Lindenwood University dance students recently had the opportunity to step into the professional world through a workshop hosted by Carnival Cruise Line Entertainment. Led by industry professionals Elijah Avraham, Corinne Smith, and DJ Grigsby, the event gave students a firsthand look at what it takes to succeed in dance careers beyond college.
Avraham, the production show supervisor for Carnival Cruises Entertainment, has a career that spans choreography, directing, and performing. He spoke about the realities of pursuing dance professionally, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and self-investment.
“You can’t wait for the perfect opportunity to come to you. You have to create your own opportunities,” Avraham said. “The audition doesn’t start in the building. It starts the moment you wake up. People are watching you before you even walk through the door.”
That level of awareness and preparation was something the students quickly experienced in the fast-paced workshop. The dancers were taken through an across-the-floor routine, designed to simulate an audition-style environment where they had to pick up choreography quickly and execute it with precision. Following that, they learned a full routine from a closer of a Carnival production show, pushing their ability to retain movement, perform with confidence, and showcase their stage presence under pressure.
Smith, the casting supervisor for Playlist Productions, oversees singers and aerialists for Carnival and shared her own journey from training in Scotland to working internationally.
She highlighted the importance of preparation, something she stressed as essential for anyone looking to land a professional job. “The worst thing you can do is go in and they’re like, ‘We asked you to prepare a song,’ and you had no idea because you didn’t read the breakdown,” she said. “Be as prepared as possible.”
For dancers, that preparation goes beyond just knowing the choreography. Grigsby, the casting associate who primarily handles dancers, explained how his career path took him from theme park performances to the cruise industry and eventually to his role in casting.
“Don’t pigeonhole yourself into thinking, ‘I only want to do Broadway’ or ‘I only want to do tours,’” Grigsby said. He encouraged students to explore all available opportunities and not limit themselves to just one aspect of the industry. “There are so many other venues and job opportunities. You just have to trust yourself and go for it.”
Grigsby was back in his old stomping ground, as the Dallas native is a Lindenwood alum and reminisced fondly about his time in the Lindenwood dance program.
“I graduated in 2017. That’s where I got all of my performance training and my business training,” Grigsby said, “I’m very grateful to come full circle around and come back here.”
For Lindenwood students the workshop was a valuable glimpse into what the industry looks like after college and got a taste of what a real audition might look like.
“Learning how fast you have to pick up choreography and perform it right away was really challenging,” Georgia Johnson, a musical theater BFA with a minor in dance said. “It’s not just about technique, but about selling yourself as a performer.”
“I would say that probably the speed of it all, learning the combinations really quickly, was a little challenging,” Emma Maxey, a senior dance BFA with a minor in business, said about what surprised her the most about the workshop. “Going into this new kind of theatrical, dramatic kind of cruise line dancing and performance was a fun new experience, and it was great to experience.”
The idea of building a personal brand also resonated with students and gave them a new perspective on how they should look to market themselves post graduation.
“You have to have the footage, and you have to put yourself in front of the people you want. To buy into your brand, like I always have to tell dancers you are a brand. So you have to market yourself like your Coca Cola,” Avraham said “You are also the creative mind, but you’re also the talent, which is much harder than just being the dancer or just being the singer.”
The Carnival team also spoke about the fast-paced nature of the industry and the need to stay adaptable. They wish they could do more workshops, much of their time is spent traveling for auditions and working with current talent. “We travel like crazy,” Smith said. “For the next two months, every week, every other week, we’re in a different city, a different country, looking for talent.”
With such a demanding schedule, the ability to take corrections and improve quickly is a skill every professional needs. “You’re going to mess up, and that’s okay,” Avraham said. “I’ve messed up a lot in my career, but those moments are what set you up for success. The key is to keep going.”
Grigsby summed it up best when he encouraged students to take the leap. “Go for it. Have fun. Don’t be scared to mess up,” he said. “you have to trust that those mess ups are setting you up for success.”
For students preparing to graduate, the event served as a reminder that there are many paths to success in the performing arts. Johnson and Maxey both said they are considering a variety of post-graduation opportunities, including dance companies, cruise lines, and musical theater.
“I’m really looking at some contemporary dance companies, but also cruise lines,” Maxey said. “Maybe even getting into some musical theater if that comes along, but really just trying to find something where I can dance and have fun with it.”
Johnson expressed the same excitement about auditioning for many different possibilities and taking what she learned at the workshop and taking it to the next level.
In addition to the dance workshop, Carnival also hosted a vocal workshop for students interested in professional singing careers as well as having an audition the following day for interested students.
