# 25. how to thrive as a freelance dancer ft Gena Brady

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/kicking-it-real-7560311/25-how-to-thrive-as-a-freelance-dancer-ft-gena-brady
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/kicking-it-real-7560311/25-how-to-thrive-as-a-freelance-dancer-ft-gena-brady.md
Podcast: [Kicking It Real](https://stenobird.com/podcast/kicking-it-real-7560311)
Published: 2026-03-25T10:18:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kicking-it-real-podcast/episodes/25--how-to-thrive-as-a-freelance-dancer-ft-Gena-Brady-e3gjbas
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/10ad936d0/podcast/play/117074716/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-2-17%2F420222849-44100-2-a71e972b07f64.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/kicking-it-real-7560311/episodes/25-how-to-thrive-as-a-freelance-dancer-ft-gena-brady
Duration seconds: 3962

## Resource

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Gena Brady; a fellow WMU alum, freelance dancer, and aerialist who has truly built a career on her own terms. From dancing in Chicago to performing on cruise ships and now navigating freelance work, Gena shares what it actually looks like to create a sustainable life in dance without following just one path. We talk about the transition out of college, the reality of cruise ship contracts (including what no one tells you), and how staying open to opportunities can completely change the direction of your career. Gena also shares how she found aerial, built a freelance network, and what it really takes to maintain consistency when you’re your own boss. This conversation gets into the business side of being a dancer too; advocating for yourself, understanding your worth, navigating contracts, and how to actually get booked. If you’ve ever felt like there’s only one “right” way to make it in dance, this episode will challenge that and open your perspective to what’s possible. If you’re an aspiring professional dancer, navigating auditions, or figuring out your next step... this episode will give you both the mindset and the practical insight to move forward with more clarity. Stay in the loop with me 👇🏼🤍 Instagram: @kickingitrealpod @potentiallygabby TikTok: @potentiallygabby Episode requests: kickingitrealpod@gmail.com Find Gena here👇🏼 IG/TT: @genabrady

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## Transcript

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