- Careers for dancers often end once they reach their 30s, which requires them to find a new profession or become a teacher or choreographer. While the training for a dancer begins at a young age, she may begin auditioning as a teenager. Dancers will hit their career peak in their 20s, but as the physical toll begins to take effect on their body, they may have to stop dancing professionally in their 30s.
- Competition for dancing positions is fierce, and obtaining consistent work may be difficult. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that job opportunities are expected to increase 6 percent between 2008 and 2018. This is slower than most other occupations, because public and private funding for the arts is projected to be limited in the upcoming years. The vast majority of employment opportunities are available in New York and California, and prospective dancers may have to locate to Los Angeles or New York City.
- Dancers at all levels risk injury, because of the physical nature of the art. Dancers may spend more than eight hours a day practicing, which can be extremely taxing on the body. Common injuries for dancers may include ankle sprains, knee injuries, pulled hamstrings, hip pain and back problems. While these injuries can be painful and become chronic, they may also force a dancer to end his career prematurely.
- At any level, dancing can be an expensive passion. While classes for younger children may be economical for families, as a child or teenager becomes more serious about the art, parents may have to pay for private lessons that teach the child various forms of dance, including ballet, jazz, hip-hop or classical. The majority of dancers who are able to make a career out of this art may need another job to keep up with expenses, as most jobs are located in metropolitan cities. The BLS reports that the median hourly wage of dancers was $13.16 in 2010.
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