Salary: Median—$33,670 per year
Employment Outlook: Good
Choreographers create and arrange original dances, combining steps and movements to form an artistic whole. They also develop new interpretations of traditional dances. Choreographers usually audition performers and teach them a dance at rehearsals. They often stage and direct presentations of their own works.
Choreographers work in all forms of dance, including classical ballet, modern, tap, jazz, folk, ethnic, and ballroom. They must be knowledgeable not only about dance techniques but also about music, costumes, lighting, and drama.
Many of the major full-time professional dance companies have resident choreographers under contract. These companies also invite guest choreographers on a seasonal basis. Some choreographers work for small, regional dance companies. Others find work with opera companies and in musical theater, television, movies, music videos, and commercials.
Education and Training Requirements
Choreographers are usually former dancers with years of experience working in the theater and with dance companies. A college degree is not required for professional choreographers, but high school courses in speech, drama, music, and the visual arts are highly recommended. It is very important for choreographers to develop their sense of rhythm and their understanding of music. They must have strength, flexibility, grace, and coordination. Other characteristics vital to a successful choreographer include self-discipline, patience, commitment, and perseverance.
Getting the Job
Choreographers start out as dancers. Prospective choreographers should seize every opportunity to gain experience and polish their dancing skills by performing frequently. Performing with or creating dances for local groups is a good way to begin a career. Trade magazines contain announcements for auditions. Dancers can move into choreography by becoming assistants to established choreographers or by creating brief pieces for their own dance companies.
Advancement Possibilities and Employment Outlook
Better choreographic commissions and higher pay for choreographers come with recognition. Some choreographers form their own dance companies. Others become directors, as well as choreographers, for the musical theater and film industries. Still others become college teachers, usually after obtaining a degree.
Employment opportunities for choreographers will be good through the year 2014. The field is highly competitive, however, and a choreographic career does not necessarily provide long-term security. The best job opportunities are expected to be with national dance companies and in the field of music videos.
A choreographer must be knowledgeable about all facets of a production, including dance, music, costumes, lighting, and drama.
Working Conditions
Choreographers must have physical stamina to endure long hours of dance creation and the subsequent rehearsals needed to perfect a new work. Although employment may be intermittent, choreographers often work every day, including weekends and holidays, when staging a new work. They travel often. Success in the performing arts requires frequent personal sacrifice. The hours are long, the stress rate is high, and creativity is expected on demand.
Earnings and Benefits
Earnings of choreographers vary greatly depending on experience and job type. The median annual earnings for salaried choreographers is $33,670. Established choreographers can earn more than $70,000 per year. Many choreographers enjoy the benefits of union contracts, but freelancers do not receive these benefits.
User Comments Add a comment…
7 months ago
melanie belley melgel_girl ((at)) hotmail dot com
thanks for the info just really that all they make?!? if i wanna do this as my life job well i hope i'm making more then this@!
7 months ago
Kierra skierra65 ((at)) yahoo dot com
OMG! THX 4 THA SITE IT HELPED A LOT I TRUELY WANT TO BE A CHOREOGRAPHER WHEN I GROW UP THIS HELPED MAJORLY!!!!
7 months ago
Victoriaaaa (: supermanbatmanspidermansband ((at)) hotmail dot com
I'm doing a project for my school on choreography and how to become a choreographer. This page really helped me on the salary situation that i had on hand (: We had a paper due that we had to choose a career and answer 12 questions about then write a paper on it. It seemed like all the questions i had on the page happened to be on this site.
8 months ago
mya mz dot thang_2 ((at)) yahoo dot com
thanxs for puuting this here it is a very helpful source to young people for career projects.
8 months ago
lil redd mz dot thang_2 ((at)) yahoo dot com
thank you for putting this up here it really helps with ideas on choreography.
9 months ago
Dean dean_ruiz_piercing_ ((at)) yahoo dot com
im lovin it
about 1 year ago
Leighanne <3 Zack leighanne_loves-ya ((at)) hotmail dot com
thats for all that infomation it really helped me a bunch! LOL
about 1 year ago
Zadie Franklin [lc00li3] irie_95_libra ((at)) yahoo dot com
Mkayy... First: i would like to thank this site for providing me with this info.. i L0V3 to Dance! i dance myy heart out everyday..im only 12.im going to the 9th grade.[impressive].i want to persue myy career as a Dance Choreographer. i was born to dance..i mean dancing is actually myy life..
about 1 year ago
megler meganabbott ((at)) bellsouth dot net
Thanks a million for this information!!!! This is a great resource.
about 1 year ago
abby abigailhernandez08 ((at)) yahoo dot com
this site really help me on researching on my carrer project at school its awesome 4sho.....
about 1 year ago
briannaclouden briannacloudn ((at)) yahoo dot com
if you see my name you should know i love to dance it is my passion if i could be on stage dancinng with a famous superstar that would be grat. because dancing is my thing its like something i do every day i mean it so don't judge me if youseen me before.. okay
about 1 year ago
Diamouishaea Diamonysha dot smith ((at)) yahoo dot com
i really like this site because i had a project for dance and this site really helped me out thanx thanx!!!!!!!
about 1 year ago
ally ally11_gurl ((at)) yahoo dot com
thank you for the web site i have been danceing since i was 3 and want to be a choreographer once i graduate this helped with my project!!!!
about 1 year ago
emily emilyloukeeton ((at)) aol dot com
thank so much it helped alot!!!
about 1 year ago
ERIC sexii betch! cheerboy569 ((at)) hotmail dot com
bezt site ever helped me on my projec alot! lotta lovee!
about 1 year ago
Jamea varsitymchs ((at)) yahoo dot com
THANX FOR WHOEVER CREATEDD THIS PAGE...IT REALLY HELPED ME WITH MY PROJECT!!!KUDOS
about 1 year ago
parul parulpasricha ((at)) hotmail dot com
thanks a lot..this site has helped me alot
about 1 year ago
Vanessa vgiulianas ((at)) hotmail dot com
Oh my gosh!. Thanks for having this site i love to dance and i really needed the information. :]
about 1 year ago
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Thanks so much...this info. helped me with my 5 page essay...I love this!!! Thank you, thank you! :)
about 1 year ago
lynda cutielindablue93 ((at)) hotmail dot com
hey thnx for the info... i like this site keep it up... luv lynda boo boo
about 1 year ago
Jules tears_ofmy_broken_heart ((at)) hotmail dot com
i love to dance. and this site really helped.
about 1 year ago
leila weiwa dot the dot weo ((at)) hotmail dot com
Kudos to the creaters. I love dancing. Always have. This page helped me with ym project. Thanks. XD
about 1 year ago
leila weiwa dot the dot weo ((at)) hotmail dot com
It was nice to read about the experiance you'd need to go into a profession like so, and its helped me with my school project. Kudos to the creaters.
about 1 year ago
Josh breakerboyjosh ((at)) hotmail dot com
Best site for my careers project
about 1 year ago
misty stankyduke210 ((at)) yahoo dot com
have fun dancing people
about 1 year ago
misty snyder stankyduke210 ((at)) yahoo dot com
wat it dew my name is misty and i love 2 dance me and my cuzin been dancing eveysince we was like 4 or 5 years old and we love dancing we wons in talent shows 1st place and everything and we want to be a dance choreographers when we grow up well bye
about 1 year ago
rosexx rosefiredance ((at)) hotmail dot com
thanks this website was very cool got lots of info on my dream job.xxx
about 1 year ago
blake nd kierre youngkid365 ((at)) yahoo dot com
thanxs for this website.. iit has helped us tremendously wiit our project...
about 1 year ago
amber ambermorris93 ((at)) yahoo dot com
thanx~!
about 1 year ago
Michele Harper pancakes721 ((at)) aol dot com
I am currently in high school trying to figure out what i want to do with my life and this was a great cite to refer to. I recommend it to everybody. Thanks for the help
over 2 years ago
Yodi Snobelle2 ((at)) aol dot com
I'm glad y'all put this page up. It helped me with my project!
over 2 years ago
melisa Gutierrez melisa09 ((at)) yahoo dot com
hey well guess what i really cant dancce but i love watching people. Its a lot of exsitement especially if they are really good. love always melisa gutierrez ILOVEMYLILLEO