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Dancer

Alternative titles for this job include Dance artist, dance performer

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

Average salary (a year)

Variable

Typical hours (a week)

28 to 30 irregular

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays away from home

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become a dancer

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • applying directly
  • specialist courses run by private training organisations

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

You'll usually need:

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

More Information

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

You'll usually need:

  • 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

More Information

Volunteering

Dancing is very competitive and you'll need to develop your skills by getting as much practical experience of dancing as possible. You could do this through:

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

This can also help to put you in touch with people in the dance profession, who could be useful mentors and contacts for looking for work.

Direct Application

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.

Other Routes

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

More Information

Career tips

Classical ballet dancers start training very young, usually at 10 or 11 years old. It's possible to make a career in contemporary dance if you start at a later age, if you're prepared to work hard and put in a lot of training.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join One Dance UK and Equity for professional development and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a dancer from:

You can also get more details about working in creative careers from Discover Creative Careers.

What it takes

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

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • 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
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you’ll do

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

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

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 and castings
  • take part in dance classes and maintain your fitness
  • perform in front of a live audience or to camera
  • promote yourself as a performer to grow your network of contacts and find work
  • if you're self-employed, do admin tasks related to running your own business

Working environment

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.

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

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.

You could become self-employed and set up your own dance school or with further training go into community arts development or dance therapy.

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 dancer 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

Dance

  • Provider: ONE SIXTH FORM COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 September 2022
  • Location: Ipswich

Dance

  • Provider: NOWER HILL HIGH SCHOOL
  • Start date: 01 September 2022
  • Location: Pinner
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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