Work Environment
Videos & Interviews
Videos on the Web
- Dancer- from: Youtube Search
- Ballet Dancer Melissa Hamilton- from: Irish Times Video
Most commonly reported Work Activities
- Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
- Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
- Developing and Building Teams Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
- Handling and Moving Objects Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Working Life
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
- Study and practice dance moves required in roles.
- Harmonise body movements to rhythm of musical accompaniment.
- Train, exercise, and attend dance classes to maintain high levels of technical proficiency, physical ability, and physical fitness.
- Coordinate dancing with that of partners or dance ensembles.
- Develop self-understanding of physical capabilities and limitations, and choose dance styles accordingly.
- Perform classical, modern, or acrobatic dances in productions, expressing stories, rhythm, and sound with their bodies.
- Collaborate with choreographers to refine or modify dance steps.
- Audition for dance roles or for membership in dance companies.
- Attend costume fittings, photography sessions, and makeup calls associated with dance performances.
- Monitor the field of dance to remain aware of current trends and innovations.
Further Information
Qualities - Dancer
You must be physically fit and agile, and have a good sense of rhythm. You must have the stamina and commitment to endure long, sometimes painful, practice sessions and rehearsals.
You should also have the confidence to perform in front of an audience. Some dance styles, classical ballet for example, require a certain physique.
Interests - Dancer
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.
Entry / Progression - Dancer
The road to becoming a Dancer is not the same for each person; in fact it is quite different. It is very important to attend a first-class teacher who teaches on professional lines. This applies particularly in the case of aspiring ballet Dancers who must also be prepared for years of hard work and training. In addition, they would be expected to take examinations and attain technical qualifications 'grades' through one of the principal examining bodies such as the Dance Ireland, CLRG, Royal Academy, Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD).
The basic training that a Dancer receives is that which He/She receives in the dancing school and is a framework upon which all subsequent practical training and rehearsal must be built. The better the training has been the better chance the Dancer will have of understanding a wide range of parts with corresponding, increased employment opportunities. This underlines the importance of initial training. Dancers work in a variety of setting; Performance, Touring groups, and Teaching.
Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research.
Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.
Example search terms include: youthwork, group facilitation.
Search for FET Courses
PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.
Example search terms include: musical, theatre, dance, dance technique, performance, choreography, drama.
Search for PLC Courses
Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate)
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.
Example search terms include: arts, music, dance, drama, musical, theatre, performing arts.
Search for CAO Courses
Higher Education (Postgraduate)
Postgraduate courses are courses at Levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ and usually last 1 – 2 years full time, or longer if a PhD or part time. Entrants typically require an undergraduate award (Level 8).
Example search terms include: Irish dance, performance, music, drama, dance, performing arts, ethnochoreology, teaching, facilitation.
Search for Postgraduate Courses
Pay & Salary - Dancer
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €17k - €55k
Established Dancer: 25 - 42 'Star' Dancer: 55k +.
Salaries vary by employer, role, duties, location, and experience. Salaries can be sessional or pro rata.
Data Source(s):
Salary Expert Payscale/ Indeed/ DEASP
Last Updated: March, 2024
Labour Market Updates - Dancer
Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Artists; Authors; writers; translators; Actors; entertainers; presenters; Dancers; choreographers; Musicians Arts officers; producers; directors; Photographers; audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators; Graphic designers Product; clothing and related designers.
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).
Employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 7,300 persons employed. As illustrated in the CSO Census data below, employment is spread across a number of roles; since 2016, the strongest growth, in absolute terms, was for graphic designers and authors, writers and translators.
New employment permits issued for this occupation in 2022 were primarily for film/TV and animation/visual effects (VFX) roles but also for linguistics experts in the ICT sector. There was also a high volume of recent job hires in line with the recent employment increase. The data does not point to overall issues with recruitment for these roles.
Useful Contacts - Dancer
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Dance Ireland
