Madonna's ballet

Madonna's ballet teacher persuaded Madonna to pursue a career in dance, so Madonna left the college at the end of 1977 and relocated to New York City.

Madonna had little money and for some time lived in squalor, working at Dunkin' Donuts and with modern dance troupes. Speaking of Madonna' move to New York, she said, "It was the first time I'd ever taken a plane, the first time I'd ever gotten a taxi cab. I came here with $35 in my pocket. It was the bravest thing I'd ever done."

While performing as a dancer for the French disco artist Patrick Hernandez on his 1979 world tour, she became romantically involved w/ the musician Dan Gilroy, w/ whom Madonna later formed her first rock band, the Breakfast Club, in New York. In it, Madonna sang and played drums and guitar before forming the band Emmy in 1980 with drummer and former boyfriend Stephen Bray.

Madonna and Bray wrote and produced dance songs that brought her local attention in New York dance clubs. Disc jockey and record producer Mark Kamins was impressed by her demo recordings, so he brought her to the attention of Sire Records founder Seymour Stein.