Dancing in the Mountains.

Through the years, dancers have had to travel to New York City or Los Angeles to make a living. This is still the case if you want to be a Broadway dancer or perform in film and commercials. Many dancers love the energy and excitement of New York but are overwhelmed by the size of the city and the number of dancers auditioning for each part. Many only tolerate L.A. for the work but can't imagine raising a family there. My point is, even though we all love dance, we are very different people. Fortunately, we can have it all. Today, there are other options for dancers who want to work and still enjoy a more laid-back lifestyle. Las Vegas, Nashville, Orlando, and many other smaller cities are hiring dancers. These cities offer the chance to have a career with longevity, benefits, and exciting challenges.

There is also a small town in the middle of the Ozark Mountains that has created another option for hundreds of dancers. That small town is Branson, Missouri, which has more than forty theaters showcasing talent six nights a week from March to December. Branson has a population of 3,700, yet more than five million people visit each year, making it one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States. Those five million visitors need to be entertained, and that's good news for dancers.

Here are a few examples of shows using dancers' talents. The Rockettes perform at the Grand Palace. The Andy Williams Moon River Theatre hires dancers, as do the Jim Stafford Theater, the Osmond Family Theater, Melinda's Magical Mansion, Dixie Stampede, Jennifer's Americana Theater, the Lawrence Welk Resort, Legends in Concert, and Country Tonite. As you can see, the all-American down-home theme is alive and well in Branson, and it offers career opportunities for hundreds of dancers.

To give you an idea of what it's like to work in Branson, I'll use Country Tonite as my example. Country Tonite is in its sixth season, is ranked third in attendance, and performs in a theater owned by Country Tonite Enterprises. According to Karen Nelson Bell, Country Tonite's producer, "Our season runs from March 7 to December 18. There's also a two-week rehearsal period before the season starts, so the cast is back together the last week of February. Most dancers love the time off. They save their money and go home to see family and friends. Country Tonite has a cast of thirty-three, with twelve dance positions. The dancers sign a contract for the entire season, and most shows like to rehire dancers because it saves time and money on rehearsals and wardrobe. The potential for long-term employment is here."

Dancers sign a very standard contract for the ten-month period. There is a two-week out clause if they are unhappy or land other jobs, as well as a two-week notice if for some reason their performances are not on par with those of other cast members.

"I do try to add incentives for showing up every night and putting on a good performance," producer Bell tells us. "I've hired an excellent cast, and I want that cast onstage; if dancers make it through the entire season without a sick day, they receive five days' compensation at the end of the contract. If they miss one day, they receive four days' compensation at the end, and so on. We've found this to be a good attendance incentive and helpful to the dancers in December, when they know they're going to have some time off."

Salaries in Branson range from $400 to $800 a week, says Bell; Country Tonite is toward the top end of that range. It's added a bonus pool, where the cast will share in the profits. "This helps us with marketing," Bell adds. "If dancers are in a restaurant and someone asks them what show they should see, they can recommend Country Tonite and help promote the show. It pays for them to be proud of the show they're performing."

Under its health plan, Country Tonite Enterprises will pay half the premiums and the dancers will pay the other half. There is also a 401k program where Country Tonite Enterprises will match investments the dancers make into their own retirement program. Bell says this arrangement, rare in the industry, makes it easy to retain a stable and solid cast.

"But it's not just about money and work," she insists. "Branson is like stepping back in time. It's incredibly beautiful, the people are very friendly, and you don't have to lock your doors. A lot of dancers have worked here and decided to stay."

Auditions for all Branson productions are regularly held in New York City, Los Angeles, or Las Vegas. Watch for announcements in the national trade papers. All shows stress personality and strong jazz and tap or clogging. If you would like to be considered by Country Tonite, send a photograph and a resume to: Karen Bell, 101 South Rainbow Boulevard, Suite 28-221, Las Vegas, NV 89121.

Don Mirault is the author of Dancing ... For a Living-Two. His August column will be about dancer opportunities in the Rockettes.