearsals) and more during summer programs and after high school.

Subscribe to Dance Spirit and/or Dance magazines and read them cover to cover for more information.

You can audition for a company's summer intensive. I'm auditioning for 5 or 6 this year. There is a list of summer programs in the Dance Spirit magazine. If you get into the summer program, you could possibly get a job with the company, depending on how old you are, or get into their year-round school. One of my friends that used to go to my studio moved to North Carolina from California to go to NCSA year-round. She moved there without her family when she was 15 and is 16 now. She was in their Nutcracker this year and says she loves it there. You should do some auditions and see where that takes you!

New York and especially L.A. are the really the "meccas of dancing" in the United States. You might want to move there. If you're good enough during an audition or impressive during a free-style session, you'll get noticed.

You'll have to do summer programs/camps, in big cities like Boston, NY, or L.A. for the "real dancing world" to see you.
In High School, you might want to consider boarding to an arts high school and dance their, my good friend is trying to be a professional and is going to Walnut Hill, in Massachusetts.

Go to your dance teachers and ask them what the best course would be the best for you to do in the summer.