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Choreographer

Alternative titles for this job include

Choreographers create dance routines for professional and amateur artists to perform at events, on stage and on screen.

Average salary (a year)

Variable

Typical hours (a week)

24 to 36 variable

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays managing your own hours

Meet Rachel

Rachel is a dance choreographer and runs her own classes.

A woman sitting on a metal staircase next to a brick wall.
BBC Bitesize logo

She teaches people how to express themselves through dance.

Watch Rachel’s story on BBC Bitesize Careers

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

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 to be a choreographer. You could do a foundation degree, degree or postgraduate qualification to develop your skills.

Relevant subjects include:

  • dance
  • dance performance
  • musical theatre
  • dance and choreography

Courses are offered by dance schools and universities.

When you apply for a course, you may be asked to attend an audition.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 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

More Information

Work

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

With further training and experience, you could become a choreographer.

Volunteering

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

Direct Application

You can apply for work if you're an experienced professional dancer or dance teacher.

More Information

Career tips

When you're starting out it's good to have a mentor, perhaps someone whose work you admire, to guide you and give you advice. You can connect with professional choreographers online and through the UK Choreographers Directory.

Observing and learning as many different types of dance to increase your knowledge of styles can also be useful.

Creating a showreel of your work is a great way to demonstrate your skills and creative ideas to training providers and dance companies.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join One Dance UK for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a choreographer from One Dance UK.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of different dance styles
  • physical skills like strength, movement, balance and coordination
  • 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
  • persistence and determination
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

As a choreographer, you could:

  • develop creative ideas and turn them into dance routines
  • work with show producers and musical directors to interpret storylines
  • help to choose music, costume styles and props
  • hold auditions and instruct dancers
  • record dance steps and routines using a notation system
  • lead rehearsals and prepare dancers for performances

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 finances
  • hire and manage staff
  • apply for funding

Working environment

You could work in a creative studio, in a theatre, at a film studio or at a TV studio.

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

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

Career path and progression

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

With experience, you might set up your own dance school.

With extra training and qualifications, you could become a dance teacher or dance movement therapist. You can find more career options through One Dance UK.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a choreographer right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

Group Choreography and Showcase

  • Provider: Morley College
  • Start date: 10 November 2026
  • Location: London

Tap Creating and Choreography - Beginners

  • Provider: Morley College
  • Start date: 10 February 2027
  • Location: London
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

The Find a job service can help you with your search for jobs and send alerts when new jobs become available.

Related careers

Dancer

Dance teacher

Dance movement psychotherapist

Community arts worker

TV or film director

Skills assessment

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