We were lucky to catch up with Caitlyn Hydeck recently and have shared our conversation below.

Caitlyn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I have danced my entire life but I became serious about making my dream my profession when I was in high school. I went on to get my BFA in dance and performance at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro (despite the doubts people close to me had). Once I arrived, I knew I had made the best choice for myself and my future. I was like a kid in a candy store. I explored all kinds of dance styles like breakin’, poppin’, lockin’ and my more technical styles like contemporary, hip hop, tap, ballet and jazz. My philosophy has always been to learn as much as I could about every style. This way I could walk into any room and be able to showcase my skillset and contribute to the dance community.

I have been working in this field officially since I was 19 years old. I was signed to my first agency while being a full time student. Looking back, I remember being so excited by the possibility of becoming a professional performer. Everything was so exciting, so last minute, so “on the spot.” This is when I learned how to become consistent in my training and refine the art of improvisation. Whether it was talking to someone in my field, or having to showcase my skills to land a job. I believe through that consistency and time that I put into those skills, I have been able to make a living being a choreographer, educator and performer.

After my four years were complete, I graduated, and that can be quite jarring. I went from having my days structured to the hour to having to plan my schedule for my life in the world. I moved back home and got my very first waitressing job. Here, I learned to make conversation with all kinds of people from many walks of life. I figured that while I was auditioning and looking for where I wanted to contribute in the arts space, I needed to make money. Although dance is my source of income now, I know that my side hustles prepared me to speak to large audiences and make a genuine exchange with another person, no matter their background.

I went on to have a number of restaurant jobs while starting to teach at a few different studios and joining a dance company. One of the moments that stood out to me during this time was when I was continuing to study and perform and teach all kinds of dance styles. I was told to “stay in one lane”, to “pick a specialty.” Something I know about myself very well now is that I love all kinds of dance and variety. I want to be able to walk in a room and participate in any style I come across. I now am booked all the time for knowing how to teach Jazz, Street Jazz, a variety of Hip Hop styles, Contemporary, Improvisation, Heels and artistic development. The one thing people tried to deter me from, is now my super power. This mindset has always served me in that instead of shying away from a challenge or something new, I run at it. Full speed. No seatbelt.

After working a lot of side jobs (bar tender, waitress, barista, personal trainer, etc.) I had finally gotten to a point where I was doing so much running around in one day, that I said to myself “I will make my living solely from my dance knowledge”. I feel like once you speak those things into existence, something happens. You make a decision for yourself and all of the little decisions you make every day change a little too. You take more risks. You leave the jobs or situations that don’t serve you anymore. You choose the path where growth is inevitable (even if you feel like you’re jumping of a cliff).

So I stopped waitressing, I quit my studio jobs and I became a head dance coach at Fairfield University. Shortly after I landed a job as an adjunct professor in the Sacred Heart University dance program. I stuck with Fairfield U for about 5 years but I have been with Sacred Heart since 2018. Now I’m the associate Dean of dance at The Norwalk Conservatory for young professionals. I get to teach college students every day and help them to achieve their dreams in REAL TIME. How exciting! I’ve met so many professionals that I have worked with for years that have helped me develop my choreography skills through theater, stage performances and entertainment. I’ve even learned how to teach theater and acting skills to kids all over the state.

The bottom line for me came when I stopped asking myself “why me?” and replaced it with “why not me?” One job led to another. One risk led me to more. I began to really believe in myself and the knowledge I could pass on to my students and peers. I believed in my choreography skills and how many styles I could perform and teach. I didn’t just stay in my lane because people told me to. I made my OWN.

Caitlyn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Dance is just something I have always been drawn to and it felt natural to move on to get my BFA in Dance and Performance and to pursue a career in the arts. I think the first major steps I took into the industry as a young adult were getting signed to an agency, going to auditions and teaching at different studios in the area. I explored different classes, talked to different people in the field and started to build relationships with artists. This is really important when you’re working as a creative. If not for the great connection and artistic exchange, then what else?

When I started my journey as a teacher for studios in the styles of Hip Hop, Contemporary, Jazz and Street Jazz. I began creating routines for them that were for stage performances or competitions. During this process, I realized that I had a knack for helping people understand how to move, where it comes from and how to execute without inhibitions (or at least quieting them). I was getting a lot of positive feedback from my mentors, peers and audiences for my works which led me to creating more and developing my skills as a choreographer. I now choreograph for dance teams, dance companies, theater companies and colleges all over the U.S.

Creative development has become a big part of how I teach and how I help performers to become their best selves, as humans and as movers. One of my strongest skills is being able to create a safe environment for artists to grow and experiment. I believe this to be pertinent to developing a strong dancer. One that knows themself and can creatively tackle any obstacle that comes their way. On the flip side, I am also able to instill precision and creating good habits while dancing. This comes from my training on dance teams my whole life and working under the many professionals that trained me. I’m known as being a “clean” dancer. I teach dancers how to move efficiently by using their energy and power correctly while performing to the best of their ability. This is not just important for performance sake but also safety. I truly believe in strengthening a dancer from the ground up.

I think what sets me apart from other choreographers and teachers is that I am always looking at my class as an experience. Not just the workshops or one-offs that happen somewhere outside of my bubble, but my classes every single day. I aim for genuine exchange that happens between people that is palpable. I help dancers get past their insecurities and start connecting with each other (and themselves) in a real way. I believe that psychology plays a huge part in what I do and to ignore it is missing a huge piece of the puzzle. I ask a lot of questions and I incorporate a lot of critical thinking skills while I teach. I believe in the performer figuring out very personal answers for themselves, themselves! I have seen this carry out into my students lives in their everyday lives. I’m very proud of the people they become and being able to help them get there is something I hold close to my heart.

I am always drawn to the performers that are connecting with each other. That are creating their own little world that the audience wants to be a part of. I love being able to foster that skill and help performers become their most strong yet vulnerable self in the classes I offer. I love being able to make movers feel confident and try something new whether it be a style or frame of mind. I’m really proud of how my students transform during a class and really dive in head first by the end. I think that finding that bravery and watching this transformation is so special.

I’m also really proud of how I have learned to create and trust my process. I am able to create something meaningful to me and to the group or individual I’m working with. I have developed the skill to create something that really showcases a dancer. As I’ve mentioned before, I think my brand is based mainly around how I can teach and choreograph a lot of styles and bring out the best in each dancer.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I had decided that I wanted to go to school for dance, my journey was not easy. I had bounced around different studios and had been inconsistent in my technical training for a number of years. This meant that when I got to high school, I had to clean up my technique, and fast. I was very diligent in applying all of my notes in ballet and modern classes and taking in a lot of constructive criticism that at times was very overwhelming. I would go home and cry from the pressure I was putting on myself and just the deep desire to become better so that I could accomplish my dream of becoming a professional dancer. When I shared my desire to go to school for dance, it was not always met with encouragement. It was met with doubt from teachers that I had who weren’t sure I had what it took. It came from family members. It came from friends that asked me what I would do as a “real job”. Instead of letting them get to me, I let them fuel me. I think it’s a fire that has stuck with me through out my entire career. Of course, I am human and some things get under my skin like everyone else. But when that’s over, my drive is full force in the opposite direction.

Despite the doubts, the extra training I had to work through and the rollercoaster of emotions, I was getting better as a dancer. I applied to different schools and auditioned to get in their programs. I landed a spot at my top school and I have never felt so relieved, reassured and excited for what my future held. I’ve let this process inform a lot of my risk taking as a professional.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish that I had realized the value of a mentor when I was on my journey to becoming a dancer. Being that no one in my family had taken this path before (I’m the only dancer in my family) I was kind of on my own. Of course I was surrounded by excellent teachers with great advice, but I never considered what might happen if I had narrowed down my choices. If I had picked someone, or several people, to ask questions, to follow their path that looked similar to what I wanted for myself. I think as a younger person there is also a certain amount of ego involved. I think as this falls away you can truly understand the knowledge that is presented to you and how to use it. I think it’s also important to understand that people usually do want to help, all you have to do is ask.

Contact Info:

• Website: caitlynhydeck@gmail.com
• Instagram: @ccdeck
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caitlyn.hydeck
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlyn-hydeck-73000352/

Image Credits

Darcey Stone
Shauna Skopek
Steven Lopez