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Life as a Professional Ballet Dancer (Reality of a Ballet Career)

Kathryn Morgan

184,046 views

Ever wonder what a professional ballet dancer’s life is actually like behind the curtain?
In this video I break down the real day-to-day of a ballet career — the difference between students vs. professionals, the rehearsal grind, casting and company decisions, the pressure around body/aesthetics, and the behind-the-scenes realities most people never see. If you're a student, pre-pro, adult dancer, or just ballet-curious, this is an honest look at what the job really demands - and what makes it worth it.

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Welcome to a world where ballet isn’t something you have to train for - it’s something you can live. I’m Kathryn Morgan, former New York City Ballet soloist, entrepreneur, and your guide to a more elegant, intentional, ballet-inspired life.

For over a decade, my subscribers have trusted me to translate the beauty, discipline, and storytelling of ballet into everyday inspiration. I’m not here to be your technique teacher - I translate 20 years of professional ballet elegance into accessible beauty, lifestyle, and cultural content for sophisticated women who value timeless grace over fleeting trends. I’m here to bring ballet to you, and then bring you into ballet through honest insights, real stories, and a lifetime of experience both onstage and off.

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨𝐬 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤!
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𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴. 𝘐 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶!

#Ballet #DancerLife #ProfessionalDancer #BalletCareer #BehindTheScenes #kathrynmorgan

0:00 Intro
0:27 The Main Thing
1:34 Early Years
3:16 Roles
4:40 Taking Care of Yourself
5:47 Typical Day
7:53 Performance Season
8:52 My Injury
10:15 Constant Physicality
12:50 You Have to Earn Roles
13:55 Rehearsal Period
15:25 It's a Business
18:37 Diet Myth
20:00 Multiple Casts
21:04 My Biggest Advice

20 Comments

@kellym587 11 years ago

You are one of the most well-spoken, down-to-earth, kind, and insightful people! Awesome video! This is really going to help a lot of aspiring ballerinas.

@johannabern8006 9 years ago

A Dancer from the royal Swedish ballet has stopped dancing now(she's like 48 this year) and now she has started working on my school. The funny thing is that she's like my idol and now she trying to talk with me but I just get panic every time so I kind of feel bad for her. HAHHA

@Kate-oh7ip 7 years ago (edited)

When she said students realise very quickly that they had to eat when they get into a company is true to a certain extent but if you have an eating disorder you don’t care. I got into a company and got pulled because of my anorexia. The thing that we need to realise is that our ED does not care about us and it is not going to help and will destroy us. You don’t have to be underweight to have a problem. And if you are suffering you are sick enough and you are worth recovery. Although it is so hard, and I understand you believe me, it will get better I swear on my life. And remember if you are not recovering you are dying. Please, please get help reach out to anyone. You are strong enough and brave enough.

@lindaharrison3240 10 years ago

Listening to this, I do not know how you guys do it. Class, rehearsal, perform. And you have to peak at 8 PM?!!! Unbelievable.

@k_a_y_l_e_e 8 years ago

i am a 6' tall olympic lifter and cyclist idek how i ended up here but i've watched, like, 10 of her videos in a row lol.

@erpollock 3 years ago

She is totally realistic and honest. This must be very helpful to apprentices and corps dancers.

@sophieclark696 11 years ago

It's so inspiring how you aren't bitter about the situation regarding your illness and how the company addressed your weight. It's heartbreaking, but you're right it's an aesthetic art. Much love xo

@volz519 11 years ago

Can you do a video about your experience at SAB?

@TheSandersonSistersTBMOTH 11 years ago

This was so interesting. At my dance school, every Saturday we have to assist with the little kids from 9 to 12:30. Then from 12:30 to 2 we have class. Then from 2-3 we have a break then we have repertory rehearsal from 3-5 (at the latest 8 if we are close to the show). I like that schedule because I think it prepares us for professional life just a little bit.

@vemovasnena 11 years ago

Im a professional dancer in the Musical Theatre world, became a professional just a year ago. Very helpful, and very true! Im still learning how to handle the professional world, thanks for the advice. :)

@katsuyafeather1309 2 years ago

I wanted to be professional but I have chronic illness and epilepsy that wont allow me to tolerate past a certain level of exertion without getting very sick or triggering seizures. It's unfortunate but its that harsh reality that a dancer who can't dance those long hard days of class and rehersal, can't be professional. The company wants dancers who can push past their limits in a full length ballet mulitple times a week and not a dancer who has to sit down the last half of center because they feel a seizure coming on... no matter how great my tecnique is.. no matter how determined and passionate I am.. no matter how much I love it and would give my life to dance, I know a company would never waste their time and recources on me. Being a proffesional dancer is not made for everyone who wants it (even if they want it with all their heart) and thats just the sad truth, but you can still dance for the sheer love and joy you have for ballet.

@rowanthomas9181 8 years ago

Dancers, especially ballet dancers, are pushing themselves so hard. I did ballet when I was young and while I always enjoyed dancing and stayed dancing, I just didn’t enjoy ballet anymore at some point after three or four years of ballet I think. I really admire pro dancers though, as I said they have such work ethic and push themselves so much.

@suelennfr 11 years ago

Hi Kathryn! I'm from Brazil and I've just started ballet classes... And I'm 25 years old! Your videos are very useful for me and I got very good tips from them. Please make a video about back flexibility!

@angelcarrera8794 8 years ago

I'm not looking to be a professional dancer but I love watching these types of videos of yours because it motivates me so much after hearing how hard you had to work. Ballet sound extremely tough and I cannot even express how much respect I have for you ballet dancers! Love you Katie!!

@Sarasmfsp 11 years ago

You can do a tutorial of italian fouttes?

@liloruf2838 6 years ago

Thank you, that comparison with opera singers is very true. I'm going to be one and I really enjoy those ballet videos since I feel very close to ballet as an art form. A ballet dancers instrument is their body, such as mine. And, believe it or not, if you got the right technique - you become an athlete by doing it. Seriously. Its so demanding both for the body and the mind and you need to want it with all your heart. Also the aspect of performing, practicing.. It motivates me to fight even harder. Thank you Katy for these very interesting videos!

@TheAmbour 11 years ago

Thank you so much for that video, I cannot tell you how much it helped me. I've now been dancing for 14 years of my life and have been in pre-professional training for some time. I never questioned my desire to become a professional ballerina up until I was 16, I'm 18 soon going on 19. I knew what the sacrifices were and was willing to make them at the time. My summer courses at SAB and Boston Ballet were what I looked forward to the most instead of crazy holidays and music festivals. Then when I turned 16 and moved to London to train for an intense 3 years in the run-up to being thrown into the professional world I realised what the reality of the job was. Not that I was under any illusion that is was going to be easy, I was sweating gallons of water, always tired and so sore everyday, but I realised that I possibly wanted other things in life. A 'normal' life, if you get what I mean. Most of my friends who are dancers gave up on their education but I continued and can therefore choose to go university if I want to. As a result I still have every door open to me. I realised approximately four or five months ago that even though I still love to dance, I didn't think I wanted to make it my career. Overtime whenever I would mentally think of working towards it in class it would just ruin the pleasure I take in dance. Nevertheless I auditioned for further training and I got into Rambert Schol of Ballet and Contemporary Dance. So I am now at a cross road: do I go to Rambert and continue to dance and not risk living in regret, even though I think if there is some, it will be slight, or to a jump into a world of unknown possibilities which is hard and scary just as well, and exciting. Your video was extremely insightful and confirmed what I thought to be the realities of dance. Thank you x

@nannavendelbo5160 9 years ago

I wish performances were at 10pm, because I feel like that is my prime time energy wise

@daffo595 11 years ago

You're so incredibly humble!

@Moondustgirlie 9 years ago

what do professionals do if they get the flu or something like that? I love that you're so down to earth and normal. It's highly refreshing. you're such an inspiration wow ^^,