Dancers express ideas, stories, rhythm, and sound with their bodies. They use a variety of dance forms that allow free movement and self-expression, including classical ballet, modern dance, ballroom, and culturally specific dance styles. UVU offers bachelor degrees preparing students for both graduate work and professional careers in and out of the dance world.

EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS:
Students develop wide-ranging skills that can be applied in a wide range of occupations, including the performing arts. “The dance major’s presentation skills, ability to perform in public, and control of the body provides a solid basis for working effectively with others. Dance also develops the ability to concentrate intensely, listen introspectively, observe keenly, sol problems creatively, think critically, collaboratively develop a project, work independently, work under pressure, meet deadlines, and maintain composure when faced with the unexpected” (from University of Texas – Austin Fine Arts Career Services website). A bachelor's degree is typically the minimum formal education required. Some areas may require a graduate degree, or may assist employment in highly competitive areas.

EMPLOYERS/INDUSTRIES:

Education:

• Artist-in-residence
• Private teacher
• Leisure and recreation instructor
• Dance company rehearsal director
• College professor
• Pilates/body conditioning instructor
• Dance studio manager/instructor
• K-12 teacher
• Benesh, Laban Notator

Arts Management/Administration:

• Arts administrator
• Public relations manager
• Press agent
• Business manager
• Personnel manager for a dance company
• Booking agent
• Grants specialist
• Arts council director

Performance/Production:

• Company dancer
• Choreographer
• Dance designer (costumer, lighting designer)
• Technician
• Consultant
• Sound designer/operator
• Ballet mistress/master

Dance Therapy:

• Dance/movement therapist

SOME COMMON EMPLOYERS OF DANCE GRADUATES:

COMMON GRADUATE SCHOOL OPTIONS FOR DANCE MAJORS:
MFA (choreography, performance) or MA (dance scholarship, therapy, teaching, history, criticism, arts management)
An undergraduate dance degree can also lead to such professional programs as law or the MBA, amongst others.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

Professional associations or organizations can be a great way to meet, learn from and network with professionals in your field of interest. Inexpensive student memberships are often available. These are only a sampling of professional associations. Be sure to search for others that may be applicable or helpful.

• American Dance Guild
• American Dance Therapy Association
• Dance/USA
• National Dance Association

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS:

A liberal arts degree in general, reflects a comprehensive education emphasizing analytical skills, critical thinking and communication skills; abilities in high demand for all employers. Concentrating your studies in a major allows you to also gain specific transferable skills of interest to particular employers and industries.

Graduates with a major in Dance are attractive to employers due to their abilities in the following areas:

• Creativity
• Ability to execute creative decisions
• Possess a strong grasp of the creative process
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneous
• Possess unique perspectives on issues
• Ability to make critical observations and evaluations
• Possess a wide body of general knowledge
• Ability to feel comfortable with scrutiny and criticism
• Ability to observe and analyze introspectively
• Feel at ease in new situations
• Ability to adapt ideas to different audiences
• Strong skills in physical, oral and written expression
• Ability to think clearly and form arguments
• Comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and movement
• Sensitivity to others' artistic expression
• Ability to create interesting associations between ideas
• Ability to teach others using creative methods
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Possess strong technical skills (e.g. physical movements, writing, computer)
• Possess a high level of discipline and internally motivated work ethic
• Knowledge of popular culture and artistic events
• Ability to execute visual ideas into concrete products

OTHER POSITIONS RELATED TO DANCE:

Please note that some of these positions require an advanced degree. For more information and descriptions of these careers, visit O*NET On-line.

Information excerpted from:
http://www.career.unm.edu/majors/fine_arts/dance.pdf
http://www.scrippscollege.edu/students/career/planning/dance.php