Guiding dancers from training to college, professional careers, and beyond
Women in Dance Career Pathways provides personalized mentorship, coaching, and career guidance for high school dancers, college students, emerging professionals, and international artists seeking educational and professional opportunities in dance.
Who We Serve:
Women in Dance Career Pathways supports dancers at different stages of their educational and professional journey.
High School Dancers
For students exploring college dance programs, auditions, scholarships, and long-term training options.
College Dance Majors
For students preparing for professional auditions, graduate school, internships, teaching, or broader career pathways.
Emerging Professionals
For recent graduates and early-career artists seeking guidance on auditions, résumés, networking, and sustainable career planning.
International Dancers
For dancers interested in studying, training, auditioning, or working in the United States. Services are available virtually and support dancers throughout the United States and internationally.
Areas of Support
College Planning
Choosing the right path, understanding BA/BFA options, building a school list, and considering academic, artistic, and financial fit.
College Applications & Auditions
Support with prescreen videos, audition preparation, dance résumés, artistic statements, interviews, and scholarship strategy.
Professional Career Planning
Guidance for dancers preparing to enter the professional field, including company research, audition planning, and career goal setting.
Professional Audition Preparation
Support with audition materials, video reels, résumés, company lists, and individualized feedback.
International Education & Career Opportunities
Guidance for dancers navigating the U.S. dance landscape, educational options, and professional expectations.
Career Transitions & Alternative Pathways
Support for dancers exploring teaching, choreography, arts administration, graduate school, entrepreneurship, or interdisciplinary careers.
Why Women in Dance Career Pathways?
There is no single path to a meaningful life in dance. Some dancers pursue college programs, some enter professional companies, some build freelance careers, and others move into teaching, choreography, leadership, advocacy, entrepreneurship, or interdisciplinary fields.
Many dancers receive excellent technical training but limited guidance about educational choices, professional opportunities, and long-term career planning. Navigating these decisions can feel overwhelming without experienced mentorship and a broader understanding of the field.
Women in Dance Career Pathways combines artistic mentorship, higher education experience, and professional industry knowledge to help dancers and families understand their options, clarify their goals, and make informed decisions with confidence.
Whether your goal is a college dance program, a professional company, graduate school, teaching, arts leadership, or another pathway, guidance is tailored to your individual aspirations, strengths, and circumstances.
Why Works with Sandra?
Sandra Parks brings more than twenty years of experience as a performer, educator, artistic director, executive director, university faculty member, and mentor. She has guided dancers through college preparation, professional development, leadership growth, and career transitions in the United States and internationally.
Her background includes leadership and teaching experience in higher education, independent schools, nonprofit arts organizations, pre-professional training programs, and international dance initiatives.
Recent Student Pathways
Students Sandra has mentored have pursued educational and professional opportunities including:
- New York University (Tisch School of the Arts)
- University of Arizona
- University of Utah
- Professional training programs and company auditions
- Careers in dance education, choreography, and arts leadership
How It Works
Step 1: Submit an Inquiry
Complete the Career Pathways Inquiry Form and tell us about your goals.
Step 2: Introductory Conversation
We will schedule a conversation to learn more about your background, needs, and next steps.
Step 3: Personalized Plan
You will receive guidance tailored to your stage, interests, timeline, and goals.
Step 4: Ongoing Mentorship
Additional sessions may include audition preparation, application support, career planning, résumé review, video feedback, or strategic mentoring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate in Women in Dance Career Pathways?
Women in Dance Career Pathways supports high school dancers, college students, emerging professionals, and international dancers seeking guidance on educational and professional opportunities in dance.
Do I need to major in dance to pursue a career in the arts?
Not necessarily. Many successful artists pursue dance majors, while others combine dance with fields such as education, business, communications, psychology, arts administration, health sciences, or other academic disciplines. Career Pathways helps dancers explore options that align with their individual goals and interests.
What is the difference between a BA and a BFA in Dance?
While every institution is different, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) generally provides greater flexibility for double majors and broader academic study, while a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) typically emphasizes intensive studio training and performance. We can help determine which option may be the best fit for your goals.
When should I begin preparing for college dance applications and auditions?
Most students begin exploring programs during their sophomore or junior year of high school, with applications and auditions occurring during senior year. However, it is never too early—or too late—to begin planning.
Can you help with prescreen videos and audition preparation?
Yes. Support may include school selection, prescreen video planning, dance résumés, artistic statements, interview preparation, audition strategy, and individualized feedback.
I am an international student. Can you help me understand dance opportunities in the United States?
Yes. Women in Dance Career Pathways supports international dancers interested in studying, training, auditioning, or working in the United States. Guidance may include understanding educational systems, application processes, and professional pathways.
Do you only work with ballet dancers?
No. While Sandra’s professional background includes extensive ballet training and leadership, Career Pathways welcomes dancers from a variety of disciplines including contemporary, modern, jazz, musical theatre, interdisciplinary performance, and other movement-based practices.
What if I am not sure I want to become a professional dancer?
That’s perfectly okay. One of the goals of Career Pathways is to help dancers explore possibilities. Many dancers ultimately pursue careers in teaching, choreography, arts administration, leadership, health professions, business, or other fields while maintaining dance as an important part of their lives.
Ready to Explore Your Next Step?
Whether you are preparing for college auditions, exploring professional opportunities, or considering where dance can take you next, Women in Dance Career Pathways is here to support your journey.