Career Suggestion

Dancer

Dancers perform in different styles from choreographed classical ballet to improvised street dance. They work live on stage and on recorded shows.

Average salary (a year)

£0.0 to £0.0 (starter to experienced)

Typical hours (a week)

Variable irregular

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays away from home

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • applying directly
  • specialist courses

University

You could do a diploma, degree or postgraduate award in:

  • dance
  • musical theatre
  • dance and drama
  • performing arts

Courses can take 2 to 3 years to complete and are offered by dance schools , performing arts schools and universities.

You'll normally be asked to attend an audition when you apply for a course.

You may be able to get support with funding through a Dance and Drama Award .

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree

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

  • 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/

College

There is no set route to become a dancer, though it can be useful to study dance or performing arts at college.

You may need to attend an audition for some courses.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Volunteering

Dance is very competitive and you'll need to develop your skills by getting as much experience as possible.

You can do this through:

  • amateur dance clubs and events
  • youth dance societies
  • community dance organisations
  • dance festivals and competitions

This can help you build a network of contacts in the profession, who can be useful sources of advice and for hearing about jobs and work experience.

Direct Application

You can apply directly to dance or musical theatre companies for work as a dancer, if you have a high level of training and excellent ability in at least one form of dance.

Other Routes

Most professional dancers start taking dance classes from a young age. You can take graded exams from awarding bodies, such as:

More Information

Career Tips

Dancers often work freelance, being hired for a series of shows, or to perform on tours and one-off events. They may combine their dance work with part-time teaching, choreography or running community workshops.

The amount of hours you work as a dancer will vary depending on your job. It might be a few sessions a week to over 40 hours, including rehearsals, if you're working on a show.

Professional and Industry Bodies

You could join One Dance UK and Equity for professional development opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further Information

You can find out more about becoming a dancer from:

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of the fine arts
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
  • persistence and determination
  • the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • leadership skills
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day-to-day tasks

As a dancer, you could:

  • attend auditions and castings
  • work with choreographers to learn routines
  • rehearse for performances
  • perform in front of a live audience or to camera
  • take part in dance classes and maintain your fitness
  • promote yourself as a performer

You might specialise in a form of dance, like:

  • contemporary dance
  • classical ballet
  • modern stage dance, like jazz, tap, and musical theatre
  • African or Asian dance
  • street dance

Working environment

You could work in a creative studio, in a theatre, at a TV studio, on a cruise ship or in the community.

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

Many dancers combine their performance work with part-time teaching or arts administration roles behind the scenes.

With experience, you could become a choreographer or go self employed and set up your own dance school.

With extra training, you could move into acting , community arts work or dance movement therapy .

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