Choreographer

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• working towards this role
• applying directly

University

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

Relevant subjects include:

• professional dance
• musical theatre
• dance and choreography

These are offered by dance schools and universities.

Entry requirements:

• 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

Entry requirements:

Entry requirements:

Work

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

With further training and experience you could work your way up to become a choreographer.

Volunteering

You may find it useful to get work experience with an established choreographer.

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

DirectApplication

You may be able to apply for work if you're an experienced professional dancer or dance teacher.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Skills:

• knowledge of the fine arts
• persistence and determination
• the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
• leadership skills
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• the ability to use your initiative
• physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• excellent verbal communication skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to teach pupils how to do something
• active listening skills
• knowledge of psychology
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• physical fitness and endurance
• business management skills
• knowledge of media production and communication

What you'll do:

Choreographers design steps, movements and dances, usually with music, for dancers and other artists to perform.

As a choreographer, you could:

• come up with creative ideas and turn them into dance routines
• work with producers, costume designers and musical directors
• choose music, costume styles and props
• audition and teach dancers
• record dance steps using a notation system

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 money
• hire and manage staff
• apply for funding

Location : You could work in a creative studio, in a theatre, at a film studio or at a TV studio.
Environment : Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding, you'll travel often and you may spend nights away from home.

Salary:

Starter : variable
Experienced : variable

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

28 - 30 hours variable

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays managing your own hours

Career Path:

You're likely to work freelance on a fixed term contract. You may be able to find full time permanent opportunities with dance companies.

You could set up your own dance school.

With additional training and qualifications, you could teach dance or move into community arts or dance therapy work.