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Occupation Information
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Dancer
Ballet DancerBallerina )



Duties and Tasks
Specialisations
Quick Facts
Work Conditions
Personal Requirements
Related Industries
Labour Market
Related Jobs
Earnings
Related Courses
Further Information
State Specific Information

Occupation Video
 

Rehearsing a new piece
Rehearsing a new piece

Dancers are performers who entertain audiences by dancing as soloists, with a partner, or as members of a group.

There are many styles of dance including ballet, contemporary, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, folk, jazz, ballroom and tap. Dancers may perform using a variety of styles or they may specialise in one particular dance style. 

Fact Sheet

Duties and Tasks

Dancers may perform the following tasks:

  • attend auditions
  • rehearse dance steps and movements under the direction and instruction of a choreographer
  • develop their own interpretation of a role
  • train daily to maintain or improve technical standards, fitness and flexibility and to help reduce the risk of injury when rehearsing or performing
  • perform styles of dance as the company, project or choreographer requires
  • sing or act as part of a performance
  • apply own make-up for a performance
  • choreograph dance works or routines.

Specialisations

Choreographer
Community Dance Worker
Dance Teacher
Dance Therapist

Info Icon Quick Facts

Learning Area Performing Arts  
Physical Education  
Work Demand Including mainly indoor work  
Including physical effort  
Work Field Art, Design, Music and Entertainment  
Work Interest Creative or Artistic  
Practical or Mechanical  
Skill Level Para Professional Jobs  
Professional Jobs  
Quick Facts

Work Conditions

Most professional classical dancers have studied ballet from about the age of five. However, some modern dancers, particularly men, begin training as late as 16 to 20 years of age.

Personal Requirements

  • discipline, dedication and perseverance
  • physically well-proportioned
  • good sense of rhythm
  • an appreciation of music
  • technical and interpretive skills
  • good general health and an ability to reach high levels of fitness
  • good communication skills.

Related Industries

Adult, Community and Other Education
Creative and Performing Arts Activities
Medical and Other Health Care Services

Labour Market

Information

Australian JobOutlook for Actors, Dancers and Other Entertainers

Vacancies

Australian JobSearch for Actors and Dancers (ALL AUSTRALIA)
Australian VolunteerSearch - Arts/Culture and Heritage for ALL AUSTRALIA
Work Opportunities websites

Related Jobs

Actor
Arts Administrator
Entertainer
Musician
Singer

Earnings

View text version of earnings

Occupation Earnings Graph

Occupation Mean Weekly Earnings Graph

How Much?

Related Courses

New South Wales / ACT
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia

See State Specific Information below for further education and training options.

Further Information

Ausdance
Ausdance (ACT)
Ausdance (NSW)
Ausdance (NT)
Ausdance (QLD)
Ausdance (SA)
Ausdance (VIC)
Ausdance (WA)
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (ACT)
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (NSW)
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (QLD)
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (SA/NT)
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (TAS)
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (VIC)
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (WA)
Tasdance
The Australian Ballet School

State Specific Information

New South Wales / ACT
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia


Occupation Video - Choreographer

Video courtesy of the myfuture Student Video Competition