We were lucky to catch up with Paige Borowski recently and have shared our conversation below.

Paige, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been 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? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Earning a full-time living by working as a creative was truthfully never something I worried about as I grew up training for a career in the arts. I had parents that supported my decision to dance professionally, earned a BFA in dance from one of the world’s most prestigious performing arts schools, and yet my primary focus was always the work itself; without a mention of how this work could support my life financially. It wasn’t until I had graduated from school, began my professional career, and even went through a career transition that I began to understand just how unique of a system earning a living in the arts truly is. As many artists, I never thought it was possible to create a financially fulfilling future for myself, but I have learned trough the natural trial and error of any entrepreneurial endeavor, that committing yourself to studying your finances and consistently assessing where there is room for improvement that a bright future for a professional in the arts is not only possible but something to demand in every job you do every day.
This is also something I prioritize in my work as a dance educator. I want young dancers to understand their rights, know that financial success is possible, and actively work towards creating a more lucrative industry for all dance artists in the future.

Paige, 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?

My name is Paige Borowski and I am the Founder and Director of Collegiate Arts Prep, a college consulting agency developed entirely FOR dancers BY dancers. Collegiate Arts Prep (CAP) works with young dancers, grades 7-12, to help establish their goals for collegiate dance as well as train them in preparation for their desired program auditions. We are a team of six consultants, located across the nation, that are individually paired with our students to provide highly personalized experience and mentorship. Our services as consultants include informational sessions that present dancers with information on college dance and helping them figure out what programs are best fits for them, program-specific technique privates to train them for upcoming auditions, and application guidance to assist in creating strong submissions for some of the most competitive summer intensives and college dance programs in the world. CAP also offers access to our in-house writing and grant specialist for applications and our in-house videographer for pre-screen and audition reel creation.

I was drawn to create this business after serving as the Dance Director for a private high school in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California during the pandemic. I met remarkable young artists who were looking to me for guidance, advice, and training for collegiate dance programs. I found that not only was I able to help my dancers, but I truly found a joy and a passion in the work; thus CAP was born! It has been an incredible journey from where we began to where we are today, on the verge of an exciting expansion into our own collective training program.

In the spring we rounded out our first official audition, application, and acceptance season with some thrilling student accomplishments we could not be prouder of. Come the summer and fall we have students committed to programs at USC, NYU, The Juilliard School, LMU, University of Michigan, Virginia Tech, Chapman University, Pace University, CalPoly SLO, and more. Having the privilege to be a part of this journey for our students and watching their dreams come true before our eyes is our “why” and we could not be more grateful.

This fall, CAP will be launching it’s own collective training program for it’s very first season! We are thrilled to be providing safe, supportive, and collegiate-level training to dancers of Orange County, CA and look forward to the continued development of this exiting project. You can follow our journey on our website for any of our social media platforms!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams to have studied underneath some of the world’s most brilliant artists and teachers. They have inspired me and touched my life in a way that has deeply shaped the woman and dancer that I am today. One teacher that has had a particularly special impact on my life was my Graham Technique teacher at The Juilliard School, Terese Capucilli. She once mentioned that she would be acting in vain if she held for herself all the priceless information Martha had gifted her; and this passion she held for teaching never failed to exude out of every pore of hers throughout the entirety of my studies. I have never forgotten these words nor her unmatched passion and strive to continue to pass on all of the incredible knowledge, technique, and experience I have had the opportunity to accumulate in my career to my own students.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Without a doubt the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative is the unrivaled pride that comes with the realization that you have completely organically put something into the world that has the ability to make an impact on a person, a community, an industry, and even the world at large, that was not there before. How incredible is this concept?! I can recount by name numerous pieces of artwork, photography, musical scores, and ballets that have shifted the way I think about the world and approach my life. The conceptualization of these works all began in the mind of brilliant artists, but their impact lives and echos far beyond into countries and continents they never imagined. The influence of these works inspires more art and more creation, which then continues to influence more and more art in society. It is one of the most positive domino effects that this world holds and I feel honored to be a part of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.collegiateartsprep.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegiateartsprep/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/collegiateartsprep

Image Credits
Photos by Delaney Finnegan and Matthew Lorenz Photos of CAP students and CAP Guest Faculty