Dance

By Katrina Morrison

What I could do

• Dance chorographer

• Dance teacher

• Dance on stage

• Dance on films

The job

• You would work long hours with lots of practice and it can be cramped back stage.

• Its hard to get a well paid job in this industry because it’s very popular and many people want to make it in the world of acting singing and dancing.

• What qualifications and experience will employers look for?

• The qualifications you need would depend on the type of teaching you want to do.

• State Schools To teach in a state school you must have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). For more information see the Teacher profiles and Training and Development Agency for Schools and Department of Education Northern Ireland websites.

• What is the work like?• As a choreographer, you would create dance routines and movement sequences for dancers and

other performers. You could choreograph stage, TV or film performances, music videos, and even fashion shows or corporate events. You may also act as a movement coach for actors.

• You would normally specialise in a particular style of dance, for example:• classical ballet • modern dance • jazz dance and musical theatre • ballroom • non-western (such as Indian or African) • disability dance. • You mighty create your own dance pieces, or interpret a director’s instructions. Your work could

involve:• developing ideas and turning them into a finished performance • planning movements to fit the music • meeting producers, costume designers, and musical and artistic directors • choosing music • auditioning dancers • teaching and rehearsing the dancers • recording the steps using a notation system, such as Labanotation or Benesh. • If you worked freelance, you would also spend time marketing yourself, finding new work and

dealing with your own tax and accounts. Running your own dance company would involve auditioning dancers, hiring staff and doing administrative tasks such as applying for funding.

choreographer

dancerWhat qualifications and experience will employers look for?You will need a high level of training and ability in at least one form of dance. Most professional dancers start taking dance classes from a young age, and often take graded exams from awarding bodies such as the British Ballet Organisation or the Royal Academy of Dance.Classical ballet dancers in particular start training very young, usually before their teens. It is possible to make a career in contemporary dance if you start at a later age, if you are prepared to work hard and put in a lot of training.Many professional dancers train at a vocational dance school, with an intensive three-year degree or diploma or a one-year postgraduate course in professional dance or musical theatre.To get onto a three-year professional degree/diploma you must pass an audition. Some dance schools also ask for A levels or equivalent (such as a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts – Dance), although the academic qualifications may not be essential if you show enough talent at audition. For a postgraduate course, you will need a dance-related degree. You should check exact entry requirements with each dance school.You can find more information about accredited professional dance courses on the Council for Dance Education and Training (CDET) website. You may be able to get funding for some of these courses through the Dance and Drama Award Scheme.Several universities also offer degrees in dance, although some courses focus on dance administration or development rather than performance. For a university dance degree, you will usually need two A levels or equivalent qualifications. You may also need to pass a dance audition. Check exact entry requirements with course providers.It is also be a good idea to join a local dance company to build your experience of performing. See the CDET website for links to dance companies and organisations all over the UK.

Some good websites

• http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk/

• http://www.ballet.co.uk/dcforum/training/1326.html