This dancer started his career by paying it forward

From November to December of 2025, jobs openings in the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector shrank by 18,000, according to the latest employment data.

With that kind of downswing, it’s challenging for professionals to find a job in their field — let alone get their foot in the door. And it doesn't help that taking classes from an early age to hone an artistic craft can be prohibitively expensive.

These days, Joe González is a performing artist and co-associate artistic director at Complexions Contemporary Ballet in New York City as well as the co-founder and artistic director of Jo-Mé Dance Theatre in Boston. When he started dance at 11 though, financing that passion was difficult.

“Back then, we couldn’t afford the $1,000-a-month ballet classes that were offered,” González said. “And so the director there was like, ‘We can work with you with whatever you have.’”

Listen in the player above to hear how he paid that forward and how he financed his own creative endeavors.