Dancer Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a dancer. Feel free to use our dancer job description template to produce your own dancer job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a dancer.
Who is a Dancer?
A dancer is someone who has the skills, knowledge, and training to perform a specific type of dance. Dancers perform choreographed dances in front of an audience. They use their bodies to communicate emotions that tell stories. They are skilled in many dance styles, including contemporary, hip-hop, modern, street, and ballet, and can be seen in theatre productions, music videos, and movies.
Professional dancers work with choreographers, directors, and other dancers to create dance sequences for performances. Large dance companies employ professional dancers. They learn complex routines and interpret the choreographer’s work.
Dancers who are successful need to be able to balance well so that they can move without falling and keep their rhythm. They must also be flexible, agile, and coordinated. Dancers are known for their artistic ability and creativity. They need to be able to express themselves through movement.
Dancers must be able and willing to perform for long hours. Dance routines are often performed in a group setting. It is essential to work with others to ensure that routines succeed.
It can be difficult to accept rejection after going from audition to audition. This is why it is important to have persistence and a positive attitude to keep going after being rejected. Dancers can take on additional responsibility by being dance captains in musical theater or ballet masters/ballet mistresses in concert dance companies. This involves leading rehearsals or working with less-experienced choreographers.
Dancing can take a toll on the human body because dancers are at the highest risk of suffering from non-fatal injuries while performing. Dancers often stop performing in their thirties due to the physical demands that dancing places on their bodies. Dancers who are not performing may still be able to work as choreographers, directors, or teachers.
Depending on their work location, a dancer’s work schedule may vary. They may spend most of their day at rehearsals, and then have performances at night. This gives them long working days. A variety of settings allow dancers to perform together, such as ballet, musical theater, or modern dance companies. Many dancers perform on television or in music videos. They may also sing or act in concerts, casinos, or on cruise ships.
Dancer Job Description
Below are the dancer job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a dancer job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a dancer include the following:
- Preparing well for auditions and rehearsals, photoshoots, promotions events, and shows.
- Following the choreographer’s instructions and practicing the required dance moves.
- Singing, acting, or performing other related tasks when necessary
- Researching on various dance styles and techniques.
- Communicating your limitations and abilities to the choreographer.
- Collaborating with other dancers or instructors to modify steps, routines, formations.
- Establishing and maintaining good working relationships with other team members, the instructor, as well as senior staff.
- Participating in events to increase skills and network with others.
- Choosing dance styles based on your physical ability and preference for the genre.
- Modifying and refining steps according to your needs.
- Filming productions and stage entertainment:
- Performing classical, contemporary, or acrobatic dancing
- Organizing workshops for dance students to learn performance techniques
- Taking a tour with a band or other performers and performing on a stage show
- Creating dance moves that express ideas, concepts, or emotions
- Choosing the music that is most appropriate for your dance routine
- Performing during musical productions like opera, ballads, and concerts
- Making your performance glamorous with costumes and other equipment
- Promoting your dancing abilities and skills by engaging in self-promotion
The following are other important tasks:
- Engaging in warm-ups
It is possible to avoid injuries by having dancers take responsibility for warming up before classes, rehearsals, and performances. This is particularly important for dances that require quick-moving gymnastic sequences such as break dancing or hip hop. Warm-ups are a way for dancers to increase flexibility in their tendons and ligaments. It increases the body’s temperature to stretch muscles. It also prepares dancers psychologically for their rehearsal moves.
- Eating healthy diets
It is the dancer’s responsibility to keep their bodies healthy. A healthy diet is essential for dancers with a busy schedule and a desire to stay thin. Injuries can be caused by a lack of proper nutrition. Dancers need to strengthen their muscles and replenish body fluids with enough iron, calcium, and folic acid. For long-lasting careers and performance, a healthy diet is essential.
- Have respect for competition ethics
Each dancer strives for excellence. This requires that they adhere to ethical standards during competitions. Competitive and talented dancers are the ones that compete with them. They are expected to support and respect each other during the competition. Although they might not agree with the decision of the judges, dancers must accept it gracefully and refrain from making a scene or discussing their disappointment in the public.
Qualifications
Aspiring dancers often begin their training at a very young age. The foundations of classical dance techniques such as ballet are often the first step in training. While not necessary, you may be able to attend a performing arts school and earn a college degree. There are both undergraduate and graduate degree options. Most degree programs include coursework in dance composition, dance analysis, dance history, and movement analysis.
There are many types of dance qualifications that can be used to pursue different dance careers. Auditions are the main way professional dancers get hired. The most important qualification for professional dancers is the ability to dance. Many dancers are unable to physically maintain a professional position in dance by middle age. A degree or certification in dance can make you a valuable asset later in your life. For careers that require skill demonstration, other types of dance education such as a degree or certification in choreography can be very useful.
A dancer’s first and most important qualification is their ability to dance. Although there are many styles and traditions that a dancer can learn, it is important to be proficient in at least one. This requires a high level of athleticism as well as years of training, many of which begin in childhood.
Some people prefer the physical aspects of dancing to performing. A teacher of dance in a class setting may need to have a valid certification as a certified instructor for a particular dance program. A general fitness instructor qualification from an accredited organization is helpful when creating a unique dance fitness class. You can combine these qualifications with your dance experience to make a compelling resume.
Sometimes, other types of dance qualifications require a combination of qualifications in different areas. Teaching dance to children often requires a combination of qualifications from other areas. A degree in psychology may be required to train as a dance therapist. The right training is essential for employment in this broad field. It is therefore important to thoroughly research the career you are interested in.
Essential Skills
- Communication Skills
Communication is a key skill in all industries, but especially in the performing arts. When choreographers, performers, and instructors collaborate on choreography, show planning, and music coordination, communication is key. The audience and dancers communicate on the stage with one another using facial expressions, body movements, and body language.
- Creativity
The ability to think creatively is a key skill in obtaining a degree in dance. Instructors and dancers often create original choreography, which tells a story using established techniques and traditions. They use their creativity to decide on music, costuming, and makeup for performances.
- Physical strength
You must have good mobility and strength to move your body and not fall or lose your balance.
- Interpersonal skills
This is a skill that you must possess to work effectively with others.
- Discipline
You need to have a positive attitude, be disciplined and follow the rules.
- Persistence
You need to persevere through years of training and overcome any obstacles or discouragement that may come your way.
- Active listening
You need to be able to listen to choreographers and directors.
How to Become a Dancer
The sooner you start dancing and learning dance, the better. Professional dancers often started dancing as children. If you are interested in dance as a career, it is common for people to choose a specialty such as ballet or ballroom by their late teens. A college degree is recommended for anyone who wants to be a dancer. It can also help you find other work, if necessary. Dancers who have a degree in dance may be able to teach dance after they retire.
It is an impossible dream to become a professional dancer, but it is possible if you are dedicated and talented. Dancers need to be physically fit and must be willing to work hard to keep their bodies flexible and agile. It is important to practice dancing every day. Dance lessons and practice are essential for all dancers. It is important to be technically correct in your dance moves and steps, but creativity is key if you want to progress.
Dancers need to be able to express their thoughts and feelings through dancing. This requires a lot of practice. Every dance is different. Each one has its convention and mood. Latin dances, for example, are romantic and passionate while jive and polka dances are playful and light-hearted. It’s a good idea to get experience in dancing to different music before you decide on a specialization.
A small part in a local dance show may offer a great way to get started in professional dancing. Auditions are a must. For beginners, it is a good idea to get involved in local productions of dinner theatre or volunteer at a local studio. To develop your dance style and reputation, you need to have experience.
Where to Work
Professional dancers make up only a small portion of the workforce supporting the entire field of dance. Many opportunities will allow you to continue your love for dancing. These are just a few.
- Choreographer/Director
People who want to leave the stage often find this a natural progression. You can use your dance skills to start your own company or choreograph. Although it’s not an easy path, there are many pitfalls and many opportunities for failure. However, many people find that they are better at creating dances than performing them.
- Lighting Designer/Set Designer
You are the one who makes the magic happen on stage! A career as a lighting designer is a great choice if you are passionate about theater and have a technical eye. Like lighting design, designing sets can offer creative, and artistic people a rewarding career in theater. You might consider becoming a set designer if you are good at painting and have good hands.
- Stage Management/Production Crew
Good stage managers are essential to the success of any show from rehearsals through closing night. You might be the right person for the job if you are a good manager, have a good eye for detail, can solve problems in a crisis, and can manage people. A production crew is a great way to get a glimpse behind the scenes of what happens on stage.
- Company Managing/Administration
Ever wonder how dance companies book gigs? Do you want to know more about running a dance company’s finances? Are you a fan of traveling and getting to know people? All of this is possible because company managers are involved in all aspects of the business. Company managers are involved in everything, from finding venues to organizing international tours. Many of the crucial decisions that keep dance companies performing and working are made by company managers. There might be many administrative positions depending on the size of the company. These could include positions from general office management to marketing and fundraising. Dance companies need a diverse group of people to ensure smooth operations.
- General Arts Administration
In addition to dance companies, there are different types of institutions that support the arts where administrative-minded folks might be able to pursue careers. Theaters, foundations, and museums are just a few examples. You can find a spot among those who help dancers rehearse and create on stage, whether you are in accounting, programming, facilities management, or development.
- Dance writer
This shows that you can combine your love for writing and dancing into a career. You can become an integral part of the dance community through advice articles and performance reviews.
- Graphic Designer
Dancers require excellent visuals to market their work, whether it’s website design or posters for subway platforms. You can help dancer by designing the images that attract people to the theater, whether you are a computer whiz or a visual artist.
Dancer Salary Scale
The average salary for a dancer in the United States of America is $36,732.