Dancer
What is the work like?
As a dancer you would use movement to tell stories, express emotion and interpret music. You would perform for live audiences or dance in television, film and music video productions. In most cases you would interpret the work of a choreographer, although you might also improvise movements.
You would normally specialise in one form of dance, such as:
- classical ballet
- contemporary dance
- modern stage dance (which includes jazz and tap, and may involve singing and acting in musical theatre)
- African or Asian dance
- street dance.
Performing would only be a small part of your work. You would also spend time:
- rehearsing
- preparing for and attending auditions
- attending dance classes to keep fit and maintain your skills
- promoting yourself and finding the next job.
You might combine performing with other activities such as teaching, choreography, community dance, or arts administration.
Other types of social dancing (such as ballroom or line dancing), are usually done for fun, but you may be able to make a living from these by teaching or entering professional competitions.
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You will need a high level of training and ability in at least one form of dance. Most professional dancers start taking dance classes from a young age, and often take graded exams from awarding bodies such as the British Ballet Organisation or the Royal Academy of Dance.
Classical ballet dancers in particular start training very young, usually before their teens. It is possible to make a career in contemporary dance if you start later on, if you are prepared to work hard and put in a lot of training.
Many professional dancers train at a vocational dance school, with an intensive three-year degree or diploma or a one-year postgraduate course in professional dance or musical theatre. You must be at least 16 to get onto a diploma course.
To get onto one of these professional dance courses you must pass an audition. Some dance schools also ask for A levels or BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts (Dance) to get onto a three-year degree/diploma, but this may not be essential if you show enough talent at audition. For a postgraduate course, you will need a dance-related degree. You should check exact entry requirements with each dance school.
You can find more information about accredited vocational dance courses on the Council for Dance Education and Training (CDET) website. You may be able to get funding for some of these courses through the Dance and Drama Award Scheme.
Several universities also offer degrees in dance, although some courses focus on dance administration or development rather than performance. For a university dance degree, you will usually need two A levels or equivalent qualifications. You may also need to pass a dance audition. Check exact entry requirements with course providers.
It can also be a good idea to join a local dance company to build your experience of performing. See the Foundation for Community Dance website for a directory of dance companies all over the UK.
What further training and development can I do?
As a working dancer, you will develop your skills and experience through ongoing rehearsing and performing.
You will need to take dance classes to maintain and improve your skills throughout your career, even when you are not in work. Dance schools throughout the UK offer professional courses and workshops – see the CDET website for details. You could also improve your employment prospects by taking acting or singing classes.
You may find it useful to train in other areas and to help supplement your income or to build a second career when you are no longer performing. Popular areas include:
- choreography
- dance teaching
- dance administration and management
- complementary therapies such as Pilates, massage or Alexander Technique
- yoga or fitness teaching
- dance movement therapy.
Contact Dancers’ Career Development (DCD) for advice and funding for professional dancers whose performing careers are coming to an end.
You may be able to apply for funding for professional development through national Arts Councils. Contact the Arts Councils for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland for information about funding.
Where can I go for more information?
Tel: 08080 300 900 (England and Northern Ireland)Tel: 0808 100 8094 (Scotland)
Tel: 08000 121 815 (Wales)
Lichfield
WS13 6WX
Tel: 01543 308618
Rosebery Avenue
London
EC1R 4QT
Tel: 020 7713 0730
64 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6BG
Tel: 020 7404 6141
31 Rutland Street
Leicester
LE1 1RE
Tel: 0116 253 3453
17-19 Neal Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9UY
Tel: 020 7240 5703
Upper St Martin’s Lane
London
WC2H 9EG
Tel: 020 7379 6000
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What salary and other benefits can I expect?
Your income as a dancer would depend on the amount of work you find. You would often be freelance and be paid a fee for each contract or performance.
As a member of Equity (the performers' union), you should earn at least £304 a week. Non-Equity work may pay less. See Equity’s website for more details.
What are the hours and working conditions?
You could often work long and irregular hours including evenings and weekends, with rehearsals and classes during the day and performances at night.
You might perform in a range of venues including theatres, film and TV studios, nightclubs, hotels, halls and cruise ships. The work is very physically demanding, and you would need to practice and keep yourself fit even when not performing.
Travel around the UK and overseas is common, and you may need to spend long periods away from home if you are touring.
What skills and knowledge will I need?
- talent and ability
- a good sense of rhythm and timing
- enthusiasm, determination and a hard-working attitude
- focus and concentration
- the ability to memorise routines
- adaptability, to cope with frequent changes to routines and cast
- a high level of fitness and stamina
- the ability to work well with others.
What opportunities are there?
You could find work with dance companies, or perform in musical theatre, film and TV, clubs, cabarets and cruise ships. You could also work for community dance organisations or dance in education companies.
Most dancing jobs are short-term contracts, and full-time ongoing work is rare. Competition for work is very strong, and hard work, talent and dedication are essential. Gaps between jobs are common, so you may need to do other types of work to earn money when not performing.
Jobs and auditions are advertised in dance publications and websites. You will also need to network and promote yourself to get work.
Most professional dancers stop performing by the age of around 35 to 40, and retrain, move into other dance-related careers or choose to start their own dance company or school.
You may find the following links useful for job/audition notices and general reading:
The Stage
Dance Europe
Article 19
Dancing Times
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