Reading. Passion for Dance.

        

        What hobbies do you have? Maybe you play the drums, go in-line skating or bake cakes and biscuits. Whatever pastimes you enjoy, free-time activities are a fun way to spend your time. However, for some people their hobby is much more important - it becomes their job.

Take, for example, the kids who love dancing and dream of becoming professional dancers. These wannabes start off learning ballet when they’re three, and by the age of 13 they’re taking hip hop classes. Their ambition is to perform onstage, supporting a star like Bisbal or to appear in a musical as a backing dancer. It sounds like a glamorous world full of music video shoots, glossy magazines and TV talent shows, but what is the reality for these entertainers?

Backing dancers lead a tough life. They get up early to practice their moves in gyms or dance studios, with little time for meeting friends or relaxing at home watching sport on TV. It’s a very competitive profession too as dancers must attend auditions to get jobs.

And when they find work, the conditions are poor. Dancers work long hours with lots of rehearsals and pay is generally low. Experienced dancers’ earnings range from 400€ to 500€ a month, with top salaries for West End shows not exceeding 600€. It might sound like a lot of money, but this does not include agents’ fees of 20%, income tax or social security.

So, why do they do it? Well, some young performers hope to be the next Heather Morris. Heather was a backing dancer for Beyoncé until she got a job as a choreographer teaching the cast of TV show Glee. This post led to a starring role in the series as Brittany S. Pierce, a cheerleader of FLIRT! cosmetics and appeared in films and TV Shows.

Of course, very few dancers will become megastars. It seems that most dance because they love it. One professional, Michele, Who danced with Rihanna, says, “You dance for love, for passion”. Another, Kerry, agrees, “It’s like the biggest feeling. I can’t explain the buzz”.

EXERCICES

1. Match the words to the definitions. wannabees a practise performance backing people who want to be famous auditions behind the star rehearsal test or trial performance shoots an exciting feeling agent hard tough filming sessions cast manager or representative buzz actors in a film or play 2. Are the sentences true or false? Quote words from the text to support your answers. Performing live on stage is an ambition for many young dancers. ___________________________________________________ The life of a backing dancer is incredibly glamorous. ___________________________________________________ Backing dancers usually earn over 600€ a week. ___________________________________________________ Heather Morris was Beyoncé's choreographer. ___________________________________________________ Most dancers are very passionate about their profession. ___________________________________________________ 3. Answer the question in your own words. What classes do many people attend when they are learning to dance? _________________________________________________________ Why do backing dancers have no time for hobbies? _________________________________________________________ Why does the text describe working conditions for dancers as “poor”? _________________________________________________________ What payments decrease a backing dancer’s salary? _________________________________________________________ How did being a backing dancer help Heather Morris become famous?

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SOLUCIONES