Dancer

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 or become self employed and set up your own dance school.

With further training, you could go into community arts development or dance therapy.

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

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Dance - Dancers build their technical skills, physical awareness, and performance ability through years of dedicated practice in different dance styles. Studying dance develops coordination, rhythm, flexibility, and the ability to express ideas and emotions through movement – all of which are central to a professional dance career.
• Physical Education - Dancers need exceptional physical fitness, stamina, and body awareness to perform demanding routines and avoid injury. Understanding how to train safely, build endurance, and look after the body through warm-ups, cool-downs, and recovery is essential for a long career in dance.
• Music - Dancers perform to music and need to understand rhythm, tempo, phrasing, and musical structure to time their movements precisely. Whether dancing to a live orchestra in ballet or a recorded track in a music video, being able to interpret and respond to music is a core part of the job.
• Drama - Dancers often tell stories and convey emotions through their performances, especially in ballet, contemporary dance, and musical theatre. Understanding character, expression, stagecraft, and how to connect with an audience helps dancers deliver performances that are compelling and not just technically skilled.

Also relevant

• Biology - Dancers benefit from understanding how the human body works – including muscles, joints, the skeletal system, and how energy is produced during exercise. This knowledge helps them train effectively, prevent injuries, and understand what their body needs in terms of nutrition and recovery.
• Business - Dancers are often self-employed or freelance, meaning they need to manage their own finances, market themselves, and negotiate contracts. Those who go on to set up their own dance school or company need to understand budgeting, promotion, and running a small business.
• Film Studies - Dancers often perform in music videos, films, and TV productions, where understanding screen storytelling can shape their performance. Film Studies helps them grasp how camera angles, framing, and editing affect the way movement reads on screen – like scaling down gestures for a close-up.