A TINY DANCER IN LA
Los Angeles the city of dreams and opportunities. Every dancer, actor or artist at some point of their career, want to take a trip or move to LA to try out its energy and expand their ambitions.
When I was younger I also had that dream of seeing what this city is about, and I have always been interested in various fields of the world of art like acting, dancing, directing, photography and the list goes on. So when I finally got some time off between my work contracts I started looking for ways that I could build on all my performance skills and complete this old desire of mine, and decided to apply for an acting scholarship, and since I wanted to go to LA so bad, of course I got in.
The moment I stepped in the city, I got offered (from my previous work) a dance tour around the world (how ironic, when one opportunity comes, another arises) and so I ended up staying in Los Angeles for a month, with the possibility that I could always come back whenever I wish to continue my studies.
A few of my dance friends that were interested on flying to LA have been asking me of how’s it like? If LA is right for them? Where to take dance classes? And many more questions. So here I will be listing a few tips on what you can expect from in LA, based on my experience.
It’s not a light decision to make the move out there and follow your dreams with full force, but if you’re determined to achieve a certain goal you definitely can without a doubt!
My first suggestion before even moving to LA is to take a trip or two first. Make sure you like the vibe before you commit! I would suggest a minimum of a two-week stay, If you can stay longer that’s even better. The longer you stay, the better sense you will have of your potential day-to-day life in LA. It’s an industry that is always changing, moving and flourishing, and that is what’s so great about it, but it can also be disappointing if you move with expectations of LA being a specific way.
Most dancers move for great training and the more “commercial” side of dance. However, don’t close your eyes to other facets of performance art that are happening all over this illustrious city. There are all kinds of dance companies, stage work and theater opportunities as well as other genres of performance like aerial, cirque, musical theater etc. It’s full of possibilities!
When Is The Best Time To Take A Trip?
I went on February since it was my only month off, but the best time to come to LA is definitely from the beginning of September through the middle of December. This is the time when classes aren’t at full capacity and there is actually room to dance! The season is starting out and so are auditions and castings. But if you would like to experience the craziness of the city, Summer is the one. It’s definitely the busiest time to take a trip to LA, because there are other international dancers who come to train and for the season on their visas.
Where To Stay While You Visit
Before I visited LA, people warned me about the traffic. I can now confidently tell you that it is as bad as they say. Maybe worse. To get a 20’ ride from one place to the other it can take even up to an hour. To avoid as much time-wasting as you can, I would suggest staying in North Hollywood, Valley Village, Sherman Oaks, Burbank, etc. or even the Hollywood areas. Most of the famous dance studios are around these areas as well.
Whether you are staying in the Valley or Hollywood, hotels are going to be expensive. Alternative accommodations for your visit include Airbnb, Gypsy Housing, or Home for Dancers.
I chose Airbnb for my stay since I didn’t know the amount of time I would be staying.
Gypsy Housing is a Facebook page where people list apartments for rent or sublets. It all depends on how long your stay is and the time of year when you come to visit. If you don’t see a post/listing for something you are looking for, you can write your own post with all the details you need.
Another option is Home for Dancers. They have two different locations with five different properties. Depending on your needs, they have both private bedrooms and shared bedrooms. Although I have never personally stayed there, some of the people I met have, and had good reviews. Be sure to check out their website at https://www.ladancedorms.com for additional information.
For transportation, rent a car or if you don’t drive use Uber. LA has public transportation, but it is not as efficient as New York.
Taking Classes
I would suggest taking classes at every place or field you can because it helps you understand the vibe of the different spaces. It definitely is different at every field. As for dance studios, one studio is not better than the other, they are just different. Also visiting different studios will help you to become more familiar with the greater Los Angeles area.
If your trip is on the longer side I would suggest buying class cards. Class cards are great if you will be in the area for a while. You get to save a few dollars per class, and it sometimes makes for an easier sign-in process. Also, sometimes dance classes will sell out for the day before noon, because there are so many people trying to get into any class that they can. I suggest making a plan for whose class you want to take the day before, and then signing up online or through their apps beforehand.
Getting A Job!
When you’re on a scholarship during your first year you are not allowed to audition or have an agent as it’s an academic regulation, although it wasn’t my priority at the time as I wanted to focus just in my artistic development. However, I believe it’s always important to challenge yourself so you can get as much experience you can, and through the academy I got a little glimpse of how the entire industry works.
Getting a job in any industry unfortunately sometimes is not purely based on your talent. You do need to know things like your look/image, who you know and how well you can perform will be key factors to whether or not you will actually book work. But that’s the same almost everywhere. Beyond that, sometimes it could take months or years to get the one you want but its definitely up to you to keep your skills always evolving, to achieve your goal.
The most important part is to keep training. If you have chosen LA as the place to start your career, then expect to work hard and train hard. This is for YOU and your passion. You are going to be amidst many others doing the exact same thing, and that is exciting. Use that energy as a positive motivation to keep pushing to achieve your goals. You need to always remember who you are and what you want, but definitely have an open mind and heart to new opportunities that may present themselves. Remember that there is always something to be learnt in every experience.
Fun Things To Do While On Your Trip!
Below are some touristy and non-touristy things that I recommend doing in LA!
1. Walk of Fame.
2. Chinese Theater.
3. Santa Monica Beach – Pier and shopping, very busy area, rent bikes and pedal down to Venice Beach.
4. See a Broadway show at the Hollywood Pantages Theater.
5. Universal Studios, Disney and City Walk.
7. Hike up to the Griffith Observatory (as seen in La La Land).
8. OUE Skyspace LA
9. Take photos with famous lamp posts at LACMA. Or make an entire day of it and go through the museum.
Overall LA is the right place if you are looking to do more industrial, commercial, TV work or simply expand your knowledge. There are things for everyone. I do recommend it for young dancers, artists for all the above reasons, but mostly I recommend it for getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things.
Since you only live once, don’t live your life with regrets.
When you try new things, it will help you to learn about yourself, expand your perspectives in life, meet new people and most importantly grow as a person. You’ll find that you’ll start to look forward to what comes next.
So try new things and see how it will positively impact your life.
Lots of love,
x Katerina
