The End of College.

My name is Alice, and I am passionate about dance. I have been dancing since I was three years old. My dream is to have a dance career. Now, after three years of Double DEC in dance and administration at Montmorency College, I have my diploma. I must choose which path I want to follow in my pursuit of a dance career.

Choice 1 : I want to study at UQAM

Choice 2 : I want to do dance auditions.

UQAM Programs.

UQAM offers different dance programs. I have to decide what kind of program I want to enter. There is the teaching program or the artistic program. They are both good programs, but they don't offer the same amount of credits or the same job offers. I would prefer doing the artistic program, but the teaching program would offer a better job stability.

Choice 1 : I choose the artistic program.

Choice 2 : I choose the teaching program.

The Artistic Program at UQAM.

I chose to follow what I really wanted to do. This program is definitely going to help me become a better dancer and a better performer. One of my classes this semester is a creation class. In this course, we, the students, learn how to choreograph variations. Thanks to this class and to my wonderful teacher, I learn that I really want to become a choreographer. Even if I am in a dance program, I want to keep dancing with the dance company I have been with for four years and I have a dead-end job in a fast food restaurant to save money. However, all the dancing that I do is interfering with the academic work I have to do. I have a deadline due into days, but I have a dance class at UQAM and I work in the afternoon. And the next day I have a 6 hours long dance rehearsal with the dance company in which I am an intern. What should I skip?

Choice 1 : I call my workplace and say that I am sick.

Choice 2 : I don't attend my UQAM class.

Choice 3 : I don't attend my dance rehearsal with the dance company.

I Take a Sick Day to Finish my Project.

Even though I would like to save some money, especially with Christmas coming soon, I have to priories my school work. I am not sure if I should try to find someone to replace me even though it is last minute or if I should just call and say I can't come in.

Choice 1 : Call everyone and ask if they can replace me.

Choice 2 : Call thirty minutes before my shift and not come in.

I Choose to Ask Everyone to Replace Me.

I am now on my fifth call, and I am trying to reach my co-worker Jolene. Jolene is gladly taking my shift as she needs the money. I have to call my job and tell someone about the change in the schedule. Since, Jolene is as good as I am at work, the manager did not have a problem with her replacing me. The manager appreciates the fact that I found someone to take my shift. Now that I don't have to go to work, I am going to have more time to finish my project.

Choice 1 : I can finish my school work.

Call Thirty Minutes Before my Shift and Not Come In.

Since it is a job that I don't really like, I don't mind not showing up. However, the manager is not happy, and he is giving me a warning, it means that the next time, I could get fired. But I need the money to pay for my dance program. Therefore, I have to take my job more seriously. However, not coming in at work is leaving more time to finish my school work.

Choice 1 : I can finish my school work.

School Comes First.

I am glad I am choosing school before work because if I want to have a dance career, I need to focus on my school work and not on a dead-end job. I know I made the right choice because I got 100% on my work. With my good grades, I can more easily find a good job after.

Choice 1 : I want to pursue my studies at university,

I Choose to Skip my UQAM Class.

Even though I know school is important, I don't want to miss my dance rehearsal and I need to work because I need the money. Little did I know, the teacher decided to give a surprise quiz. She gives me a 0 since I was not there. It is really going to affect my GPA and if I choose to continue my studies in dance, I might have a hard time getting accepted.

Choice 1 : Try again

I Choose to Skip a Dance Rehearsal With the Dance Company.

Since I believe school is very important, I don't want to skip my class. Also, with the holidays coming up, I need money. Therefore, I choose not to go to my dance rehearsal. Even though my friends and I are interns, we have important roles since it is a small company, so we need to be there at every practice.

Choice 1 : How are my dancing roles affected?

Repercussions of Missing a Rehearsal.

Since I wasn't there, another girl danced my variations and the director really likes her. He gave her my part and I take her part in the corps de ballet, which means I am now a background dancer. It is a huge step down. I really dropped the ball on this one.

Choice 1 : Try again

I Want to Continue to Study.

Since I got such good grades in my bachelor's degree, I had no problem to get accepted to pursue my studies in dance at UQAM. The more experience I have, the better are the job offers.

Choice 1 : I want to finish my university.

What Can I Do with my Dance Teaching Bachelor's Degree?

Since I have all this knowledge and degrees, I can teach in schools, from primary to university, in a dance company or in a dance school. I choose to apply to Montmorency College since that is where I went and because it would be fun to teach along my old teachers from whom I learned the ropes.

Choice 1 : Try again

I Want to Do Dance Auditions.

I choose to do dance audition. I want to live the dream of being on stage all the time. However, I must choose if I prefer to audition for musical theater productions or for a dance company.

Choice 1 : I want to audition for musical theater productions.

Choice 2 : I want to audition for a dance company.

Musical Theater Production.

I choose to audition for musical productions because I love being on stage and travel. However, it is not an easy choice, because If I don't get hired in a show then I am not making money with my art. Therefore, I have to have a dead-end job that I can get rid of if I get hired in a production.

Choice 1 : I want to audition for the musical Cats.

Musical Production Cats.

At the audition, there are so many great dancers. I am intimidated, but I have to stay focus. The choreographer is teaching us the dance combination. It is all happening so fast I can't see half the movements he is doing. I know it starts with a tight fifth position into a big jump in attitude croisée. Then, we follow with a reversé and pas de bourrée. But the rest of the choreography is a little unclear. But, time is up, we are starting to take place to run the dance.

Choice 1 : I want to stay upstage to follow on the others.

Choice 2 : I want to go downstage because I am not afraid of a challenge.

I Choose to Be Upstage.

Since I am all the way in the back behind a lot of amazing dancers, none of the judges can see me. In result, I am not hired to dance in the production.

Choice 1 : Try again

I Choose to Be Downstage.

After two runs of the choreography, I now have picked up the moves. I know it so well that I can even put my own interpretation. I am in the front line and the judges only have eyes for me.

Choice 1 : I am hired in the production.

The Rehearsals Can Start.

The cast is put together. The rehearsals are long, and we have them six days a week. I know all the dances in the shows, even the ones I am not dancing in case someone gets hurt. All the cast have worked for the past four months on this production. But then I hear a big noise.

Choice 1 : What is that noise?

Cats Opening Night.

It is four hours before the show. The cast and I are doing a general of the show. When I am not dancing, I am putting on my stage makeup since it takes a long time to get ready. We are all happy and stressed that we are having our first representation tonight. But then, the producer arrives and says that the show is canceled.

Choice 1 : Why is it canceled?

The Cats Opening Night Is Canceled Because of COVID-19.

Because of COVID-19, all shows have been canceled or postponed and because of all the new rules, the production will have to be on hold. Therefore, I don't have a job anymore. All the hard work I have been doing is now gone. The worst is that I can't find another dance job since all this industry is on hold as well. I have to get a job, so I can continue to pay my rent.

Choice 1 : Try again

Injury.

One of the principal dancers got hurt. Someone has to take her place and alter the costumes. So, I decide to volunteer to adjust the costumes to the girl dancing the principal's part. As I volunteered, the director asked me if I know the part.

Choice 1 : I am going to perform her part.

New Role.

It is an amazing opportunity for me to dancer part, I can't be more honored. However, I have to work even harder to be able to fill her shoes. I even have extra practice with both the director and the choreographer to make sure I am up for the task. After a whole month, it is finally the opening night.

Choice 1 : Cats Opening Night.

I Want to Audition for a Dance Company.

At the audition, everyone is amazing. It shows that this company is a big one. There are at least one hundred girls auditioning. We are all at the ballet barre. At the end of the disengaged battement exercise done both outward and inward, while in a small arabesque balance, I see a dancer pushing the dancer in front of her to make her fall.

Choice 1 : I want to stand up to the mean dancer.

Choice 2 : I want to focus on myself.

Say Something to the Mean Dancer.

While I am standing up to this bully, teacher is explaining the next exercise. I wasn't paying attention, and therefore I don't know the combination. The judges notice and don't call me for the callback.

Choice 1 : Try again

I Have to Stay Focus.

I choose not to say anything, because in an audition, it is only the first impression that counts. I have to stay focus. Anyway, justice always wins. The mean dancer was so glad she made her fall, so she would look good next top her, that she did not listen to the exercise and therefore does know what it is. The mean dancer doesn't make the final cut, but I do!

Choice 1 : I want to dance in this dance company.

New Dance Company.

The director hires me as a corps dancer. The wage is not as good as if I was a principal dancer, but it takes many years in a dance company to become a principal. It is still a good opportunity where I will have an amazing training. If in a couple of years I feel as if I am not advancing, I can always try to audition for another dance company and with the experience, I might have better roles.

Choice 1 : Try again