So what do you do?

Does anyone else just not bother when trying to explain to normal people what you do in the dance world? Or just deal with ‘oh you do like baby ballet in the community centre’ when trying to explain?

I’m not one to blow my own trumpet, if you really want to know about me, you can Google me. My car perhaps suggests my job might be a bit more serious than what I describe it as when I meet new people.

I’ve recently gained new friends - because that what comes when you have babies. And I simply just told them I’m a dance teacher (not that there’s anything wrong with that, but seriously how many of us that are dance teachers simply ONLY teach dance?). It wasn’t until my WhatsApp changed to a business profile and one of them said ‘I saw your website in your info and I had a nose. You’ve written books and you travel all over the world teaching… you kept that quiet!’ And my response ‘yeh something like that’.

I’m sure it’s not just me but it seems that however many Saturdays I work, to some people it still comes as a shock that I work Saturday mornings. It still comes as a shock that I’m working about 3 hours drive away on a Sunday for a workshop even thought I’ve done that for 10 years. People still think I’m going to be on the Westend or maybe I was one of those Morris dancers they saw at the local fete. Peoples preconceptions about the dance world are so limited - do we try to change it or just leave them in the dark? Please let me know, as I’ve got some weddings coming up and I’m tempted to just create an alter ego job with a simple explanation rather than attempt to go into it - which usually leads to people not really listening and still asking if I’m going to do a dance for them later.