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Dancer: Job description and activities

Job description

Dancers use movement, gesture and body language to portray a character, situation or abstract concept to an audience, usually to the accompaniment of music. This normally involves interpreting the work of a choreographer, although it may sometimes require improvisation.

Dancers work in a variety of genres ranging from classical ballet and West End musicals to contemporary dance. A dancer's role may involve education or therapy, as well as performance.

Dancing is a competitive and physically demanding career, which often involves periods of unemployment and underemployment. Many dancers will need to combine part-time jobs in areas such as performing, administration and teaching.

Typical work activities

Although performing is the most obvious activity, it usually occupies a comparatively small proportion of a dancer's time. Many dancers follow portfolio careers, combining performance with teaching, choreography, development work or administrative work in a dance company.

Work activities will differ from dancer to dancer, depending on the contract, but usually include varying combinations of the following:

• preparing for and attending auditions and casting sessions;
• preparing for performances, by rehearsing and exercising;
• performing to live audiences and for television, film and music video productions;
• studying and creating choreography;
• discussing and interpreting choreography;
• learning and using other skills such as singing and acting - many roles, for example in musical theatre, require a combination of performance skills; • looking after costumes and equipment;
• taking care of the health and safety of others, which requires knowledge and observation of physiology and anatomy, as well as safe use of premises and equipment;
• teaching dance, either privately or in the public sector;
• working in dance development and promotion, encouraging and enabling people, especially children, to become involved in dance and to understand and appreciate it;
• running workshops in the community, e.g. with disabled groups;
• undertaking administrative, promotional or stage management work, particularly in a small company or if setting up your own company;
• liaising with arts and dance organisations, theatres and other venues regarding funding and contracts.

Self-promotion is also a significant feature of the work, be it through sending out your CV and/or publicity photographs, delivering presentations, running workshops or attending auditions and meetings.

AGCAS

Written by Alexandra Hemingway, University of Surrey

Last updated:

August 2009

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