health

April 30, 2026

‘Do I put Sleeping Beauty on my CV?!’ Ballet dancers on their next steps, from midwifery to the House of Lords

Six dancers who made bold career pivots reflect on ballet’s transferable skills, what they miss about the stage – and what they were glad to leave behind

‘Do I put Sleeping Beauty on my CV?!’ Ballet dancers on their next steps, from midwifery to the House of Lords

TL;DR

  • Former ballet dancers are successfully pivoting to careers in fields such as midwifery, politics, social work, and conducting.
  • Transferable skills from ballet, including discipline, work ethic, adaptability, and learning quickly, are highly valued in new professions.
  • The transition from a dance career often involves overcoming identity challenges and fears associated with leaving a structured, specialized profession.
  • Dancers often find that the rigorous training and performance demands of ballet equip them to excel in various other fields.
  • Some dancers proactively prepared for career changes through further education or by leveraging opportunities outside of performing.

Continue reading the original article