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Dance

Interested in Dance? Click on the links below.

Dance Career Details

Professional dance covers three main areas – classical ballet, contemporary dance, and musical theatre or modern stage dance (which includes jazz and tap, and often also involves acting and singing). Other fields are also growing in popularity, such as African and Asian dance styles and street dance. Professional dancers usually specialise in one area, and may perform live, or on TV or music videos.

Usually, dancers will interpret the work of a choreographer, although in some cases improvisation may be required. As well as performing, dancers spend a lot of time rehearsing, and also maintaining their skills and fitness, which they need to do even when not involved in a performance.

Many dancers combine performance with other related work such as teaching or working on projects in schools and colleges.

Social dancing, such as ballroom, disco and line dancing, is usually done as a recreational activity, although there may be a few opportunities to perform for profit on stage, TV and in competitions.

Working Environment

Work as a dancer is strenuous and involves long hours, with rehearsals and practice during the day and performances in the evenings. Travel is often involved, touring in the UK and possibly abroad. It is often necessary to re-locate to find work.

Performances take place in a range of venues, including theatres, film and TV studios, nightclubs and cabarets, hotels, halls and on cruise ships, so facilities will vary. Rehearsals may be in purpose-built studios or more basic locations.

Dance Related Skills

To be a dancer you should:

be talented and creative
have a good sense of rhythm and timing
be enthusiastic, determined and prepared to work extremely hard
be able to maintain focus and concentration
have the ability to memorise complicated routines
have flexibility, for example to deal with cast changes and different venues
have a high level of fitness, stamina and resilience
have the ability to work well with others.

Dance Career Opportunities

This type of work is very competitive, and periods of unemployment and under-employment are common.

Most dancers work initially in the corps de ballet in classical ballet, or as part of a small company or chorus. Progression to soloist or principal may be possible, but these opportunities are limited, requiring high levels of talent and hard work.

Employers include a range of companies, such as ballet companies and contemporary dance companies. Dancers may perform in musical shows in the theatre, in clubs and cabarets in the UK and abroad, or on cruise ships. Some dancers set up their own companies, possibly with funding from the Arts Councils.

Career development usually involves moving into other areas, or combining these with performance.

Many dancers move into teaching, in the public and private sectors. Some may run their own dance schools. Please see the Dance Teacher profile for more information.

Dancers may also move into areas such as choreography (see Choreographer profile), dance movement therapy (see profile), or dance administration and management, or take courses in journalism and do freelance work such as writing reviews of performances.

Further Career Information

If you would like to know more about a career as an Dance related facts, statistics, articles and websites.

Career Steps

Not quite sure about a career as a Dance? Try our step-by-step career guide to reaching your chosen career.

Career Courses

Not quite qualified to be a Dance? Take a look at Training Dance courses, Postgraduate Dance courses, Undergraduate Dance courses, Adult learning Dance courses, Adult learning Dance courses, Adult learning Dance courses, our course browses or use our search form and find courses which will help you on your chosen career path.

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