Sorry, I'm not sure where to post this. Please move it as appropriate.
Brief version:
I'm certified to teach ABT ballet, in my 20s. I only know ballet but never dance professionally. To make myself more employable as a FULL-TIME dance teacher, should I attempt to learn a new style of dance such as latin/ballroom/jazz and become certified to teach it OR should I specialise more in ballet teaching, e.g. to get a Master in Dance Education, get certified to teach another ballet syllabus such as Cecchetti/RAD, or say, do some private pedagogy study with a famous teacher?
Long version:
I have been thinking about this question for quite a few years now, finally I remembered this board, so here I am for advice:
* I'm essentially a ballet dancer. I trained in a small but decent pre-professional school. I was in the audition circuit for a while, never landed a contract, and now with lapping training due to repetitive injuries, I've griped the reality that I will never land a professional contract (and even if i do by miracle, i don't think my body can endure it).
* I'm doing the ABT syllabus certification courses this summer. But the reality of getting a full time job teaching ballet without professional experience is just too slim. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that I prefer to live in big cities where I can take classes myself to continue dancing (in my spare time). But then, in this economy, I'll be happy to just get a job anywhere.
* I've taken jazz and hip hop classes at summer intensives. But beside character, ballet is the only style of dance I have substantial experience in.
* While learning a new dance style may broaden my horizon, but I will never "master" (as in become the standard I am in ballet) another style of dance because I have neither the time nor financial resources to devote another 10 years of study a new style of dance. OK, I recognize that adding a new style is easier 2nd time around with the ballet background, but i've never been a very versatile dancer and I enjoy watching jazz/hip hop/tap, I never really had the flare for them. Contemporary/modern (as in Graham, Taylor, Cunningham) is easier to acquire but isn't much sought after in the private schools.
* So the question is: is it "better" (employment-wise) to make up for my lack of professional dancing experience with more degree/certifications in ballet or branch out to learn a new style of dance purposefully to teach it to recreational dancers?