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Choreographer: Job Description, Info, & Job Openings

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Do you love to dance?

Do you have a passion for choreography and teaching others?

A career as a choreographer may be the perfect fit for you!

Read on to learn more about choreographers, the education and training requirements, and what salary and job outlook to expect.

Choreographer: The Basics

Let’s begin with a basic definition of what a choreographer is.

What is a Choreographer?

A choreographer is someone who creates original dances and routines, often set to music.

They may work in various genres, including ballet, modern dance, jazz, hip-hop, and more.

Choreographers may also teach dance classes and workshops, in addition to creating new works.

What is a Choreographer Called?

Choreographers are sometimes called creators.

What Does a Choreographer Do?

Generally speaking, a choreographer’s duties divide into two categories.

Creating new dances and teaching others.

Work Opportunities in the Choreographer Industry

There are many different opportunities available for those who wish to pursue a career in choreography.

Choreographer Job Description

Choreographers are responsible for creating new dance routines and sequences.

In some cases, they may also be responsible for teaching these routines to dancers.

They often work with a specific group of dancers or performers, such as those in a ballet company or on a Broadway show.

Top Choreographer Jobs and Careers

The top three jobs held by choreographers are:

  • Dancer
  • Dance teacher
  • Fitness instructor

Where Can a Choreographer Work?

Some choreographers work freelance, creating dances for various shows and productions.

Others may work for dance companies, schools, or performance venues.

Still others may choose to teach classes or workshops.

What It’s Like to be a Choreographer

Let’s explore what a normal day in the life of a choreographer might be like.

Is Being a Choreographer Hard?

It depends.

Like any job, choreography can have its challenges.

But if you’re passionate about dancing and enjoy working with people, it can be a very rewarding career.

Is a Choreographer’s Job Stressful?

If you love to dance and you’re creative, your stress levels should be low.

Common Choreographer Work Day

A normal day in the life of a choreographer may involve:

  • Meeting with clients or artistic directors to discuss upcoming performances
  • Working with dancers to teach them new routines
  • Attending rehearsals to make sure that the dancers are executing the steps the right way
  • Making adjustments to the choreography as needed

Choreographer Tasks & Duties

The work of a choreographer can vary greatly depending on the project at hand.

However, there are some common tasks and duties that are often part of the job, such as:

  • Brainstorming ideas for new routines or projects
  • Planning and designing sequences of steps and movements
  • Working with dancers to teach them new routines
  • Adjusting routines as needed based on feedback from dancers or clients
  • Observing rehearsals and giving feedback to dancers
  • Attending meetings with clients or other professionals involved in the project
  • Managing budgets and schedules
  • Promoting new routines or projects through social media or other channels

The day-to-day tasks of a choreographer can vary.

But the job generally requires a lot of creativity, communication, and collaboration.

Choreographer Work Hours & Schedule

Most choreographers are self-employed and work long hours.

They may work evenings and weekends to attend rehearsals and performances.

Choreographer Dress Code

Most choreographers dress casually for rehearsals.

But when working with a professional company or teaching a class, they may need to wear business casual attire.

For performances, choreographers usually wear black so that they blend in with the audience and do not distract from the dancers on stage.

Does This Career Field Embrace Work/Life Balance?

Since most choreographers are self-employed, they have more control over their work schedules.

This can allow for more flexibility when it comes to balancing work and life outside of the office.

Choreographer Salary & Income

As with many other careers in the arts, there is no set salary for choreographers.

Do Choreographers Make Good Money?

Earnings largely depend on factors such as experience, location, and type of employer.

How Much Do Choreographers Make?

The median annual salary for choreographers is just over $40k, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Overview of the Choreographer Industry

In this section, let’s take a look at the overall industry of choreographers.

This will provide context for the specific role of a choreographer.

It will also help you understand how this profession fits into the larger world of entertainment.

Choreographer Field: Career Progression

Getting started in the choreographer field can be difficult.

There are not many entry-level positions, and most jobs require at least some experience.

However, with hard work and dedication, it is possible to break into the industry and build a successful career.

The most common way to become a choreographer is to start as a dancer.

Dancers who have training in multiple genres and styles of dance are often the most successful in this field.

Those who have a strong background in ballet and modern dance tend to be the most sought-after by choreographers.

It is also important to have a good understanding of musicality, as this will be helpful when creating routines.

Once you have established yourself as a dancer, you can begin to look for work as a choreographer.

Many dancers start out working as assistants to more experienced choreographers.

This is a great way to learn the ropes and gain experience in the industry.

You can also look for opportunities to choreograph for local dance companies or schools.

As you build your experience, you may start to get more opportunities to work on larger projects.

You may also be able to start your own dance company or school.

With enough experience, you can even become a professor of dance at a college or university.

Is a Choreographer a Good Career?

A career as a choreographer can be exciting and rewarding, but it is also demanding and competitive.

If you are considering becoming a choreographer, it is important to be aware of its challenges and opportunities.

Choreographer Job Outlook

The BLS also projects that job opportunities for choreographers will grow by about 31 percent between 2020 and 2030.

This is much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations.  

Demand for Choreographers

Choreographers are in high demand in the United States.

And this will increase in the coming years.

Choreographer Facts

Choreographers often have a college degree in dance or a related field.

But some may enter the profession with only a high school diploma.

Many choreographers also hold teaching positions at dance schools or colleges.

The median annual wage for choreographers is $40k.

Jobs Related to Choreographer

The tope related jobs include:

  • Artist & Repertoire Screener
  • Playwright
  • Session Musician

Requirements, Skills and Education Required for Choreographers

You need to know what kind of requirements, skills, and education are necessary to pursue a career as a choreographer.

Who Should Consider a Choreographer Career Path?

If you love to dance and have a creative flair, choreography could be the right career path for you.

Besides being passionate about dancing, successful choreographers should work well with people.

After all, they’ll be spending a lot of time teaching dancers and helping them to perfect their routines.

Who Should NOT Consider a Choreographer Career Path?

If you’re not a fan of dancing, or if you don’t have the patience to work with people, then choreography is probably not the right career path for you.

Is It Hard to Become a Choreographer?

No, becoming a choreographer is not difficult.

However, it does require some training and experience.

What Do I Need to Become a Choreographer?

There are no specific requirements for becoming a choreographer.

However, dance training and experience are essential.

Requirements for Becoming an Choreographer

Many choreographers start their careers by taking dance classes and working with dance companies.

It is also important to be creative and have a good understanding of music and rhythm.

What Skills Does a Choreographer Need?

To succeed in this career, one must have excellent creative skills and strong technical knowledge of dance and musicality.

What Education Does a Choreographer Need?

There are no formal education requirements to become a choreographer.

But most successful choreographers have at least some training in dance.

Many have pursued degrees or taken classes at dance studios or conservatories.

It is also helpful to have experience performing in front of an audience.

This can give you a better understanding of how to create a routine that will engage and captivate viewers.

Can You Become a Choreographer Without a Degree?

Yes.

Many choreographers start as dancers and then develop their skills in choreography.

They do this by taking classes or working with experienced choreographers.

What Experience Does a Choreographer Need?

Choreographers need to be creative and have a good understanding of music, rhythm, and timing.

They must also be able to work well with dancers and other members of a production team.

Choreographer Education & Schooling

If you’re ready to start a career as a choreographer, you’ll need the proper education and training.

What Is Taught in a Choreographer Course?

Most coursework for a choreographer will be in dance, music, and theater.

You will learn about different types of dance, music theory, and stagecraft.

You will also take classes in anatomy and physiology to learn how the body moves.

How Long Does a Choreographer Course Take?

Most courses take two to three years to complete.

Choreographer Education Options and Degree Programs

Bachelor’s Degree

A Bachelor’s Degree in Dance or a related field is the minimum requirement to pursue a career as a choreographer.

Many choreographers also have a Master’s Degree or PhD in Dance.

Master’s Degree

A Master’s Degree in Dance isn’t required.

But it can help you make more money.

Schools for Choreographers

Popular schools include:

Juliard

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

California State University-Long Beach

Become a Choreographer

Are you ready to become a professional choreographer?

It takes hard work, dedication, and a passion for dance to be successful in this field.

There are steps you need to take to proceed.

Steps to Become a Choreographer

To become a choreographer, you will need to have a strong understanding of music, rhythm, and movement.

You will also need to be creative and can communicate your ideas.

Here are some steps that you can take to become a choreographer:

1. Take dance classes.

2. Get involved with a dance company.

3. Create your own dances.

4. Network with other dancers and choreographers.

5. Get a degree in dance.

Current Career Job Openings

Many job openings are available.

You’ll find choreographer jobs in theater, schools, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a famous choreographer?

Paul Taylor is a famous choreographer.

Who is the number 1 dancer in the world?

Many consider Saburo Teshigawara to be the number 1 dancer in the world.

Wrapping Up

We hope this article has given you a better understanding of what choreographers do and how to become one.

If you have a passion for dance and creativity, then a career in choreography could be the perfect fit for you.

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