Summary Freelance dancers work in a field that requires extraordinary creativity and performance. However, it is also characterized by project-based work with a high degree of uncertainty. This tension raises the question of how dancers position themselves in this field of work and how their professional biographies develop. We examined the professional biographies of six freelance contemporary dancers using biographical interviews and timeline drawing. The data were analyzed via career sociological theories. Dancers’ biographies were found to progress through four phases of development, from initial contact with dance to „becoming a professional dancer.“ Despite individual differences, all of the dancers developed several parallel professional paths alongside a fluid understanding of their roles. Turning points and continuous challenges were further typical features of the professional biographies, reflecting the precarious structural conditions of the arts and culture industry. The study provides unique insights into the professional career experiences of freelance dancers and the biographical ramifications of unstable working conditions for artists.
Kößler et al. (Mon,) studied this question.