Passionate Work

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Corps de ballet refers to the group of dancers in a ballet company who are not principals, yet they make up the majority of professional dancers today. These dancers often compile portfolios across various companies, working tirelessly without the promise of fame or fortune. Their dedication and skill highlight broader trends in the precarious nature of professional dance and creative careers. In Passionate Work, sociologist Ruth Horowitz captures their narratives, challenging the conventional view that separates creative labor from traditional work based on passion. By examining the careers of these dancers, she reveals that a successful dance career requires both passion and hard work. This perspective allows her to delve into how dancers maintain their passion amidst the challenges of an underpaid and uncertain profession. Horowitz documents the various stages of a dancer's life, exploring the rewards and difficulties they face. Ultimately, she illuminates the strategies these artists employ to create a sense of continuity in a field often characterized by instability and disruption.