From family trips to a week-long cruise with friends, time aboard a luxury ship is nothing more than a vacation for most people. But in February of 2008, a cruise ship became the home for dance teacher Sarah Cadungug.

“I had graduated college in 2007,” Cadungug said. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher but I wanted to keep professionally dancing because I didn’t feel like I was ready.”

Not sure where she was going to be able to continue her dancing career, she got a tip on where she might be able to pursue her passion.

“My friend had told me about cruise ships so I flew out to Los Angeles one weekend,” Cadungug said. “I auditioned for a company called Stiletto Entertainment who were with Holland America Cruise Line.”

Getting the gig, it would be a big part of her life for several years. 

“I danced on cruise ships for four years until 2011,” Cadungug said. “I was part of a cast, so we put on big production-styled shows with dancers and singers that were usually an hour long.” 

Sarah didn’t just dance, she danced to a story.

“We had tons of costumes because our shows would tell a story and it had a theme,” Cadungug said. “Plus, I did all sorts of dancing such as jazz, hip hop, tap, ballet, and pointe.”

In order to prepare, the dancers would train vigorously.

“We would usually have to learn everything in two months in an apartment,” Cadungug said. “We would have to work six days a week for almost 12 hours just dancing, but it was easy because we would repeat the same show all throughout the cruise.”

Even though she was doing the same show, she got to see different parts of the world including Mexico, Alaska, Sweden, Italy, and Spain. 

Often gone for nine months at a time, she missed out on things back home, but she doesn’t have many regrets. . 

“Being gone from your family and friends for so long was what was negative,” Cadungug said. “However, I would come home for two to three months but I feel like I missed a lot. I was definitely able to live my 20’s traveling the world and having fun. It was such an awesome experience and I loved every bit of it.”