The Dancer's Journey: Deciding to Pursue a Career
- Cindy Case
- 7 days ago
- 6 min read
In the journey to becoming a dancer, we've covered pre-professional training, auditions, dealing with injuries, and the often twisting path that leads to a career. But there's an important part of the process we haven't covered: making the decision to pursue a career in professional dance.
Somewhere along the way, every dancer of BTM was a young person who took a dance class, went to a performance, or saw a ballet video and said, "I want to do that." Although there are no guarantees that a given pre-pro dancer will find a job, it takes that initial spark to sustain them through the challenging path of becoming a dancer.
BTM dancers Lauren Martinez and Brenna Mazzara were kind enough to share that part of their journey. Keep reading to learn what inspired their love for dance, who encouraged them to pursue it, and how that decision led to their careers as dancers today.
Brenna Mazzara
Soloist dancer Brenna Mazzara joined BTM in 2019, and the start of her journey might sound familiar to anyone who's ever enrolled a young child in dance classes:
"I had always loved dancing around the house when I was little, so I asked my mom to sign me up for dance classes before I was even old enough to join. When I was finally three, we enrolled in a combo tap/ballet class, and I loved it! My only dislike was having to wear tights, but I quickly learned that no tights meant no class, and I cooperated. Even from a young age, I really liked the mix of creativity and structure that ballet in particular provides."
Brenna says that deciding she wanted to make dance her job didn't happen all at once: "I think the decision came gradually and always seemed like an impossible dream. I loved learning from dancers who performed professionally and hearing about their experiences in the company. Growing up, I had a lot of current and former dancers from Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, which felt like learning from celebrities. Like many dancers, I saw the Nutcracker and became determined to perform in such productions when I grew up."
"My teachers were certainly encouraging about pursuing a professional career and also very upfront about the challenges that come with the lifestyle. Their candor helped in my decision to pursue dance through a college education because I wanted to be careful to always have a backup plan in case a dance career did not work out."
Because most dancers need to start training seriously when they're very young, we are indebted to our parents for believing in us. Brenna says, "My parents were incredible supporters and still are! I am so grateful for the investment that they made into my dance career from a young age, their guidance in a career path that was equally as foreign to them, and all of their encouragement on and off stage. They still travel to almost every show, and it is not lost on me that I would not be up on stage today if it wasn't for them."
She adds, "Teachers like Tamar Rachelle, Dana Arey, and Alan Obuzor were also pivotal in my training and my path toward a professional career. As I mentioned, they were encouraging but also honest about how challenging a professional career in dance can be emotionally, physically, and financially. While their guidance in the studio was unmatched, it was this information that really helped prepare me to take on all aspects of a career in dance with realistic expectations and a preparedness to work hard in and out of the studio."
"With this being my 10th season working in the professional dance world, I have recently done a lot of reflecting on the decisions that led me to where I am. I am happy to say that I feel so content with the decisions, disappointments, challenges, and successes that have led me here! We are truly so fortunate to do something so beautiful and challenging every day as our job and to share this art with our community."
Lauren Martinez
Principal dancer Lauren Martinez also joined BTM in 2019, but she first started dancing when she was six. "When I told my parents that I wanted to do ballet, they enrolled me in a summer course at a local dance studio to see if I liked it before committing to a full year. From then on, I stuck with it."
"I do not remember any particular moment when I decided to try and make this a career. I think it evolved with my passion for ballet and performing in front of a live audience. It made sense to me to pursue a career that I loved doing and sharing with others. I’m grateful to my parents for supporting my passion and always encouraging me to pursue what I love."
Lauren gives credit to the teachers who nurtured her love for dance, leading ultimately to her career. "I had amazing teachers growing up who all came from professional backgrounds from across the country and who really cared about the well-being and versatility of all students. No one 'pushed' me to follow the professional track, but I had an amazing support system with great connections that helped my dream become a reality."
"It was normal for students from my home studio to graduate high school and either go straight to college (pursuing dance or not) or head to a professional training program in larger companies. My parents had always intended for me to go to college, and while it was ultimately my decision, I am so glad I chose to attend the University of Oklahoma. I was able to study with some great professors and mentors in the field of dance, and explore my new passion for graphic design. My experience at OU was very positive, and I'm thankful to my professors for supporting and helping all graduating seniors in the very scary professional audition process."
Getting a preview of company life made a big difference for Lauren as she prepared to enter the professional realm: "I think what really gave me a sneak peek into the professional dance world was my opportunity from the OU School of Dance to become a guest artist at Tulsa Ballet for their production of Swan Lake. I got to experience what it was like to take a company class and rehearse for 2 weeks, and it was one of the most eye-opening experiences."
After graduating from OU with a BFA in Ballet Performance and a BA in Advertising, Lauren embarked on her career as an apprentice with BTM. Looking back on the process, she says, "I feel very positive about my decision to become a professional dancer. I knew entering the field that I would not be making as much as I would if I had pursued only the marketing track, but I also knew I wouldn't feel complete if I wasn't doing what I loved. Being part of Ballet Theatre of Maryland has given me numerous opportunities to express myself artistically, and I am so grateful to continue sharing this art form with audiences."
Want to see Brenna, Lauren, and the rest of the BTM dancers in action? Subscriptions for our 2026/2027 season are on sale now! Season subscribers get first pick of their seats, a champagne reception at intermission of every performance, and more. Visit our Season Subscription page for more information, or our Season Announcement page to learn what will be on the program.
