This weekend, I finished my last day of shooting for the new series “Steady Mobbin” for The Dance Network! I briefly talked about it last week, but to quickly re-cap, I was booked for two episodes: 7 & 10. We filmed episode 7 a few weeks ago, and episode 10 on Saturday.

When I got home that night, I started thinking to myself about where I was last year… Last year at this time, I was dropped by my dance agency (my old one now,) and I was devastated. I had just moved into an apartment that was down the street from their office building and I got an email the day after I moved in, with the subject line: “Representation: Hayley Larue.” Without even opening it, I knew exactly what it was. I cried after I read the email and thought that was my sign that I needed to just give it up and get and office job like everyone else. I always feared being dropped by them because they were such a big agency. But because they were so big, I felt so honored to have been chosen by them… So when I did get signed by them, I thought this was it. I was set, and I would start booking dance jobs left and right. Little did I know, they would not be the right fit for me. They very rarely sent me out on auditions, and when they would, it would be something where literally every dancer was sent out on it, so it was nothing special. I would hear my friends talk about auditions from other weeks, where it would be for all short blondes with a gymnastics background, and I would be like “WHAT?! How did I not get called out on that?! That is literally me!” I always knew they weren’t a good fit for me, but I didn’t have the guts to end my contract with them because I felt it was an honor to be represented by one of the biggest dance agencies.

Anyway, for two months, I was without an agent and went on no auditions, and the only thing I could think about was what auditions I was missing out on. I hated not being in the “know,” being that I live in LA… Then one night, I had a dream. (lol.) I was on stage as a backup dancer for an artist and when I woke up, I knew that getting dropped wasn’t my sign to move on, it was a sign that I needed to move on from that particular agency because they weren’t helping me grow. My gut feeling had always been right, but I was too scared to follow it, so being dropped is what needed to happen, otherwise, I know I would STILL be with them if it wasn’t for that!

In January (2015), I saw that the agency I was thinking about auditioning for was holding auditions at the end of the month. I told myself I was going to get signed with them, without a doubt…..I auditioned, and received a call 3 days later. And you guys, it was the biggest blessing in disguise having to start over and find new representation. My new agency has gone above and beyond to keep me busy, and I had booked more jobs within a 3 month span with them than I had in the two years I was with my old agency… I didn’t anticipate this post to be so long, but I just had to share! There truly is nothing in the world like being able to do what you love as your job. So I hope this inspires some of you to keep going, and as cheesy and cliche as this is… when a door closes, know that an even better door is waiting for you to open it!

Coat: c/o SheIn   |   Dress: c/o AX Paris   |   Shoes: Forever 21   |   Necklace: c/o Alta Chic