Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Coaching and Developing Others Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

The Work

The Dancer uses his/her virtuosity and technical ability in dance so as to develop the character being portrayed and the aim is to realise to the full the intentions of the composer/author or choreographer and to affect audiences accordingly. The Dancer must work as part of a team that may include the composer/author, the producer, the director and/or choreographer and other Dancers.  
 
A Dancer must be capable of interpreting and undertaking a wide variety of roles, but as experience increases he/she will find the greatest satisfaction in the portrayal of those roles best suited to his/her particular talents and personality.  
 
Opportunities exist for Professional Dancers to work for national, international and small-scale dance companies in theatre productions and as freelance performers.  
 
Other career choices include:  
 
Choreographer - working with dance companies or in the world of TV and Video  
Dance Animator - developing dance activities within communities  
Dance Teaching and Dance Therapy.  
Alternatively you may make your career in a related field such as dance administration or marketing.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Explain and demonstrate artistic techniques.
• Evaluate and grade students' class work, performances, projects, assignments, and papers.
• Prepare students for performances, exams, or assessments.
• Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
• Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as acting techniques, fundamentals of music, and art history.
• Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
• Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
• Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
• Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction.
• Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

Further Information

• Dance Teacher - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Dance Teacher - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Dance Teacher - from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Dance Teacher - from: GradIreland

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

There are many pathways to becoming a Dance teacher. The training that a Dancer receives is that which he/she receives in dance school - this is a framework upon which all subsequent practical training and rehearsal is be built. The better the training, the better chance the Dancer will have of understanding a wide range of parts with corresponding, increased employment opportunities, including the possibility of becoming a Dance Teacher.

Training & Development Pathways

FET Centre Traineeship: Traning & Development 'Train the Trainer' in centres around Ireland NFQ Level 6 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Dance 1 & 2, Dance Studies, Performing Arts, Theatre Performance & Production, Dance Technique Performance & Choreography, Musical Theatre & Dance, Dance-Advanced, Actor Training - Advanced at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: There are no performing Art Apprenticeships currently available, but new programmes are being added all the time NFQ level 5-10 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Arts - Music and Dance, Performing Arts (Traditional Irish Music / Traditional Irish Dance / Contemporary Dance / Voice / World Music) - Audition Required, Performing Arts courses at NFQ Levels 7-8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development

Postgraduate Study Options Dance - Irish Dance Studies, Music & Dance - The Irish World Academy of Music & Dance - Research, Dance Performance, Ethnochoreology,  NFQ level 9

Dance Ireland

The Teaching Council 

Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance Dance Teachers would be expected to take examinations and attain technical qualifications through one of the principal examining bodies such as, the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). 

Becoming an Irish Dance Teacher

An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha is known as a T.C.R.G. which is the abbreviation for the Gaelic Teagascóir Choimisiúin le Rinci Gaelacha. Most people, especially outside of Ireland, never learn how to properly pronounce that lovely Gaelic way of saying "certified Irish dance teacher", so saying "T.C.R.G." is more common when referring to Irish dance teachers.

A T.C.R.G. has sat for their Irish dance teacher's exams and passed those exams, showing their knowledge of, and ability to execute and teach both traditional and more modern Irish dance steps. That person is then recognised as a certified Irish dance teacher by An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha, the international Irish dance organization with whom the majority of the world's (and most of the United States') Irish dance schools are affiliated.

An Comhdháil Na Múinteoiri Le Rincí Gaelacha (also known as An Comhdháil) is another organization which uses a T.C.R.G. certification process for their Irish dance teaching members. Different organizations use other methods which vary in the time, knowledge and experience required for certification.

Other Dance Styles

In general, dance teachers come from a background of being dancers themselves. They may become dance teachers due to their high level of skill and their desire to pass this on to others.

To teach dance in recognised dance schools you need to have a qualified teacher status. To study for a qualification to teach classical or contemporary dance, you may need to have completed Leaving Cert or equivalent. 

For classical and contemporary dance courses check with organisations such as:

• The Royal Academy of Dance
• The London Contemporary Dance School (The Place)
• Laban

For ballroom qualifications and many other types of freestyle dancing check with the International Dance Teachers Association

• The International Dance Teachers Association

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €17k - €71k

Established Dancer: 27 - 44 'Star' Dancer: 57k +

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Salary band/ Payscale/ Indeed/ DEASP/ IUA

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was below average over the five-year period, with little growth since 2020. It should be noted that career guidance professionals working in the second level system are most likely captured in the secondary teaching occupations. Employment permits issued in 2022 were all intra-company transfers and related to roles outside of the education sector.

Employment numbers in this occupation have seen little change since 2015 and the impact of COVID-19 is not evident. The numbers employed across the individual occupations were too small to allow for any meaningful analysis.

• Dance Theatre of Ireland

  • Bloomfields, Lower Georges St. Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin,
  • (01) 280 3455
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish World Academy of Music & Dance

  • University of Limerick, Limerick
  • (061) 202590
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Dance Ireland

  • DanceHouse, Foley Street, Dublin 1.
  • (01) 855 8800
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Irish World Academy of Music and Dance

  • University of Limerick, Limerick.
  • (061) 202590
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here