In a wider article about the afterlife of ballerinas, Alice Robb had some fascinating details about the economic pressures they face:

• At their peak, ballerinas only earn about $18,000 a year.
• They can maybe double that through non-dance events.
• To make matters worse they’re overly optimistic about how long they’ll be able to work. Most expect to go until their 40s, but the average ballerina retires at 34.
• Retirement is often forced upon them by career ending injuries – only 5% voluntarily leave the industry.
• Only 3% of ballerinas say they want to go onto teach dance, but 53% end up doing just that.

The full article provides a far deeper look at the life and afterlife of a ballerina. Read it at Elle.

Via: Marginal Revolution