Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Choreographers
Choreographers create new dance routines. Rehearse performance of routines. May direct and stage presentations.
Table of contents
What they do
Choreographers create new dance routines. Rehearse performance of routines. May direct and stage presentations.
- Direct rehearsals to instruct dancers in how to use dance steps, and in techniques to achieve desired effects.
- Teach students, dancers, and other performers about rhythm and interpretive movement.
- Choose the music, sound effects, or spoken narrative to accompany a dance.
- Advise dancers on how to stand and move properly, teaching correct dance techniques to help prevent injuries.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Choreographers train, exercise, and attend dance classes to maintain high levels of technical proficiency, physical ability, and physical fitness. They advise dancers on how to stand and move properly, teaching correct dance techniques to help prevent injuries.
A typical day for a Choreographer will also include:
- Direct rehearsals to instruct dancers in how to use dance steps, and in techniques to achieve desired effects.
- Teach students, dancers, and other performers about rhythm and interpretive movement.
- Develop ideas for creating dances, keeping notes and sketches to record influences.
- Assess students’ dancing abilities to determine where improvement or change is needed.
- Experiment with different types of dancers, steps, dances, and placements, testing ideas informally to get feedback from dancers.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Choreographers also manage dance schools or assist in their management. They may also direct rehearsals to instruct dancers in how to use dance steps, and in techniques to achieve desired effects.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Choreographers audition performers for one or more dance parts. They might also choose the music, sound effects, or spoken narrative to accompany a dance.
In addition, they read and study storylines and musical scores to determine how to translate ideas and moods into dance movements.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them design sets, lighting, costumes, and other artistic elements of productions, in collaboration with cast members.
To some Choreographers, it is also their responsibility to seek influences from other art forms such as theatre, the visual arts, and architecture.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
68% said they were satisfied with their job and 49% said they found their job meaningful.
My day starts by checking email and responding to questions from current and prospective families.
The next part of my day is the administrative part of the business: sending out a weekly newsletter, updating my website or social media, choreographing dances, planning classes/performances/competitions, costume or prop repair/creation, etc. I am also a part of a coaching/networking group for dance studio owners, so I have about one call with them per week for troubleshooting or professional development.
I teach classes for about 4 hours per night, Monday through Friday. During the fall I also run rehearsals on Saturday for 6 hours. I teach all ages (3 through adult) and ability levels (beginning through advanced).
Pros
- Able to be creative: choreography, creating new productions
- Get to work with a lot of different ages of clients
- Get to watch my students grow up
- Have control over the length and timing of my summer vacation
- Knowing I have made a difference in the lives of my students
- Getting to introduce ballet to a new generation, help dancers rekindle their love of ballet or fulfill a childhood dream of learning ballet
- Seeing the excitement on the dancers’ faces when they see their recital costume for the first time, start learning a new dance, etc (this is the adults too)
Cons
- I currently don’t have staff, so there are certain times of the year when my to-do list can be overwhelming. Sometimes I can have volunteers help with things, but other times it has to fall on me.
- If a student doesn’t want to be there (meaning taking ballet was their parent’s idea), they can sometimes be difficult to handle.
- There are always a few families who don’t read the newsletters or write important information on their calendars and then miss meetings or deadlines.
- I occasionally have to deal with a parent who thinks their dancer is more advanced than they are, or who thinks the studio should be planned around what they want. (Luckily this doesn’t happen very often.)
Pros
Suitable for people who like to work with designs.
Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
One of the fastest-growing careers.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to follow routines.
Salary is below average.
It is hard to get into this career. A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Choreographers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $21,180 to $29,420 per year or $10 to $14 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $101,250 | $49 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $63,080 | $30 |
| Median | $43,680 | $21 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $29,420 | $14 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $21,180 | $10 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Choreographers based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Performing Arts Companies | $59200 | $28.46 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $52170 | $25.08 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $48560 | $23.35 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | $43070 | $20.71 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $37430 | $18.00 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | $36300 | $17.45 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Choreographers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Choreographers including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other Schools and Instruction | 2160 | $48560 | $23.35 |
| Performing Arts Companies | 890 | $59200 | $28.46 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 60 | $52170 | $25.08 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools | 50 | $36300 | $17.45 |
| Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers | 40 | $43070 | $20.71 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $37430 | $18.00 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Musical Theatre
Theatre and Dance
Dance
Ballet
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like working with forms, designs, and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
They also like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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