Sustaining a dance career as a parent

This chapter offers some research and practice in relation to sustaining a dance career as a parent. It offers some guidance and support for dancers that are also parents, from post birth to raising children, (with an emphasis on but not exclusive to, biological parents). In addition, the chapter explores physiological and psychological considerations, resources, and strategies, for managing a dance career alongside parenting. Examples of case studies from Dance Mama illustrate ways that parenting can be balanced with a career in dance. The chapter will be useful for all dancers, whether in training, working with one dance company long-term with an infrastructure of support and/or dancers working professionally as freelance dance artists.