Choreographer

You'll need a high level of dance training and experience to be a choreographer. You could do a foundation degree, degree or postgraduate qualification to develop your skills.

Relevant subjects include:

• dance
• dance performance
• musical theatre
• dance and choreography

Courses are offered by dance schools and universities.

When you apply for a course, you may be asked to attend an audition.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

• to pass an audition

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

You could start out as a professional dancer or dance teacher and combine this with an assistant choreographer role.

With further training and experience, you could become a choreographer.

You can develop your skills by volunteering to choreograph amateur dance club performances.

You can apply for work if you're an experienced professional dancer or dance teacher.

Career Tips

When you're starting out it's good to have a mentor, perhaps someone whose work you admire, to guide you and give you advice. You can connect with professional choreographers online and through the UK Choreographers Directory .

Observing and learning as many different types of dance to increase your knowledge of styles can also be useful.

Creating a showreel of your work is a great way to demonstrate your skills and creative ideas to training providers and dance companies.

Professional and Industry Bodies

You can join One Dance UK for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further Information

You can find out more about becoming a choreographer from One Dance UK.

As a choreographer, you could:

• develop creative ideas and turn them into dance routines
• work with show producers and musical directors to interpret storylines
• help to choose music, costume styles and props
• hold auditions and instruct dancers
• record dance steps and routines using a notation system
• lead rehearsals and prepare dancers for performances

If you're self employed or run your own dance company, you'll also:

• promote yourself or your company
• deal with your own tax and finances
• hire and manage staff
• apply for funding

You could work in a creative studio, in a theatre, at a film studio or at a TV studio.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding, you'll travel often and you may spend nights away from home.