Working as a professional dancer is often seen as the pinnacle of success for those passionate about movement and art. However, the path is undeniably challenging, and not everyone finds it to be a lifelong career. Whether due to injury, changing interests, or the desire for a more stable lifestyle, dancers may find themselves seeking alternative career paths. Fortunately, the dedication, creativity, discipline, and intelligence honed through dance are highly transferable skills, valuable in a multitude of professions within and beyond the dance world. The professional dancers we see on stage represent only a fraction of the vast ecosystem that supports the art form. There are numerous fulfilling opportunities that allow you to remain connected to your passion for dance while utilizing your unique skillset. Here are 15 great Jobs Involving Dance that dancers can consider:
1. Choreographer or Artistic Director
For many dancers, transitioning into choreography or artistic direction feels like a natural evolution. If you have a strong creative vision and a desire to shape dance works, this path could be ideal. Whether you aspire to lead your own dance company, create pieces for established organizations, or choreograph for theater, film, or television, your deep understanding of movement and performance will be invaluable. While the choreographer’s life shares some of the uncertainties of a performance career, many find greater fulfillment in the act of creation itself.
2. Lighting and Set Designer
Behind every captivating dance performance are skilled designers who craft the visual landscape. If you possess an artistic sensibility combined with a knack for technology and spatial design, a career in lighting or set design could be your calling. Lighting designers use light to create atmosphere, highlight dancers, and enhance the emotional impact of a piece. Set designers, on the other hand, build the physical world of the performance, creating environments that support the narrative and aesthetic of the dance. Both roles offer a rewarding way to contribute to the magic of theater without being on stage. If you are detail-oriented, visually creative, and perhaps have skills in painting, construction, or digital design, these paths are worth exploring.
3. Stage Manager or Production Crew Member
The seamless execution of a dance performance relies heavily on the backstage team. Stage managers are the organizational backbone of any production, overseeing everything from rehearsals to performances. They need exceptional attention to detail, strong leadership skills, and the ability to problem-solve under pressure. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy coordinating complex logistics, stage management could be a perfect fit. Production crew members specialize in specific technical aspects of a show, such as sound, rigging, or stage operations. If you are technically inclined and enjoy teamwork, working on a production crew offers an exciting way to be intimately involved in bringing dance to life.
4. Company Manager or Dance Administrator
Have you ever wondered how dance companies operate behind the scenes? Company managers and administrators are essential to the survival and success of dance organizations. Company managers handle the logistical and business aspects of a dance company, from booking venues and organizing tours (sometimes internationally) to managing budgets and contracts. They are the central hub, ensuring that dancers and productions can function smoothly. Dance administration encompasses a broader range of roles within dance organizations, including marketing, fundraising, grant writing, public relations, and general office management. For those with strong organizational, communication, and business skills, these roles offer a way to directly support the dance world from a leadership perspective.
5. General Arts Administrator
The arts sector extends far beyond dance companies, offering diverse opportunities for administratively inclined individuals. Theaters, museums, arts councils, foundations, community arts centers, and educational institutions all require skilled administrators to function effectively. Roles in arts administration can span various departments, including finance, development, programming, education, marketing, and facilities management. By working in general arts administration, you contribute to the broader cultural landscape, enabling dancers and other artists to create, rehearse, and perform. Your passion for the arts, combined with your administrative skills, can lead to a fulfilling career supporting the creative sector.
Dance costume sketch on a desk
6. Dance Writer or Journalist
If you possess a love for dance and a talent for writing, you can combine these passions into a career as a dance writer or journalist. Dance publications, websites, blogs, and newspapers all need writers to create content. This can include writing performance reviews, conducting interviews with dancers and choreographers, crafting advice articles for dancers, reporting on dance news and trends, and developing educational materials. As a dance writer, you become a voice for the dance community, contributing to the discourse surrounding the art form and helping to promote and preserve dance.
7. Physical Therapist Specializing in Dance
For dancers fascinated by the human body and dedicated to helping others, becoming a physical therapist with a specialization in dance medicine is a highly rewarding path. This career requires further education and certification, but your firsthand understanding of dancers’ physical demands and common injuries will make you an exceptionally empathetic and effective practitioner. Dance physical therapists work with dancers to prevent injuries, rehabilitate existing injuries, and optimize movement and performance. Your expertise will be invaluable in helping dancers maintain their health and extend their careers.
8. Yoga, Pilates, or Somatic Movement Teacher
Many dancers find a natural affinity for related movement disciplines like yoga, Pilates, and somatic practices such as Feldenkrais or Gyrotonic. These methods share common ground with dance in their focus on body awareness, alignment, flexibility, and strength. Becoming a certified teacher in one of these modalities allows you to continue working with movement, share your knowledge with others, and potentially create a more sustainable career path than performance. These practices can also be excellent complementary training tools for dancers, making your expertise even more valuable within the dance community.
9. Massage Therapist
If you are drawn to hands-on healing and enjoy creating a relaxing and restorative environment, a career as a massage therapist could be a good fit. With proper training and certification, you can learn to help people relieve muscle tension, reduce stress, and improve their overall well-being. For dancers, understanding the specific muscular needs and common areas of tension can make you a particularly sought-after massage therapist. This career path offers a flexible schedule and the opportunity to work directly with individuals to improve their physical health.
10. Graphic Designer for Dance
In the visually driven world of dance, compelling graphic design is essential for marketing and promotion. Dance companies, individual artists, studios, and festivals all need visually appealing materials to attract audiences and build their brand. If you have an eye for aesthetics and skills in graphic design software, you can carve out a niche as a graphic designer specializing in dance. This could involve creating websites, posters, brochures, social media graphics, logos, and marketing campaigns. Your creative skills and understanding of the dance world can make you a valuable asset to the dance community.
11. Athletic Coach or Personal Trainer
Dancers possess a high level of physical fitness and a deep understanding of body mechanics. If you enjoy the fitness aspects of dance and have a passion for helping others achieve their fitness goals, consider a career as an athletic coach or personal trainer. You can work with individual clients, lead group fitness classes, or even coach sports teams, depending on your interests and additional training. Your dance background provides a strong foundation for teaching movement, designing effective workout routines, and motivating individuals to reach their physical potential.
12. Costume Designer
The visual impact of dance is significantly enhanced by costumes. If you are skilled in sewing, design, and have a flair for fashion, becoming a costume designer for dance offers a creative and collaborative career path. Costume designers work closely with choreographers, directors, and sometimes set and lighting designers to create costumes that support the artistic vision of a production. This involves sketching designs, selecting fabrics, overseeing construction, and ensuring costumes are both aesthetically pleasing and functional for dancers’ movements.
13. Dance Photographer or Videographer
In the digital age, high-quality photos and videos are indispensable for dancers and dance organizations. Dancers need professional headshots, performance photos for marketing materials, and documentation of their work for portfolios and websites. Choreographers require video recordings of their pieces for archival and promotional purposes. If you have a talent for photography or videography and a passion for dance, you can specialize in capturing the beauty and dynamism of dance. This career path offers variety, creative expression, and the opportunity to be constantly immersed in the dance world.
14. Group Fitness Instructor (Dance-Based)
The popularity of dance-inspired fitness classes is booming. People are increasingly seeking fun and engaging ways to exercise, and dance offers a natural and enjoyable approach. As a dancer, you possess a wealth of knowledge about movement that you can share in a fitness class setting. Popular formats include barre classes (incorporating ballet techniques), Zumba, hip-hop dance fitness, and various other styles. If you are energetic, motivating, and enjoy teaching groups, becoming a dance-based fitness instructor can be a dynamic and fulfilling career.
15. Public School Dance Teacher
For dancers who love working with children and are passionate about arts education, teaching dance in public schools can be a highly rewarding option. Many universities offer K-12 dance education certifications that qualify graduates to teach dance and potentially other subjects in public school systems. As a dance teacher, you have the opportunity to inspire the next generation of dancers, foster creativity, and advocate for the importance of arts in education. This path combines your love of dance with a commitment to education and community engagement.
By exploring these diverse career paths, dancers can leverage their unique skills and passion to build fulfilling and sustainable careers that keep them connected to the world of dance, even if they are no longer performing professionally. The dance world needs talented individuals in a variety of roles to thrive, and your dance background can be your greatest asset.
