Sign In | Sign Up | Help | Invite    
Advanced Search Ask A Question Community Recent Changes
My:             Contributions   
Contributors
{for ul in pageInfo.page}
${ul.nickName}
{var al = toBreakWord(ul.adUrl,18)} {if ul.adSentence !=''}${ul.adSentence}
{/if} {if ul.adUrl !=''}${al}
{/if}
 
{/for}
Earn Free Advertising   +   Earn Money By Writing What You Know at WISTEME.COM
Question Discussion History

Edit
    Question ID:   1054         Current Version: 1
Question: What do I need to know about the career of dancer?
Category: Job & Careers > Career Counseling
Keywords: job, career, responsibility, requirement, salary, future, sport, dancer
Type: what
Rating:(0 ratings)    Views: 452    Discussions: 0   In Watch Lists: 1  

 
    Answer:
What is this job like?

Dancers express ideas, stories, rhythm, and sound with their bodies. Some dance in ballet; others perform modern dance. Dancers work in musical shows, in folk, ethnic, tap, and jazz dances. Opera, musical comedy, television, movies, music videos, and commercials often include dancing as well. Many dancers sing and act, as well as dance. Dancers often work as a group. A few stars dance solo. Many dancers also teach or choreograph dances.

Choreographers create new dances. They may also add changes to older dances. Some teach dancers to get the results they want. They may also audition dancers for a particular production.

Dancing is hard work. Rehearsals often are long and usually take place daily. Many rehearsals take place on weekends and holidays. Weekend travel is common when a show is on the road. Dancers must also work late hours and practice during the day.

Because dancing is hard work, most dancers stop working by their late thirties. Sometimes they become dance teachers and coaches.

How do you get ready?

To become a dancer, one must be agile, flexible, have good body tone, and a supple body. Training begins at age 5 to 8 in ballet, usually by private teachers and in ballet schools. Boys often start training later than girls. Students who are good by their early teens get more advanced training. Training by leading dance schools, for those who are serious about dancing, also takes place in the summer. Most dancers have their professional auditions by age 17 or 18. By then dancers usually focus on a specific style of dance. Dancers normally spend 8 hours a day in class and rehearsal, keeping their bodies in shape and preparing for performances.

Education in music, literature, history, and the arts can help you understand the mood and ideas of a dance.

A college degree can help a dancer who retires early get another kind of job. It is also very important if the dancer wants to teach in elementary or high school. Dance studios usually want teachers to have been performers. Choreographers are usually experienced dancers as well.

As dancers get better, they often get more jobs, bigger and better roles, and higher pay. Dancers must constantly be motivated and prepared to go on many auditions.

How much does this job pay?

In 2004, the middle half of all dancers made between $6.71 and $15.62 an hour. The lowest-paid 10 percent made less than $5.87. The highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $21.59. Choreographers earned a little more, on average. When on tour, dancers receive an allowance for room and board and extra money for overtime.

Dancers and choreographers work on specific jobs. When the job is over, they have to look for another one. Earnings from dancing are often low because dancers don't work all year. There may be a lot of time between each job. They often take another kind of job when they are not dancing.

Many dancers employed by large companies belong to unions. Some get paid sick leave and other benefits.

How many jobs are there?

About 38,000 dancers and choreographers had a job at any one time in 2004. Many other dancers didn't work during the year and earned a living doing something else. Dancers work in many kinds of places. Some work in restaurants, theaters, dance studios, theme parks, and with bands. In addition, many dance teachers work in all kinds of schools. About 20 percent of all dancers and choreographers were self-employed.

Almost all the major cities in the United States have full-time dance companies.

What about the future?

There are a lot of people who want to be professional dancers and choreographers, but not so many jobs. Only the most talented will find regular work.

The number of dancers and choreographers will grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014. The best chance of getting a job will be with a big dance company. Opera companies will also have some new jobs. Dance groups in colleges and universities and television and motion pictures will also have some jobs. There will also be some jobs for dance teachers. Music video producers will have some jobs for dancers and choreographers. However, rising production costs will limit the number of jobs in smaller companies. 

Please check out the common job and career description page to learn more about other jobs or careers.

Read more questions from WISTEME through
     Add to MSN Add to My AOL
 Rate this Question
   Add to Groups   Add to Watch Lists   Share Question
                          
 
    More Readings :
[QID:1056]    What do I need to know about the career of coach?  
[QID:1058]    What do I need to know about the career of recreational therapist?  
[QID:1055]    What do I need to know about the career of professional athlete?  
[QID:1057]    What do I need to know about the career of recreation and fitness worker?  
[QID:1085]    What do I need to know about the career of reporter?  
[QID:1084]    What do I need to know about the career of librarian?  
[QID:1083]    What do I need to know about the career of secretary?  
[QID:1081]    What do I need to know about the career of writer?  
[QID:1072]    What do I need to know about the career of physicist?  
[QID:1071]    What do I need to know about the career of surveyor?  
     Question ID:  ${question.id}         Current Version:  ${question.version}

{for qh in questionHistory} {if qh.status == 'r'} {else} {/if} {/for}
Version Contributor Date (ET) Voting
${qh.version} ${qh.nickName} ${qh.date} Rejected
${qh.version} ${qh.nickName} ${qh.date} {if qh.status != 'c'} {if qh.status == 'a'} Approved {else} {if qh.rstatus == 'c'} On-going {else} Pending {/if} {/if} {else}   {/if}
Start a New Topic
ID Topics Replies Latest Post (ET)
{if dlist!=null} {for d in dlist} {/for}
${parseInt(d_index)+1} ${d.sentence} ${d.replyNum} ${d.lastestDate}
{else}
No discussion topic.
{/if}
Label Name:
 
Group Name:
 
 
{else}
     You have no group.
{/if}
Advertisements
{if advertisements.length > 0} {else} {/if}
{for ad in advertisements}
${ad.adTitle}
${ad.adSentence}
${ad.adUrl}
{/for}

Home | About Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Browse Questions | RSS Feed

Copyright ©2010 WISTEME LLC. All Rights Reserved.