Katherine Loxtercamp
Job: Professional Ballet Dancer
Age: 25
What do you do for a living?
I am a professional ballet dancer. I get paid like a normal job and spend my days practicing ballet and rehearsing. Then I get to perform on stage for lots of people in beautiful costumes with live music and big sets!
What type of training do you need to do your job?
You need lots of ballet training to do my job. I’ve been dancing since I was 4 years old and took ballet classes multiple times a week. When I was older I took class every day. You also need to practice learning new choreography, acting, and being comfortable in front of a big audience. You also need to be able to do other types of dance too, like modern, jazz, or character. You also need to be very strong so even when I’m not dancing I have to spend time working out and making sure I do everything my directors need me to do without hurting myself.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is getting to dance and do what I love every day, and getting to work on improving my abilities and artistry. Some days I feel really tired and other days I feel energetic. On good days it’s really fun to move and dance, and even on days when I don’t feel good I still get to be creative and hang out with my coworkers and friends.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
When I was growing up I wanted to be photographer for National Geographic. I didn’t decide that I wanted to be a ballerina until I was around 12 years old, but I think it’s never too late to start pursuing something if you have the motivation to work hard at it. Now I’m 25 and there are still many more things I want to learn and be once I’m done dancing!
What advice would you give to a kid who wants to be a ballerina when they grow up?
For those who want to be a ballerina when they grow up, my best advice is just to not give up! It’s easy to get discouraged sometimes but as long as you show up and keep dancing then you’re a ballerina! Just keep working, keep trying your best, and keep enjoying what you do!
One fun fact NOT about your job?
One fun fact about me is that I love space and science fiction! I hope to one day go into a more math and science based career after I’m done dancing.
