Choreographers

Direct rehearsals to instruct dancers in dance steps and in techniques to achieve desired effects.
Teach students, dancers, and other performers about rhythm and interpretive movement.
Choose the music, sound effects, or spoken narrative to accompany a dance.

Important Qualities

Athleticism. Successful dancers must have excellent balance, physical strength, and physical dexterity so that they can move their bodies without falling or losing their sense of rhythm.

Creativity. Dancers need artistic ability and creativity to express ideas through movement. Choreographers also must have artistic ability and innovative ideas, to create new and interesting dance routines.

Leadership skills. Choreographers must be able to direct a group of dancers to perform the routines that they have created.

Persistence. Dancers must commit to years of intense practice. They need to be able to accept rejection after auditions and to continue to practice for future performances. Choreographers must keep studying and creating new routines.

Physical stamina. Dancers are often physically active for long periods, so they must be able to rehearse for many hours without getting tired.

Teamwork. Most dance routines involve a group or pairs, so dancers must be able to work together to be successful.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		97%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		94%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		93%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		93%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		93%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		92%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		91%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		89%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		89%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		85%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		83%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		82%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		81%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		75%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		75%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		74%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		100%	Artistic - Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.
		67%	Social - Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
		61%	Enterprising - Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		83%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		78%	Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
		78%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
		72%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
		53%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		85%	Gross Body Coordination - The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
		78%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		75%	Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
		75%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		75%	Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
		72%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		72%	Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
		72%	Gross Body Equilibrium - The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
		69%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		69%	Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
		69%	Stamina - The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
		69%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		69%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		66%	Extent Flexibility - The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
		63%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		63%	Dynamic Strength - The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
		63%	Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
		60%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		56%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		56%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		53%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		53%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
		53%	Memorization - The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
		53%	Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		61%	Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
		57%	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
		57%	Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
		55%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
		54%	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
		52%	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Train others on performance techniques.

Study scripts to determine project requirements.

Choreograph dances.

Determine presentation subjects or content.

Train others on performance techniques.

Coordinate artistic activities.

Audition or interview potential performers or staff members.

Coordinate artistic activities.

Choreograph dances.

Practice athletic or artistic skills.

Train others on performance techniques.

Evaluate skills of athletes or performers.

Choreograph dances.

Monitor current trends.

Develop artistic or design concepts for decoration, exhibition, or commercial purposes.

Choreograph dances.

Manage operations of artistic or entertainment departments or organizations.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		100%	Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?
		94%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		93%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		93%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		91%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		89%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		87%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		85%	Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing?
		83%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		82%	Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body - How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
		81%	Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
		80%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		80%	Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance - How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
		75%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		74%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		74%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		73%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		73%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		73%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		63%	Frequency of Conflict Situations - How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
		61%	Spend Time Walking and Running - How much does this job require walking and running?
		61%	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
		60%	Public Speaking - How often do you have to perform public speaking in this job?
		58%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		58%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		53%	Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling - How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		99%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		98%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
		93%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		89%	Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
		83%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		82%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		81%	Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
		81%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		81%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		81%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		81%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		78%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		77%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		74%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		73%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		70%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		69%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		69%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
		67%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		65%	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
		61%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		60%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		57%	Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
		56%	Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
		56%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		54%	Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

What Dancers and Choreographers Do

Some dancers perform in theater productions.

Dancers and choreographers use dance performances to express ideas and stories. There are many types of dance, such as ballet, tango, modern dance, tap, and jazz.

Duties

Dancers typically do the following:

Audition for a part in a show or for a job within a dance company
Learn complex dance movements that entertain an audience
Rehearse several hours each day to prepare for their performance
Study new and emerging types of dance
Work closely with instructors, choreographers, or other dancers to interpret or modify their routines
Attend promotional events, such as photography sessions, for the production in which they are appearing

Dancers spend years learning dances and perfecting their skills. They usually perform as part of a group and know a variety of dance styles, including ballet, tap, and modern dance. In addition to traditional performances in front of a live audience, many perform on TV, in videos on the Internet, and in music videos, in which they also may sing or act. Many dancers perform in shows at casinos, in theme parks, and on cruise ships.

Choreographers typically do the following:

Put together moves in a sequence to create new dances or interpretations of existing dances
Choose the music that will accompany a dance routine
Audition dancers for a role in a show or within a dance company
Assist with costume design, lighting, and other artistic aspects of a show
Teach complex dance movements
Study new and emerging types of dance to design more creative dance routines
Help with the administrative duties of a dance company, such as budgeting

Choreographers create original dances and develop new interpretations of existing dances. They work in dance schools, theaters, dance companies, and movie studios. During rehearsals, they typically demonstrate dance moves, to instruct dancers in the proper technique. Many choreographers also perform the dance routines they create. Some choreographers work with performers who are not trained dancers. For example, the complex martial arts scenes performed by actors in movies are arranged by choreographers who specialize in martial arts.

Some dancers and choreographers hold other jobs between roles to make a living.

Work Environment

Choreographers held about 6,900 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of choreographers were as follows:

Educational services; state, local, and private	51%
Self-employed workers	19
Performing arts companies	18

Dancers held about 11,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of dancers were as follows:

Performing arts companies	30%
Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries	29
Self-employed workers	19
Drinking places (alcoholic beverages)	13
Spectator sports	2

Injuries and Illnesses

Dance takes a toll on a person’s body, so on-the-job injuries are common in dancers. In fact, dancers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.

Many dancers stop performing by the time they reach their late thirties because of the physical demands of their work. Nonperforming dancers may continue to work as choreographers, directors, or dance teachers.

Work Schedules

Schedules for dancers and choreographers vary with where they work. During tours, dancers and choreographers have long workdays, rehearsing most of the day and performing at night.

Choreographers who work in dance schools may have a standard workweek when they are instructing students. They also spend hours working independently to create new dance routines.

Getting Started

Education:

30%

Bachelor's Degree

25%

Some College Courses

How to Become a Dancer or Choreographer

Most dancers begin training at a young age.

Education and training requirements vary with the type of dancer; however, all dancers need many years of formal training. Nearly all choreographers began their careers as dancers.

Education and Training

Many dancers begin training when they are young and continue to learn throughout their careers. Ballet dancers begin training the earliest, usually between the ages of 5 and 8 for girls and a few years later for boys. Their training becomes more serious as they enter their teens, and most ballet dancers begin their professional careers by the time they are 18.

Leading professional dance companies sometimes have intensive summer training programs from which they might select candidates for admission to their regular full-time training programs.

Modern dancers normally begin formal training while they are in high school. They attend afterschool dance programs and summer training programs to prepare for their career or for a college dance program.

Some dancers and choreographers pursue postsecondary education. Many colleges and universities offer bachelor’s and/or master’s degrees in dance, typically through departments of theater or fine arts. As of March 2016, there were about 75 dance programs accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance. Most programs include coursework in a variety of dance styles, including modern dance, jazz, ballet, and hip-hop. Most entrants into college dance programs have previous formal training.

Some choreographers work as dance teachers. Teaching dance in a college, high school, or elementary school requires a college degree. Some dance studios and conservatories prefer instructors who have a degree; however, they may accept previous work in lieu of a degree.

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Nearly all choreographers begin their careers as dancers. While working as dancers, they study different types of dance and learn how to choreograph routines.

Advancement

Some dancers take on more responsibility if they are promoted to dance captain in musical theater companies. They lead rehearsals or work with less experienced dancers when the choreographer is not present.

Some dancers become choreographers. Dancers and choreographers also may become theater, film, or television producers and directors.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of dancers and choreographers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 3,000 openings for dancers and choreographers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Employment growth in these relatively small occupations is closely tied to the demand for performing arts. Social media, which allows dancers and choreographers to reach a larger and more diverse audience, is expected to generate some interest in dance performances. New jobs may be concentrated in specific markets, such as cities with strong arts culture, or with certain employers, such as private dance studios. However, funding constraints may offset demand for these workers.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about dancers and choreographers, visit

Dance/USA

National Endowment for the Arts

National Association of Schools of Dance

USA Dance

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of dancers and choreographers.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Actors	Actors express ideas and portray characters in theater, film, television, and other performing arts media.	Some college, no degree	The annual wage is not available.
Art Directors	Art directors are responsible for the visual style and images in magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and movie and television productions.	Bachelor's degree	$105,180
Music Directors and Composers	Music directors lead musical groups during performances and recording sessions. Composers write and arrange original music in a variety of musical styles.	Bachelor's degree	$62,940
Musicians and Singers	Musicians and singers play instruments or sing for live audiences and in recording studios.	No formal educational credential	The annual wage is not available.
Postsecondary Teachers	Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.	See How to Become One	$80,840
Producers and Directors	Producers and directors make business and creative decisions about film, television, stage, and other productions.	Bachelor's degree	$85,320

Choreographers

Dancer or Choreographer

What they do:

On the job, you would:

Important Qualities

Personality

Characteristics of this Career

Strengths

Values of the Work Environment

Aptitude

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Job Details

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

Tasks & Values

What Dancers and Choreographers Do

Duties

Work Environment

Injuries and Illnesses

Work Schedules

Getting Started

How to Become a Dancer or Choreographer

Education and Training

Work Experience in a Related Occupation

Advancement

Job Outlook

Employment

Contacts for More Information

Similar Occupations