Dancer

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

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

University

You'll usually need a degree or diploma in professional dance or musical theatre. These take 2 to 3 years to complete and are offered by dance schools , performing arts schools and universities.

Academic qualifications may not be essential if you show enough talent at audition.

You could get a Dance and Drama Award to help with fees and living costs.

Entry requirements:

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

College

There is no set entry route to become a dancer but it may be useful to do a relevant subject like:

• Level 2 Diploma in Performing Arts
• Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts - Dance
• A level Dance

For entry to some courses at level 3 and above you may need to attend an audition.

Entry requirements:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Entry requirements:

Volunteering

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

You could do this through:

• amateur dance clubs
• college and university dance societies
• student dance festivals and competitions

This can also help you to build a network of contacts in the dance profession. This will be useful when looking to get experience or a job.

DirectApplication

You can apply directly to become a dancer, if you have a high level of training and ability in at least one form of dance.

OtherRoutes

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

• Royal Academy of Dance
• Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
• bbodance (ballet)

Required Skills:

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

Skills:

• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• knowledge of the fine arts
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• persistence and determination
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• the ability to use your initiative
• physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
• physical fitness and endurance
• excellent verbal communication skills
• leadership skills
• thinking and reasoning skills
• active listening skills
• the ability to create the best conditions for learning or teaching new things
• the ability to teach pupils how to do something
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• a good memory
• the ability to work well with your hands
• knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
• knowledge of media production and communication
• knowledge of English language

What you'll do:

Dancers use movement to perform for live audiences or in recorded performances.

You'll specialise in a form of dance, like:

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

Typically you could:

• rehearse routines
• prepare for and go to auditions
• take part in dance classes and maintain your fitness
• perform in front of a live audience or to a camera
• promote yourself as a performer

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

Working Pattern is evenings / weekends / bank holidays away from home

Career Path:

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

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

With further training, you could go into community arts development or dance therapy.