Complete guide to creating and publishing your professional dancer profile on Taalika.
Prerequisites: You need the Organizer role to create dancer profiles. If you don't have this role, get in touch to request it.
What is a Dancer Profile?
A dancer profile is your professional portfolio on Taalika. It showcases your dance journey, achievements, performances, and connects you with the Odissi community. Unlike your personal account profile, dancer profiles are designed to be public-facing and discoverable.
Step-by-Step: Creating Your Profile
Step 1: Navigate to Dancer Profiles
Log in to your Taalika account
Click "My Taalika" in the main navigation
From the sidebar, select "Dancers" or "Profiles"
Click the "Create Dancer Profile" button
Screenshot: My Taalika Dancers page with "Create Dancer Profile" button
Step 2: Choose Profile Ownership
The first important decision is the "Owned By" dropdown. This determines who owns and can manage the profile:
Personal: Profile belongs to you individually
[Organization Name]: Profile belongs to your organization (if you're part of one)
Screenshot: "Owned By" dropdown showing Personal and Organization options
Important: You cannot change the ownership after creation. Choose carefully! If you need to change ownership later, you'll have to use the "Transfer Ownership" feature.
Step 3: Fill Basic Information
Enter the core details about the dancer:
Name: Full name of the dancer (required)
Artist Type: Select "Dancer" or "Guru" (default: Dancer)
Schools: Add institutions where you trained (comma-separated)
Gurus Linked: Search and link to existing guru profiles on Taalika
Schools Linked: Search and link to existing school profiles
Tip: Linking to existing profiles helps build connections and makes your profile more discoverable. If your guru or school isn't on Taalika yet, just use the text fields.
Step 5: Choose a Template
Select a visual template for your profile. Four options available:
Traditional: Classic layout with elegant styling
Modern: Contemporary design with bold elements
Notebook: Personal, diary-style layout
Scrapbook: Creative, collage-inspired design
Screenshot: Template selector showing all four template options with previews
You can change the template later, so don't worry about making the perfect choice now.
Step 6: Upload Images
Profile Image: Your main photo (square format works best)
Banner Image: Header image for your profile (wide format, 1920x600px recommended)
After uploading the banner, use the image adjuster to position it perfectly.
Screenshot: Banner image adjuster showing drag and zoom controls
Step 7: Add Contact Information (Optional)
Profile Email: Public contact email
Profile Phone: Contact phone number
Social Links: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc.
Privacy Note: Only add contact information you're comfortable sharing publicly. These details will be visible to all Taalika users.
Step 8: Customize Theme (Optional)
Choose a color theme for your profile. Options include teal, purple, orange, and more. This affects the accent colors throughout your profile.
Step 9: Save as Draft or Publish
You have two options:
Save Draft: Keep the profile private while you continue editing
Publish: Make the profile public and discoverable
It's recommended to save as draft first, add all your content (journey, gallery, etc.), and then publish when everything is complete.
Screenshot: Profile builder with Save Draft and Publish buttons
After Creating Your Profile
Adding More Content
Once your profile is created, you can enhance it with:
Dance Journey: Timeline of milestones and achievements
Gallery: Photos and videos of performances
Key Highlights: Notable accomplishments
Certificates: Awards and recognitions
Performances: List of significant performances
Editing Your Profile
To edit your profile later:
Go to My Taalika → Dancers
Find your profile in the list
Click the Edit button
Make your changes
Click Save
Preview Before Publishing
Use the Preview button to see how your profile looks to others before publishing. This helps you catch any formatting issues or missing information.
Profile Best Practices
✓ Use high-quality, clear images
✓ Write a compelling "About Me" that tells your story
✓ Link to gurus and schools when possible
✓ Keep information current and up-to-date
✓ Add media to showcase your performances
✓ Choose ownership carefully (Personal vs Organization)
✓ Complete all sections for a professional appearance
Common Questions
Can I create multiple dancer profiles?
Yes! You can create multiple profiles for different purposes (e.g., one for classical dance, another for contemporary). Use the organization filter to manage them easily.
What's the difference between Artist Type: Dancer vs Guru?
Choose "Guru" if you're primarily a teacher. This adds a teaching badge and increases visibility in guru searches. You can be both a dancer and guru by creating separate profiles or marking "Is Guru" on your dancer profile.
Can I import profile data from another website?
Yes! Use the "Import from Web" feature to automatically populate your profile from an existing website. This saves time and ensures accuracy.
Troubleshooting
Can't see the Create button
You need the Organizer role. Ask for it from the Contact Us page.