24

The case of dancers discussed in this article illustrates the way in which a public institution, tasked to support the development of a sector of activity, may try to accompany professional transitions by a mechanism centred on a discussion group. Conducted through interviews and observant participation, this study uncovers the discrepancies between the organization and the wishes of appropriation shown by the beneficiaries. More broadly, through the tension between “main status” and “subordinate status”, this article shows the issues surrounding the thinking about the artists’ professional identity and their categorizations.