How to become
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
You'll usually need:
- 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
- to pass an audition
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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
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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.
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:
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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.
The amount of hours you work as a dancer will vary depending on your job. It can range from a few sessions a week to over 40, including rehearsals, if you're working on a show.
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.