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Welcome to the year 13 transition Performing Arts Padlet. Did you get the theater reference?
Hopefully you will find some things to support your progression beyond sixth form and into the next stages of your career, whether that’s university, or into the world of professional work. Where to start? Keep reading and see if a basic skills audit will give you an idea of what to look for.

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Various famous actors talking about actors and what it is like for them.

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The performing arts teacher tells you her path into teaching PA at Trinity Sixth Form Academy, Halifax

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Creating a show reel that will help you! 

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Creating a show reel that will help you! 

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Take a look at this helpful 'how to' before creating your showreel to help you create something that catches the casting agents imagination.

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9 Showreel Mistakes To Avoid! | How To Make a Great Demo Reel

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Working as a Professional: Want to be successful?

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Working as a Professional: Want to be successful?

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Read this...

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As well as having a natural talent for your chosen discipline, you'll also need to demonstrate and hone these seven skills and attributes to make it in the competitive performing arts industry

What are the performing arts?

The performing arts is a collective term for arts performed in front of an audience.

They primarily focus on dance, drama, music and theatre. This means there's often overlap with the film and media industries.

Performing arts careers

Popular jobs in the performing arts field include:

In addition to the typical performance roles, design, production and management also falls under the umbrella of the performing arts industry.

Many universities and specialist schools offer performing arts courses in production lighting, stage and prop design, costume construction and stage management.

For instance, you could choose to work as a:

With the right experience and qualifications, moving into teaching and tutoring is also an option - for instance, by setting up as a private music teacher. You could also find work in health and social care as a dramatherapist or dance movement psychotherapist.

Remember that talent can only take you so far when attempting to make your name in this industry. As well as having the physical skills in drama or dance, or other technical performance skills, you'll also need to possess the following attributes.

Confidence

Acting, dancing, playing or singing in front of other people can be an incredibly nerve-racking experience. Stepping onto a stage and performing in front of an audience requires a huge amount of confidence and self-esteem, as you're displaying your talent and inviting judgement.

In these situations, it's natural to feel a certain degree of nerves, but as a professional performing artist you need to harness and use these nerves to better your performance.

Those who aspire to work in the wider industry, perhaps in a technical or management role, will face stiff competition. A confident, can-do attitude will help you stand out in job interviews and may help in securing work experience.

If your self-confidence needs a bit of a boost, there's plenty you can do. Join university clubs or societies, or local groups such as choirs, orchestras, dance or amateur dramatics groups.

You could also consider entering local or regional competitions or talent contests to build your confidence.

Taking on part-time work in a customer-facing role can really help your communication skills and self-esteem.

The ability to network and market yourself

Lots of people working in the performing arts are self-employed, and actors, dancers, singers and musicians all need to audition to find work, so it's vital that you're able to sell and market your abilities to potential employers.

To get your name recognised and to help secure future work, you'll need to employ your networking skills to make as many industry connections as possible.

Join professional associations and attend industry events, sign up for classes, workshops and short courses to meet like-minded people and follow relevant casting directors, dance companies, choreographers, musical directors and repertory and commercial theatres on social media.

Many of the best jobs are attained through connections and knowing the right person at the right time can pay dividends.

Resilience, self-discipline and stamina

Due to the competitive and highly skilled nature of the industry, it's likely that those working within performing arts - even those in technical or managerial roles - will experience rejection at some point in their career. Similarly, they'll also receive criticism in some form, at some stage too.

To cope with these challenges, resilience and tenacity are essential. You need to be able to use these experiences to hone and develop your craft and bounce back better than before.

This is where self-discipline and stamina come in useful. Performing artists are required to work long hours during rehearsals and in the run up to a show and are expected to give 100% to every performance.

Much of your time will be spent practising and improving, and the work can take its toll both mentally and physically - especially on performers who work additional jobs to pay the bills.

An analytical mind and the ability to self-reflect

Perhaps not the most obvious skill, but those working in the industry need an analytical mind.

If you're involved in drama, you'll need to be able to scrutinise and interpret a role and script, while dancers need to be able to break down and analyse choreography, and musicians need to be able to dissect and interpret a piece of music.

You also need to be able to apply these skills to your own work when critically analysing your performances.

This skill can be developed by reviewing university or professional productions, concerts and recitals for academic publications, local media or industry magazines.

Flexibility

Performers need to adapt and apply their skills and talent to a variety of roles, genres, techniques and styles. For example, actors may be cast as a hero in one role and a villain in the next, while dancers may be required to perform classical ballet for one job and street dance the week after.

Flexibility is essentially about being able to multitask, and working part time during your studies will give you lots of practice as you seek to strike the right balance between your university, work and personal commitments.

Indeed, the majority of those working in performing arts also have portfolio careers, often subsidising their salary by taking a second or third job, typically in teaching, arts administration or other technical roles.

Therefore, adaptability and flexibility come in useful when maintaining multiple jobs and switching between roles.

If you're still at university, read our tips on putting together a creative portfolio and how to get media work experience by making a showreel of your best work.

Teamwork

The performing arts are a collaborative effort between many different people coming together to create a successful show, play, broadcast, concert or recital so the ability to work well with others is vital.

See our tips for successful group work at university.

Organisation and time management

Successful performing artists are often required to work on more than one project at once and work schedules can become hectic. Strong organisation and time management skills are therefore a must.

Your day-to-day role may involve attending multiple auditions, keeping track of rehearsal timetables, travel arrangements, promotional engagements and performance times.

You may also need to juggle a second or third job.

Find out more

Written by Daniel Higginbotham, Editor

Prospects · March 2023

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7 skills you need to succeed in performing arts

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As an extremely competitive and highly popular industry to enter, discover the key skills required to be successful in performing arts.

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You'll need to be tenacious and determined to succeed as an actor, willing to gain any kind of experience and grasp any opportunity

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Actors communicate a character or situation to an audience through speech, body language and movement across a variety of mediums, including theatre, film, television, radio and video

Your role as an actor usually involves interpreting the work of a writer under the instruction and support of a director, although some work may require the actor to devise a character or improvise the reactions of a character to a situation.

Work varies enormously, from live stage performances of the classics and community theatre to soap operas, radio work, television advertising and film parts. As well as providing entertainment, an actor's role may also involve education, training or therapy.

Responsibilities

As an actor, you'll need to:

job seek and network

liaise with an agent

prepare for and attend auditions

learn lines and rehearse

research or undertake activities to help prepare for a part and to enable you to 'get into character'

discuss interpretation and delivery with other members of the company and the director

perform for a live audience

perform in a studio or on location for film, television, internet and radio broadcast

do voice-overs for advertisements or record audiobooks

manage the performance area, costumes and props

undertake activities associated with touring, such as driving a van, and 'get-ins' and 'get-outs' at theatres (i.e. setting up and dismantling the performance area)

liaise with venue managers and accommodation providers

keep records for company managers

work as a walk-on or extra for television or film.

Salary

Minimum wages are negotiated by Equity, the trade union for professional performers and other creative workers. Rates depend on the type of employment, location and number of performances.

Equity subscription rates are calculated according to the previous tax year's gross earnings from professional work, with special rates applied for students, children and long-service members.

An agent may be able to negotiate higher wages, taking a percentage of your earnings as a fee. Securing an agent is itself a competitive process, involving networking and often inviting agents to see you perform, or sending them a showreel of your TV or film work.

Very few people become wealthy through acting, although for some the rewards can be immense.

On average, actors spend about 80% of their working life 'resting' (not employed as an actor), so it's likely you'll need other ways of generating an income.

Working hours

Working hours may be long and unsocial. While on tour, an actor may be travelling and setting up scenery during the day and performing at night. Television and film work often involve very early starts and late finishes.

What to expect

Unless you work on the same set, such as a particular television studio, it's likely your place of work will change frequently. For example, you may work in different theatres or studios, work outside in street theatre, or on location in a range of indoor and outdoor settings.

Actors are frequently self-employed for tax purposes and not all employers pay National Insurance contributions. For this reason, accurate record-keeping skills are essential, and many actors employ an accountant.

The lifestyle implications are considerable. Time spent away from home is an inevitable part of the job. Disruption to home and social life may be unavoidable. Many actors leave the profession because of difficulties finding work.

You may find yourself working all over the UK and abroad. Auditions are usually held in London or other major cities, and you may be required to attend them at very short notice.

Word-of-mouth recommendations and networking connections are very common in this industry, so it's essential to demonstrate professionalism in your work. This includes being punctual, polite and well-prepared.

Qualifications

A degree or HND is not a formal requirement for a career in acting. However, it's likely you'll need to complete some form of study in media, performing or visual arts. Only a few actors are lucky enough to land acting jobs with no prior training; most will hone their craft over many years, often starting at a young age.

If you're a current student, of any discipline, you can gain acting experience through your university drama society. Skills developed in any other performing discipline, such as music, are also helpful.

Courses at specialist drama, dance or other performing arts schools tend to be very vocational and practical in nature.

Postgraduate study is not essential but may be a useful way of gaining more skills, experience and contacts. Entry is competitive and courses are intensive. Some institutions offer a one-year MA/postgraduate diploma in acting, or you could attend a summer school or short course focusing on a particular element of acting, such as accent and dialogue coaching, stage combat or Shakespeare.

Search postgraduate courses in drama.

The Federation of Drama Schools provides details of accredited courses, assurance about training standards and advice on careers in the performing arts sector and advocacy. Fees and maintenance costs during study can be considerable and will vary significantly. Contact individual institutions for details.

Skills

You'll need to have:

good communication and listening skills

punctuality and reliability

the ability to interpret and analyse roles

the capacity to work well in teams

the ability to take instruction and criticism

tenacity and determination

confidence to network and follow up contacts

self-discipline and stamina to cope with long hours and learning lines

resilience and determination

additional skills - these may be required for some roles, such as the ability to sing, dance or play a musical instrument.

Work experience

There's no single route to becoming an actor. Experience is an important factor, as are talent, determination, hard work and luck.

Gain acting experience through your school, youth or community amateur dramatics group, or undertake work experience at a theatre or on one of the BBC Careers Work Experience schemes. Holiday camps and resorts offer good opportunities, working as an entertainer or tour operator.

Signing up to an agency and securing small parts in television programmes or adverts, or working as an extra, can also be a great way into an acting career.

Employers

Repertory companies employ actors for a season, during which they perform in a number of different plays, each one usually running for a specified period.

Commercial theatre companies produce plays and musicals for long runs in London's West End theatres and other locations, and for tours in theatres around the UK, and even abroad in some cases.

Fringe theatre companies are small companies, often employing only a few staff and commonly specialising in a niche area of theatre or performance or focusing on work from a specific era or by a particular playwright. Some aim to take performances to people who might not normally have access to larger productions. They perform in a variety of places, including community centres, church halls and public gardens. Some are run as cooperatives.

Theatre in Education (TiE) companies tour schools, using drama to educate children. Productions are often linked to the national curriculum and include workshops that focus on key learning points. Children's theatre companies with a less educational aim also tour schools and other venues to entertain children. An up-to-date DBS check may be required if you'd like to work in this area, and a teaching qualification and/or experience may be beneficial.

Youth theatres engage with young people in theatre activities, outside the formal education system.

Film, television and radio companies employ actors to work on particular productions. Contracts can range from a day to several months, or longer.

Actors may also be employed to appear in promotional or training videos, or to participate in corporate training events, where they might facilitate role-play activities for staff.

The internet is a growth area for acting, either through viral marketing videos or extra online content related to films and TV programmes. Some video games include acting opportunities using motion capture technology.

Museums, heritage organisations and tour companies sometimes employ actors as living history interpreters, which may involve role-playing a character from history and talking to visitors.

For an emerging actor, performing at showcases and major festivals such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival can be highly valuable, as directors and casting agents tend to visit these events.

Look for job vacancies at:

Agencies such as Uni-versalEXTRAS offer work as an extra.

You'll need to be proactive and establish a network of contacts, as few vacancies are advertised. Use directories such as The Performing Arts Yearbook. The Knowledge provides information about organisations that are about to start casting roles in theatre, television and film.

Your CV, as an actor, is different to that for many other jobs. As well as a list of production credits and details of any special skills, such as languages, accents, musical instruments played, singing voice, horse riding or stage combat skills, it also includes a headshot - a head and shoulders picture, usually in black and white, taken by an accredited photographer. Testimonials or professional recommendations may also be included.

Professional development

After you start work as an actor, it's unlikely that formal training leading to vocational qualifications will be provided. Skills are developed on the job through rehearsal and performance as you move between contracts, and this experience is evidenced on your CV. Sometimes you may need to learn a new skill for a role, such as a specific kind of dancing or circus skill, and the director may arrange for a teacher to train you for this.

You'll most likely need to invest in your own career by paying for your own training. Learning other skills, such as singing and dancing, can increase your chances of success in landing roles.

You may wish to join The Actors Centre, which helps actors develop professionally through regular workshops on a range of subjects such as:

improvisation

sightreading and screen acting

voice and movement.

You may also consider a postgraduate course in a related field, such as:

Career prospects

There's no standard career progression for an actor. You may spend your whole career moving from one acting contract to another, performing similar work without gaining extra responsibility or a significant increase in pay.

Success with one contract does not necessarily lead immediately to more work and you may move between theatre, radio, television and film. You must be prepared for the ups and downs and the lack of job security, which is inherent in this profession.

Career progression may take the form of learning new skills or branching out into different areas of performance.

You may have the opportunity to move into other areas, such as theatre management, scriptwriting or directing, or even set up your own theatre or film and television production company.

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Discover what it takes to be a Actor. Find out expected salary, working hours, qualifications and more.

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See if you can find advertisements for the type of dream job you would like in performing arts. What skills do they look for specific to your path of either dance or acting? What general employment skills do they look for alongside your specialist skills?
Which of the skills do you already have and which ones do you need to acquire over the next couple of years at Uni?
(The Stage is a place to find job advertisements- find a link in Something to Read)

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A successful choreographer demonstrates a keen passion and talent for dance partnered with persistence, determination and excellent teaching and leadership skills

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A successful choreographer demonstrates a keen passion and talent for dance partnered with persistence, determination and excellent teaching and leadership skills

As a choreographer, you'll create and plan routines for performance, usually to music or to evoke an idea in the heads of the audience. You'll create dance routines to entertain at live shows, events or for TV and films. You're usually required to plan the whole performance, from teaching the steps to the dancers to working with costume designers and directors to achieve the desired outcome. You could choreograph stage, TV or film performances, music videos, and even fashion shows or corporate events. You might create your own dance pieces or interpret a director's instructions depending on the brief provided.

You'll need a high level of dancing ability, the patience to teach others and to know what looks good to a wider audience, as well as the communication skills needed to make sure that your directions are coming across clearly to your dancers.

The most successful choreographers run whole shows by themselves, playing out storylines and themes through meticulous planning of dances, costumes, music and visuals, to engage the audience. Choreographers often run their own dance schools, which also involves balancing their own accounts and managing costs.

Responsibilities

Depending on your area of specialism, you'll need to:

develop ideas and create and develop routines to produce a well-polished performance

plan movements to fit to music, guided by artistic and musical directors

discuss ideas and plans with producers, costume designers, and musical and artistic directors

choose music suitable for the concept or subject you have been tasked with

audition, teach and rehearse dancers

for some forms of dance you may be required to record the steps using a notation system, such as Labanotation or Benesh

work with other professionals to choreograph fight scenes or theatrical stunts

be able to work on more than one show at a time

meet regularly with producers, musical and artistic directors and costume designers.

If you're freelance, you'll also need to promote and market yourself, find new work and deal with your own tax and accounts.

Choreographers usually specialise in one style of dance, such as:

classical ballet

contemporary dance forms such as jazz, hip-hop, street or freestyle

musical theatre

ballroom and Latin American, such as salsa

highland or Scottish country (ceilidh) dancing

cultural, such as Irish, Indian, African or belly dancing

ice dancing

disability dance.

Salary

Salaries are extremely varied depending on whether you work purely on a freelance basis, run your own company or work for someone else.

Variations in income can also depend on:

type of employment - freelance, fixed term or contracted

how experienced you are and your reputation in the industry

the size of the company or organisation you work for.

Earnings for choreographers can also vary widely, depending on the type of contract and production you work on.

Information supplied by forecasts that the average UK salary for a choreographer is currently £44,200 ( LMI For All).

Equity, the performers' union, negotiates minimum rates of pay for choreographers each year, both for the commercial and independent theatre. The Independent Theatre Council (ITC) also publishes minimum rates of pay.

Initial rates for preparation and up to two weeks' rehearsal is a minimum fee of £1,951.50.

The minimum weekly fee (for more than two weeks of rehearsals) for a choreographer is £483.00.

The minimum daily rate is £157.00.

The minimum session rate (maximum of 3 hours) is £101.00.

Working hours

Your working hours will depend on your employer. For example, if you're working within an educational setting then your hours will be dictated by the student's hours, but you'll still need to consider the time outside of delivery hours in which you will be preparing your choreography and making arrangements for events.

The working hours of a choreographer tend to be long due to rigorous teaching demands in the daytime and further classes or performances in the evenings, because you tend to be working on more than one performance at a time.

Your work may be more based around short contracts rather than one permanent job which can also impact on the hours required and regularity of the hours.

Data provided by LMI For All suggests that the UK Choreography workforce is currently made up of 7.8% full-time, 26.6% part-time and 65.6% self-employed workers.

What to expect

You're likely to be often working on more than one production at a time.

You may mainly work in dance studios and rehearsal rooms, but also in theatres, film and TV studios, nightclubs, halls and holiday centres.

There may be a lot of travel, possibly including overseas. There will likely be more travel involved the higher up the chain you get, as popular shows often tour a country or even a continent.

You must keep up your fitness levels and stamina throughout your career.

You might have to spend long periods away from home.

Postgraduate theatre training in the north

Discover four new collaborative, industry-focused MAs for theatre makers and performers

Qualifications

There are no formal qualifications required to enter this role, however many choreographers usually start off as dancers and many study dance at college or university. A background in dance (preferably as a performer) is more important than educational qualifications.

Several courses in dance performance include an option in choreography. There are courses in dance and performing arts (including dance) at different levels, from National Certificate (NC) or National Qualification (NQ), up to Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) and degree.

Not all courses need academic qualifications, although there's usually an audition. It's useful to have experience in English (required by many courses), expressive arts subjects such as dance, music and drama, and physical education. Many dancers start at an early age and undertake graded examinations through dance classes.

There are also courses at private schools. Information on recognised dance courses is available from the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT).

Skills

You should have:

a creative imagination

a high level of dancing ability and general fitness

a knowledge of established dance steps and movements

an excellent sense of rhythm and understanding of the theory of timing in music

a good ear for music

a knowledge of human anatomy

good spatial awareness

a good memory to recall sequences of movements

energy and stamina to try out the movements yourself and demonstrate them to others.

You'll also need:

patience, stamina and excellent focus

self-discipline and determination

good communication skills for working with people

an awareness of health and safety

marketing and business skills, if you work freelance

the ability to explain effectively and to teach others

strong interpersonal skills.

Work experience

Each job may lead to more recognition and bigger opportunities for choreographers. Showcasing work whenever possible is important, and choreographers at any stage of their careers may find that community productions, dance recitals and festivals offer opportunities to demonstrate their artistic skills. Jobs may also be available through cruise ships, and leisure activities or in teaching positions.

You may find it useful to get work experience with an established choreographer. The One Dance UK UK Choreographers Directory (UKCD) is a free, searchable directory of independent choreographers with experience in the arts and entertainment industries. You could also develop your skills by volunteering to choreograph amateur dance club performances.

Aim to get experience of as many different types of dance as possible, such as ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap and Bollywood. Listen to lots of different kinds of music and start to create your own routines.

Employers

There are no official central or major employers, just a multitude of creative companies that require such expertise. Dance schools will require several choreographers, as will production companies and those dealing with arts events.

Jobs may be advertised in publications such as The Stage and on dance-related websites, such as The Place - which also produces a monthly magazine, Juice. Choreographers must also network and promote themselves. Dance UK has a Choreographers Directory and national forum. Freelancers are often advised to contact individual companies speculatively, as a lot of choreographer roles are not actively advertised.

Look for job vacancies at:

Professional development

Dancers tend to begin training early in their lives, completing grades and exams in specific dance styles. Many go to a dance school or take a dance/musical theatre degree, some of which will include modules on choreography.

Being a dancer, while not mandatory, will stand you in very good stead in terms of experience. Then you can offer yourself as an assistant choreographer, gaining further experience before possibly going on to gain an official qualification or putting yourself out there as a choreographer in your own right. From this point, all progression is performance based - the way to get noticed is to choreograph routines that simply cannot be ignored.

A lot of choreographers have an ambition to set up their own dance school, so that they can bring in other dance teachers and bring up the next generation of dancers.

One Dance UK provides professional development opportunities including networking, mentoring, and training courses, which include dancers' health, teaching and fundraising.

CDMT is the membership body for the professional dance industry. It organises a programme of continuing professional development (CPD) alongside specialist companies, teaching societies and other bodies operating the arts.

Career prospects

Many choreographers progress into teaching, either in the private or the public sector. CDMT provides details of the range of dance teaching qualifications available. Following this route, you could opt to run your own dance courses, or consider running a franchise within a health and fitness club.

Other career options include working as a dancer or actor or taking on a director or management role within the film, TV or theatre industry.

Some choreographers also go on to become dance movement psychotherapists, a therapeutic process which helps clients address their problems or develop personally through dance and movement. You could also work as a movement coach for actors.

Written by Leanne Barnes

University of Southampton · December 2019

© Copyright AGCAS & Graduate Prospects Ltd · Disclaimer

Related jobs and courses

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A successful choreographer demonstrates a keen passion and talent for dance partnered with persistence, determination and excellent teaching and leadership skills As a choreographer, you'll create and plan routines for performance, usually to music or to evoke an idea in the heads of the audience.

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After BTEC: Got A Dance Degree- what can you do with it? 

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After BTEC: Got A Dance Degree- what can you do with it? 

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It's not just about dance. what other directions could your dance degree take you in?

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A dance degree allows you to combine a love of performing with development of your choreography, cultural history and arts administration and management skills

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Take a few minutes to answer the Job Match quiz and find out what careers would suit you

Work experience

Most dance degree students supplement their studies by creating, producing and performing their own work. This allows you to develop skills in other areas of the performance process, including operations and administration - you can also develop marketing, ticketing and event management experience by working on your own projects.

Some dance degrees include a professional training placement year. A placement allows you to experience working in a professional dance company or arts organisation and may lead to a paid opportunity.

Other options include internships, community projects, teaching dance classes, volunteering at festivals, writing reviews and opinion pieces for dance blogs and websites or creating your own workshops that allow you to explore your own personal interests. Some students evolve their own dance companies from their involvement in self-directed or voluntary projects. These opportunities allow you to grow your network in dance and performing arts, which creates further opportunities for you to work with other creative professionals.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Freelancing and short-term contracts are the norm and many dance graduates develop 'portfolio careers'. Moving between different fields, networking, attending auditions, collaborating with other artists and putting on your own shows are all parts of a dancer's lifestyle.

Dance is about how you present yourself. It's important to network at every opportunity and showcase your work and skills when you can. Keeping an open mind will help ensure that you'll be able to take advantage of any opportunities that present themselves.

Typical employers include:

performing dance companies, such as the English National Ballet, Northern Ballet, Royal Ballet and Rambert

clubs, cabarets and cruise ships, either in the UK or abroad

musical theatre, in the West End or on tour

backing dancers in music videos, performances and on TV programmes

community dance organisations, partly funded by the Four Arts councils, such as Sadler's Wells

teaching organisations, such as Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Stagecoach Performing Arts and the Royal Academy of Dance.

Find information on employers in creative arts and design, charity and voluntary work, leisure, sport and tourism and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

Studying dance provides you with specialist knowledge in different dance forms, dance history, choreography, community dance, arts administration and the commercial and business side of dance and the performing arts.

A dance degree develops transferable skills that are valued by all kinds of employers. These include:

presentation and communication skills

ability to work independently

teamwork and collaboration

creative collaboration

focus

original thinking

time management and organisational skills

self-awareness

self-discipline

creativity and flexibility

awareness of others

analytical, critical and research skills

writing and marketing

the ability to receive feedback and learn from it

pursuit of excellence

resilience.

Further study

Popular further study options for dance graduates include postgraduate study in specialist fields, such as choreographic practice, arts administration, digital arts and community dance.

Others pursue general postgraduate degrees in dance to deepen their particular performance subject interest.

Because of their knowledge and interest in movement and the physical body, some graduates undertake further study in dance science, strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, osteopathy or vocational fitness/healthcare qualifications such as personal training.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in dance.

What do dance graduates do?

A large proportion of dance graduates are in work six months after graduation, and 32% of these are employed as dancers and choreographers.

Find out what other graduates are doing six months after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate destinations data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

Written by Lara Hayward

University of Oxford · September 2018

© Copyright AGCAS & Graduate Prospects Ltd · Disclaimer

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What can I do with a dance degree? | Prospects.ac.uk

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A dance degree allows you to combine a love of performing with development of your choreography, cultural history and arts administration and management skills Jobs directly related to your degree include: Jobs where your degree would be useful include: Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

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The Stage is one of the best newspapers aimed at performers and those working in the performance industry. It has so much information on many topics relevant to the world of performing arts today. You need an email address to sign up but it is free and well worth keeping an eye on to keep up to date with what's going on in theatre and performance in general.