Dancer : Career development

There is no clearly defined career path for a dancer. Most dancers will start their careers as dancers, or combining another aspect of dance with performance, and then move out of performance into a related area.

Many dancers progress into teaching, either in the private or the public sector. The Council for Dance Education & Training (CDET)  lists accredited teaching qualifications on its website. Many qualified dance teachers run their own courses and some large chains of health and fitness clubs offer franchises to run classes. Contracts are sometimes available to teach in leisure facilities, hotels or on cruise ships. Another option is to open a dance school or buy an existing one. Advice can be sought from one of the four Arts Councils (Arts Council England , Arts Council of Northern Ireland , Arts Council of Wales  and Creative Scotland ).

Dancers may move into choreography or work as dance notators. Others become dance administrators or work for dance development organisations, such as Dance UK  or the Foundation for Community Dance .

Another way to utilise dance knowledge and experience is to write articles or review performances in the press. This is normally part-time, freelance work and tends to be part of a portfolio career alongside teaching or choreography. Short courses in dance writing are offered at festivals, or you could consider an MA in a related subject like journalism.

Some dancers go on to become dance movement psychotherapists, which requires a relevant MA. This therapeutic process helps people address their problems or develop personally through dance and movement.

See the Guide to Careers in Dance , produced by Youth Dance England , for more information on the variety of dance-related careers.

Dancers' Career Development (DCD)  provides career support and retraining services to dancers looking to make the transition from professional dancing to a new career.