By Macey Misa
Balancing the Court, the Classroom and the Reality Behind the Glamour
Under the bright lights of Scotiabank Arena, on a movie set, or in the studio, professional dancers move in perfect synchronization as thousands of fans cheer around them. The routines look effortless, energetic, polished, and glamorous. For most viewers, these performances are simply part of the entertainment that surrounds professional sports. But behind those few minutes on the court is a demanding reality that most people never see. For Kaia Esnard, that reality includes balancing the physically intense world of professional dance with the equally demanding expectations of university life. A member of the Toronto Raptors Dance ‘North Side Crew’ and a student at 첥Ƶ’s Schulich School of Business, Kaia navigates two very different environments every day. On one side is the structured, career-oriented world of business school. On the other hand, the fast-paced, constantly shifting industry of professional dance. Managing both at the same time requires extraordinary discipline, adaptability, and resilience.
A Life Built on Dance
Dance has been a part of Kaia’s life for as long as she can remember. She began training at the age of three and quickly immersed herself in multiple styles, including jazz, tap, ballet, contemporary, modern, and lyrical. As her skills developed, dance became more than a hobby. By fourteen, she had already begun teaching, sharing her experience with younger students while continuing to train competitively. Her dedication eventually led her to graduate from Vlad’s Dance Company in 2024, where she refined the technical foundation required for professional work. Since then, Kaia has built an impressive portfolio across television, film, and live performances. She has worked with well-known choreographers such as Jamal Sims, Amanda May, Molly Long, Wade Robson, and Bizzy Boom. Her on-screen appearances include projects like 13: The Musical and I Woke Up a Vampire on Netflix, Warner Bros.’ Trap, and Apple Studios’ Circuit Breakers. She has also appeared on CityTV’s Breakfast Television and in major commercial campaigns, including a Dove Hair campaign featuring Kelly Rowland and Nike’s Air Max DN campaign. Live performance remains one of her favourite parts of the profession. Kaia has performed in productions such as Soulpepper Theatre’s A Christmas Carol, Disney’s Animation Immersive Experience, the Canadian National Exhibition’s International Stage Performance, and the Solar Fusion Showcase. In September 2025, she reached another milestone when she joined the Toronto Raptors ‘North Side Dance Crew’. Yet despite her professional success, Kaia chose to continue pursuing a university degree, a decision that has shaped how she understands both industries.
Two Worlds, One Schedule
Balancing dance and university means Kaia’s days rarely slow down. Most mornings begin early with meal preparation and packing for the day ahead. Alongside textbooks and school materials, she brings dance gear, including heels used in rehearsals and performances. After attending classes at Schulich, she often spends time between lectures studying or completing assignments before heading downtown for rehearsals. The commute itself, about an hour, becomes another opportunity to multitask. Kaia sometimes listens to recorded lectures or prepares choreography for other teaching and dance jobs while driving. Rehearsals typically last around three hours, during which dancers may learn one or two full routines in a single evening, sometimes performing them the very next day at a game. Even after rehearsal ends, the night is rarely over. Additional training sessions help maintain the physical conditioning required to perform consistently at a professional level. By the time Kaia finally drives home, it is often past midnight. Only then does she finish any remaining schoolwork before preparing for the next day, sometimes waking up just hours later for an early lecture. “It’s basically two full-time worlds,” she says. The contrast between those worlds is significant. Business school is highly structured, with clear professional expectations and long-term career planning. The dance industry, by comparison, moves quickly and unpredictably. Schedules can change week by week, and networking often happens through collaboration rather than formal professional settings. Learning to navigate both environments has required Kaia to adapt her communication style, priorities, and daily routines depending on where she is.
The Labour Behind the Performance
From the outside, professional dance can appear glamorous. But Kaia emphasizes that audiences rarely see the amount of labour required to maintain a career in the industry.
“People don’t understand the amount of work and training it takes to be a professional dancer,” she says. Professional dancers spend years developing strength, endurance, and technical precision. Maintaining that level of performance requires constant rehearsals, conditioning, and practice. Despite this physical intensity, dancers are often perceived primarily as entertainers rather than athletes. “There’s still a stigma around being called a dancer,” Kaia explains. “It’s not always taken as seriously as other professions.” This perception affects how the industry is valued. While dancers perform demanding physical and creative labour, their work is sometimes treated as supplementary entertainment rather than a profession in its own right. In Canada, organizations like ACTRA help protect performers in many areas of the arts by establishing standards for pay, working hours, and safety. However, many smaller dance jobs fall outside these protections, leaving dancers vulnerable to inconsistent expectations around compensation and scheduling. Kaia hopes that increasing awareness of the effort behind professional dance will help shift how the work is perceived.
Image and Gender Expectations
Performance is only one part of being a professional dancer. Image also plays an important role, particularly in an industry where casting decisions often consider aesthetics and branding alongside skill. Rather than being purely restrictive, these expectations can also shape how dancers develop confidence and professionalism over time. For female dancers especially, appearance becomes closely tied to opportunity, but it can also encourage a heightened awareness of presentation and self-expression. Kaia explains that as dancers transition into adulthood, they learn to embody a more polished and intentional version of themselves that aligns with industry standards. As a Raptors ‘North Side Crew’ dancer, she also represents the organization as a brand ambassador, requiring her to maintain a professional and composed image both in person and online. Over time, these expectations have translated into personal growth beyond dance. “I’m definitely more mindful now about how I carry myself,” she says, explaining that the role has helped her become more confident, improve her communication skills, and present herself in a more mature and professional way in everyday life, from how she interacts with new people to even small details like posture and styling.
How Education Changes the Perspective
Kaia believes that studying business has significantly shaped how she understands and navigates the dance industry. Her education has made her more aware of contracts, compensation structures, and broader professional expectations. “In business environments, there are standards for how people communicate and operate,” she explains. “Sometimes things that happen in creative industries wouldn’t be acceptable in other professional settings.” This awareness has not only helped her advocate more confidently for herself but has also made her more adaptable across different environments. She describes how her background allows her to adjust how she communicates and carries herself depending on the setting, whether in a studio, corporate space, or public-facing role. As a result, she feels more equipped to work with a variety of people and is trusted to take on diverse responsibilities. Beyond advocacy, her education has also strengthened practical skills that support her career, including marketing herself as an instructor and managing the administrative side of dance work. Together, these experiences highlight how combining business knowledge with creative practice can expand both professional opportunities and long-term sustainability in the industry.
Skills People Overlook
Kaia believes the discipline required to succeed in dance develops skills that extend far beyond the studio. Professional dancers build strong time-management habits, resilience, creativity, and physical awareness. The training also strengthens memory and coordination, as dancers must quickly learn and retain complex choreography. Dance communities also foster collaboration and support networks that help performers grow both professionally and personally. “Most dancers who succeed in this industry are incredibly disciplined,” Kaia says.These skills, she argues, are often overlooked by people outside the field.
Looking Forward & Advice for Young Women
While dance can be a long-term career, Kaia appreciates having multiple paths available. Rather than choosing between business and dance, she enjoys combining them. “I thrive off having different parts of my life,” she says. “I couldn’t imagine just doing one.” Balancing both allows her to pursue creative passion while developing skills that open additional professional opportunities, stimulating her mind in two completely different ways. Ultimately, Kaia hopes to see greater recognition for professional dancers and the labour involved in their work. “Just because something is artistic or enjoyable doesn’t mean it’s a hobby,” she says. Dance requires years of training, physical endurance, creativity, and dedication. “At the end of the day,” Kaia says, “dance is a professional skill, and it should be treated with respect.” For young women hoping to pursue creative careers while continuing their education, Kaia emphasizes the importance of persistence and self-advocacy. Balancing multiple ambitions can be difficult, but it is possible with discipline and determination. “You have to be ready to work hard,” she says. Her advice is simple: question expectations, know your worth and continue to fight for your dreams no matter what! Because in a world where creative labour is often misunderstood, using your voice can be just as important as mastering the performance itself.
Macey Misa is a fourth-year student in Law and Society & Criminology with a strong interest in equity, media, and professional industries. Alongside her academic work, she is involved in York's Women in Law Association as VP of Marketing. She brings a critical, interdisciplinary perspective to her writing, exploring how industries like dance intersect with professionalism, identity, and legal studies.