From traveling to places she otherwise might have never seen to performing at Lyric Opera of Chicago, dance has brought so many positive things into the life of our guest dancer, Rachael Switzer. Through all of her success, the thing that stands out the most is her ability to always move forward and keep striving towards her goals. Her best bit of advice? Be nice. Read more about this week's featured dancer...

Tell us a little about yourself

I am a professional dancer currently living in NYC, but am looking forward to an upcoming contract in Europe. Dance has given me the opportunity to travel to places I otherwise may never have seen including South America, Antarctica, Canada, and the Bahamas. 

How long have you been dancing for?

I started dancing when I was 4 years old. Apparently, I complained about my feet hurting so my mom didn't want to push me and let me quit. However, I was always dancing and choreographing routines at home so it wasn't long before I begged to go back to class. 

What styles of dance do you specialize in?

I specialize in jazz and tap, but as a professional I have performed modern, hip hop, ballet, and ballroom as well. 

What made you want to start dancing?

My parents enrolled me in dance at a young age, but I didn't realize my passion for it until a little bit later when Britney Spears and Spice Girls became popular. I wanted to be just like them so all I did was practice and film myself singing and dancing in my basement. I asked my parents to put me back in dance classes and the rest is history. 

What has been your greatest accomplishment on your dance career?

My greatest accomplishment was performing in The Merry Widow at Lyric Opera of Chicago. It was directed by the incredible Susan Stroman. I still pinch myself over that job. It was a dream. 

What has been your most memorable moment?

My most memorable moment was earlier this year when I performed alongside Savion Glover at the 70th Horatio Alger Awards in Washington D.C. It was a special night and had everything from dancers and a choir to a famous bald eagle flying across the venue and Tom Selleck as a host. Pretty fun. 

What has been your greatest challenge?

Not giving up when things get hard. There have been so many times where I had nothing lined up. It is a life of uncertainty. Contracts always seem to pop up as soon as I start to question my career choice though. I have wanted to be a Rockette since I was 12. I've made it all the way through the audition 5 times, had a private audition with their former choreographer, participated in 8 of their summer programs, and still don't have the job. Who knows what will happen, but if anything the process has made me more resilient. I am a much stronger dancer from placing so much of my focus on precision dance training. 

What advice would you give to other dancers?

The highs and lows of the industry can be overwhelming. Definitely develop a support system of fellow dancers. It makes the audition process so much less stressful. Find a teacher you love and go to their class as often as possible. By showing up frequently, you get to know them which could lead to projects you may otherwise not know about or at least some useful advice. That is also how I've met some of my best friends. Be nice too. I've come to find that most performers are very supportive of one another despite competing for the same opportunities. We all know just how tough it is. Why make it harder? 

For more from Rachael:

https://www.instagram.com/bevelingbrunette/

#danzia #shopdanzia @shopdanzia