Dancers

Perform dances. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for video recording.

Jobs growth:
+5% projected 2024โ€“2034

What They Do

Dancers bring stories, emotions, and artistic visions to life through physical movement and expression. They spend hours in rehearsal studios learning choreography, perfecting techniques, and working with choreographers and fellow performers to refine routines. During performances, they execute complex dance sequences on stages, in television studios, at special events, or on film sets, often performing multiple shows per week. Their work involves warming up before each session, practicing specific movements repeatedly to achieve precision, and maintaining the stamina to perform demanding routines. Between rehearsals and performances, dancers take classes to strengthen technique, work with physical therapists to prevent injuries, and sometimes attend auditions for new opportunities.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Dance(masters)Saint Mary's College of California, CA
$70,806
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)University of Idaho, ID
$64,954
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)University of Houston, TX
$61,314
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)University of Northern Colorado, CO
$59,486
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)University of Central Florida, FL
$53,911
Dance(masters)Jacksonville University, FL
$46,274
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)New York University, NY
$44,742
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)The University of Texas at Austin, TX
$43,430
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)Regent University, VA
$43,319
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)Emerson College, MA
$39,309
Dance(bachelors)Texas State University, TX
$38,967
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)CUNY Brooklyn College, NY
$38,598
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(bachelors)Saint Mary's College of California, CA
$38,160
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC
$37,985
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(bachelors)University of Notre Dame, IN
$37,531
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)Academy of Art University, CA
$36,635
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(bachelors)Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, VA
$36,557
Dance(masters)New York University, NY
$36,556
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)California Institute of the Arts, CA
$35,156
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)University of Florida, FL
$34,588
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(masters)Florida Atlantic University, FL
$34,588
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(bachelors)University of South Dakota, SD
$33,852
Dance(bachelors)Stephen F Austin State University, TX
$33,340
Dance(bachelors)University of South Carolina-Columbia, SC
$33,291
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft(bachelors)The University of Texas at Austin, TX
$33,261

Related Careers

Other occupations in Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports & Media