Dancer and choreographer

Career Overview

Dance choreography is the art of composing ballets and other dances and planning and arranging the movements, steps, and patterns of dancers. Make sure to use the search box to find Susan's video! She is a dance instructor.

Education

There is no set educational requirement to obtain many of these positions, but this may depend on the setting. A degree in dance or a related field may be very helpful and at times necessary to obtain one of these positions.

Future Outlook

Employment of dancers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2019 to 2029, slower than the average for all occupations. Employment of choreographers is projected to grow 14 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Work Environment

Dancers and choreographers typically work in schools and performing arts companies.

Recommended High School Courses

Dance
Performing Arts
Communication

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Fine Arts - Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

Dynamic Flexibility - The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Dynamic Strength - The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
Extent Flexibility - The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Gross Body Coordination - The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
Gross Body Equilibrium - The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Speed of Limb Movement - The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
Stamina - The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.

Repair textiles or apparel.
Sew clothing or other articles.
Practice athletic or artistic skills.
Perform dances.
Entertain public with comedic or dramatic performances.
Audition for roles.
Monitor current trends.
Train others on performance techniques.
Choreograph dances.

Schools

Adelphi University

Agnes Scott College

Alfred University

Allegheny College

American River College

American University

Amherst College

Appalachian State Univers...

Arizona State University

Austin Community College...

Ball State University

Barnard College

Bates College

Belmont University

Beloit College

Bennington College

Berea College

Bethel University (indian...

Boston Conservatory At Be...

Boston University

Bowdoin College

Brenau University

Brigham Young University-...

Bryn Mawr College

Butler University

California Institute Of T...

California State Universi...

Central Washington Univer...

Chapman University

Christopher Newport Unive...

Colby College

College Of Charleston

College Of William And Ma...

College Of Wooster

Colorado College

Columbia College Chicago

Connecticut College

Cornell College

Cypress College

Davidson College

Desales University

Diablo Valley College

Dickinson College

Dominican University

Dominican University Of C...

Drexel University

East Carolina University

East Stroudsburg Universi...

Eastern Michigan Universi...

Eastern University

Eastern Washington Univer...

El Camino College

El Centro College- Dallas...

Elon University

Emerson College

Florida State University

Franklin And Marshall Col...

Fresno City College

Friends University

Goddard College

Goucher College

Grinnell College

Gustavus Adolphus College

Hampshire College

Hendrix College

High Point University

Hobart And William Smith...

Hollins University

Hope College

Illinois Wesleyan Univers...

Indiana University-bloomi...

Jacksonville University

Julliard School

Kennesaw State University

Kenyon College

Macalester College

Marlboro College

Marymount Manhattan Colle...

Middlebury College

Mills College

Montclair State Universit...

Morehouse College

Muhlenberg College

New College Of Florida

New York University

North Carolina School Of...

Northwestern State Univer...

Oberlin College

Ohio Wesleyan University

Pace University- Nyc Camp...

Pikes Peak Community Coll...

Pratt Institute

Providence College

Randolph College

Reed College

Saint Mary's College - No...

Saint Mary's College Of C...

Saint Olaf College

Salem College

Sam Houston State Univers...

Sarah Lawrence College

Scripps College

Skidmore College

Smith College

Southern Methodist Univer...

Southern Utah University

Spelman College

St. Lawrence University

St. Mary's College Of Mar...

Stephens College

Stonehill College

Suny At Brockport

Suny At Potsdam

Suny At Purchase

Suny Rockland Community C...

Swarthmore College

Sweet Briar College

Texas Women's University

The University Of The Sou...

Towson University

University Of Alabama- Tu...

University Of Arizona

University Of California-...

University Of Hawaii- Hil...

University Of Missouri- K...

University Of New Mexico

University Of North Carol...

University Of Oklahoma

University Of Richmond

University Of Saint Franc...

University Of South Flori...

University Of Southern Ca...

University Of Tampa

University Of The Arts

University Of Wisconsin-...

Ursinus College

Wagner College

Washington And Lee Univer...

Wesleyan University

Western Washington Univer...

Wheaton College- Massachu...

Winthrop University

Wittenberg University

Banff Centre For Arts...

Canada's National Ball...

George Brown College-...

Holland College

University Of Quebec-...

University Of Regina

Vancouver Community Co...

Potential Scholarships

5 Strong Scholarship

Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...

Approx Salary Expectation

Currency:

Low End:

$20,200.00 /yr

Avg/Med:

$44,540.00 /yr

High End:

$97,800.00 /yr

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References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.