This month, Dance Informa spoke with former ballet dancer Kay Tien, founder of Pivot Pointe, about career transitions and the often-overlooked skills dancers possess. Pivot Pointe offers personalised career coaching, skills training and access to job opportunities, empowering dancers to identify their transferable skills and pursue new paths beyond the world of dance.
After training under the esteemed Prof. Konstanze Vernon, the late artistic director of the Bayerisches Staatsballett, Tien graduated with a Diplom-Ballett-Tänzerin from the renowned Ballet Academy at the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. She was offered a position with Bayerisches Staatsballett II but made the bold decision to shift into the business world just two weeks later.
In the past decade, Tien has developed an impressive international portfolio, representing clients across various industries and leading successful campaigns for well-known brands like Monster Products, Thom Browne, Hines, Red Bull and Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP). At YAGP, she played a crucial role in expanding global dance scholarship initiatives and launched the inaugural Job Fair Audition at the New York City Finals, connecting aspiring dancers with prominent company directors. In 2019, she founded Pivot Pointe, an innovative venture dedicated to helping individuals and brands realise their full potential and share their unique narratives.
Join us as we peel back the layers of the career transition process.
Pivot Pointe offers a transformative experience for clients seeking new career paths. Could you share how the initiative began?
“Pivot Pointe was inspired by my own personal story and career transition. As a young dancer, my dream was to dance professionally in Europe. So when I got the opportunity to join the Bavarian State Ballet’s junior company, I should have been thrilled, but at the time, I was managing an Achilles tendinitis injury. It was discouraging being at your peak, then seeing your condition falter as I had to scale back from classes and focus on my recovery. I started to associate dance with pain and unhappiness, and it overshadowed the prospect of a future in ballet. So after some deep reflection, I made the difficult decision to quit, and two weeks later, I started working for a design firm in artist management.
Although my career transition is perceived as a success story, I wouldn’t recommend such an abrupt transition. There were its own set of challenges, and it was especially difficult navigating it alone. While climbing the corporate ladder, I also grappled with my dancer identity in my new workplace, which I had to work through. But I did realise early on that I could be a dancer and something else, too. Dance doesn’t define who I am but complements my identity.
It was after working in marketing for many years before joining Youth America Grand Prix that I realised career transition solutions were still very cookie-cutter and one-size-fits-all. Throughout my career, I had many dancers approach me about my journey, but I deemed it necessary to have diverse experiences first, such as working in agency, brand, and non-profit environments, then in different industries and roles, to really understand the nuances of the workforce. This way, I’d have better expertise to cater to the needs of dancers in career transition. It was only after almost a decade of working in business that I founded Pivot Pointe in 2019.”
What strategies can dancers implement to effectively prepare for a career transition and identify the right timing?
“Every dancer’s journey is unique, so timelines will vary; I often say that no dancer will follow an identical path to another, but the key takeaway is to start preparing early.
We emphasise exploration as a crucial first step. Identifying factors such as interests, skills, knowledge, short and long-term goals, geographical locations, values, etc., are all relevant when considering potential career paths for a successful transition. However, it’s important not to fixate on just one path, as careers exist in an ecosystem, and there may be other roles or industries that can help you achieve your goals, values, and purpose. For example, marketing alone offers many niche careers (brand, events, content, partnerships, or public relations), and one’s role doesn’t exist in isolation. Understanding how all the gears and operations work will make you a more valuable asset to an organisation.
Another pitfall I see is dancers investing in certifications and degrees for the sake of studying. It’s imperative to ask yourself: “How does this benefit my future career? Will I use this?” When investing money, time, and effort, you want to be as strategic as possible. If it doesn’t work to your advantage, it’s akin to wearing a life jacket on dry land—a false sense of security that doesn’t actually serve one’s purpose.
As for getting started, we recently launched a free tool called ‘Assess Your Readiness for Career Transition.’ It’s a quick two-minute assessment to help dancers gauge their timeline, providing tailored advice for their journey.”
Could you provide insights into the two-part Dancer Index program and how it equips dancers with practical skills?
“Dancer Index is the first-ever fully customisable career transition program – there’s nothing like it. I was very intentional with the instructional design, adding design thinking and gamification, with the goal of making it accessible (payment plans) and customisable. It’s a program dancers can do anytime, anywhere — on their schedule.
- Exploration reverse engineers the career transition process and allows dancers to discover themselves first before they “shop” for industries and careers. This includes discovery in the form of personality tests, skills evaluation, filtering interests and knowledge, defining their values and mission, and more. Only then do we educate them about industries and careers in the modern workforce tailored to their profile. From there, we develop strategies for their final choices—from job responsibilities to salary, career trajectory and hierarchical and organisational structure, plus skillset. It allows our students to be fully empowered, knowledgeable, and confident. We also provide budgeting tools and encourage financial planning. Exploration serves as the springboard for career transition.
- Preparation is the second stage dedicated to helping students excel in the job search process. The sessions are structured around job search material creation, teaching students essential tools such as digital literacy, crafting applications, networking, and strategies for an ever-evolving employment landscape. Our goal is to help dancers build a new narrative and position themselves competitively. Fortunately, we have an extensive network of recruiters, hiring managers, and executive leaders that allow us to stay updated on industry trends and demands.
We value integrity, and all of the coursework remains confidential. This was a conscious decision when designing the program. The program operates as an independent entity; we serve and represent the best interests of students, and therefore confidentiality is key, especially as a majority of them are still dancing full-time in companies or freelancing.”
What is the typical duration of the process, and what outcomes can participants expect?
“Dancer Index students determine their own pace and session scheduling. Each session also comes with assignments, so investment and commitment are required. The duration depends on the individual, some people prefer to work faster, while others opt for more reflection time. Both methods have value.
For Dancer Index – Exploration, students get to understand themselves on a fundamentally deeper level while learning about the 130+ industries in the workforce. The payoff is substantial: every student receives 60–80 career options on average, all tailored to their unique profile, and that’s only by session three. So you can imagine all the possibilities.
For Dancer Index – Preparation, the timeline may be a bit more aggressive, with students typically approaching us when they have a role in mind or are actively seeking employment. The skills obtained through this stage are instrumental for any job search scenario, but it’s also about what sets the student apart and helps them build confidence and ability throughout the process. It’s not just for a single time they are seeking employment.
Our graduates leave with a comprehensive plan to successfully pivot into their desired fields. I also personally check in with each of them to ensure they maintain momentum in their career transition.”
Pivot Pointe provides a wealth of resources, from advice to career insights. What do you consider the top three concerns for individuals contemplating a career transition?
“Career transition is a rebranding opportunity for dancers, but it’s not often seen that way. Dancers are not starting from zero. I would say the top three concerns are a lack of preparation, financial planning, and network—but they all work in tandem with one another.
In stressing the importance of preparation, the flip side is a lack of direction or being lost in the process over and over again. It’s like flying in a plane without a destination. Doing the foundational work and exploring oneself is the fundamental first step.
Your time and money should also matter. A career transition that lacks direction can have a negative outcome for one’s timeline and finances. If you have a financial cushion, it means you can start that course or degree or take an unpaid internship, but without that buffer, it’s going to be a real struggle not to mention a delay.
On the topic of networking, it also takes preparation and investment to build and cultivate new connections and relationships. The power of connections can take the shape of getting an introduction, securing a job that hasn’t been advertised yet, or bypassing applicant tracking systems (ATS) with your resume, going directly to the top of the hiring manager’s desk. Being able to give an elevator pitch to a new connection, or sending your resume (not a dance CV) to a prospective employer the same day following an introduction, speaks volumes about someone’s character and capabilities.”
Could you share three diverse success stories illustrating how Pivot Pointe has tailored its support to individual needs?
“I’m fully invested in every one of our students, so it’s a challenge to just highlight three! But I can share a few examples. We had one graduate who wanted to pursue movement direction and producing, so upon finishing the program, I pitched them for a prospective project, helping develop their client relations skills, which are integral to being a creative. Shortly after, they created their own website with various offerings and secured a paid role supporting a renowned choreographer on the branding of a new production. Despite these successes, they are passionate and committed to dancing full-time for the foreseeable future.
You can see her website here* and how strongly she has been able to market her skills and interests.
Another student is currently planning for retirement and is in the process of narrowing down their top career choices from 90 options! As they are interested in remaining in dance and sports, we are exploring complementary skills they can add to their repertoire. They’ve already secured a post-retirement job and are very much on their way to a successful transition.
Another alumnus, who completed the program years ago, recently retired and is now working for us plus a new tech start-up, acquired through our network, advancing themselves in marketing and operations. This dancer was initially uncertain about their career transition before the program and saved thousands of dollars by avoiding a dance certification that they later realised didn’t align with their future goals.
We’ve also developed partnerships and projects with dance institutions, and we’re currently in our second year collaborating with a prominent ballet company, which—by initiating the conversation early and with leadership buy-in—is revolutionary. The entire organisation benefits: it becomes a more desirable workplace, increases employee retention, increases loyalty and productivity, and creates happier dancers both on and off stage.”
How can people follow Pivot Pointe and find more information?
“People can learn more about us at www.pivot-pointe.com or reach out via our contact page. We’re also active on Instagram (@pivotpointe), Facebook (@pivotpointeltd) and LinkedIn – so feel free to send us a direct message. We are always happy to connect!”
By Renata Ogayar of Dance Informa.
*Shared with permission from Sophie Zoricic, First Artist at Queensland Ballet.
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