Occupation

Choreographers

Human Advantage 81%

Strongly human-essential role

AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2 / 10

This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.

Create new dance routines. Rehearse performance of routines. May direct and stage presentations.

Also Known As: Ballet Director, Choreographer, Choreography Director, Dance Choreographer, Dance Director, Dance Instructor, Dance Maker, Dance Master +4 more

Video

Core Tasks

  1. Direct rehearsals to instruct dancers in dance steps and in techniques to achieve desired effects.
  2. Advise dancers on standing and moving properly, teaching correct dance techniques to help prevent injuries.
  3. Teach students, dancers, and other performers about rhythm and interpretive movement.
  4. Record dance movements and their technical aspects, using a technical understanding of the patterns and formations of choreography.
  5. Direct and stage dance presentations for various forms of entertainment.
  6. Choose the music, sound effects, or spoken narrative to accompany a dance.
  7. Experiment with different types of dancers, steps, dances, and placements, testing ideas informally to get feedback from dancers.
  8. Seek influences from other art forms, such as theatre, the visual arts, and architecture.
  9. Develop ideas for creating dances, keeping notes and sketches to record influences.
  10. Coordinate production music with music directors.
  11. Design dances for individual dancers, dance companies, musical theatre, opera, fashion shows, film, television productions, and special events, and for dancers ranging from beginners to professionals.
  12. Audition performers for one or more dance parts.
  13. Assess students' dancing abilities to determine where improvement or change is needed.
  14. Design sets, lighting, costumes, and other artistic elements of productions, in collaboration with cast members.
  15. Train, exercise, and attend dance classes to maintain high levels of technical proficiency, physical ability, and physical fitness.
  16. Read and study story lines and musical scores to determine how to translate ideas and moods into dance movements.
  17. Manage dance schools, or assist in their management.

Supplemental Tasks (1)

  1. Restage traditional dances and works in dance companies' repertoires, developing new interpretations.

Emerging Tasks

New and evolving responsibilities for this role:

  • Plan and direct rehearsals to instruct dancers in dance steps and in techniques to achieve desired effects.

Education & Training

Job Zone 3 Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Education: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience: Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
33%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
19%
Bachelor's Degree
19%
Less than a High School Diploma
10%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
10%
Some College Courses
5%
Master's Degree
5%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Facebook
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Word
  • Salesforce software

Software (14)

  • Chorel Technology Dance Designer
  • Credo Interactive DanceForms
  • Email software
  • Salesforce Visualforce
  • Social media sites
  • Web browser software
  • Word processing software
  • YouTube

Tools & Equipment (10)

  • Compact disk CD players
  • Digital stopwatches
  • Digital video cameras
  • Digital video disk DVD players
  • Electronic metronomes
  • Laptop computers
  • Multi-speaker stereo systems
  • Personal computers
  • Stage lighting systems
  • Tablet computers

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Performing Arts Arts, Entertainment, & Design

Zone 3
Choreographers You are here
Zone 5

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Real Talk

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