Dance

Career and Major Information
Related Career Titles
Web Sites
Salary Information

 

Walters State Community College offers an Associate of Arts degree in Dance.  This degree is designed to fulfill freshman and sophomore level course requirements of a bachelor’s degree; however, the curriculum is not specific for any one college or university.  Students will need to consult a faculty advisor at WSCC or an advisor at the intended transfer institution for particular courses needed at an individual school.  The link for the WSCC department is: http://www.ws.edu/humanities/

 

 

Career and Major Information:

 

Dancers, using their bodies, express emotions, ideas, and stories through movement.  A variety of dance forms exist, including ballet, jazz, modern, and culturally specific styles.  Performance work may be combined with teaching and choreography. Dancers perform in musical productions, opera, television programs, motion pictures, music videos, and commercials.  Dancing is strenuous, and daily rehearsals require long hours.  There may be travel involved for touring.  Although dance training can be obtained through private lessons, a broad formal education including music, literature, history, and the visual arts is helpful in the interpretation of dramatic works.  Self-discipline, patience, perseverance, and the ability to work with people are necessary for dancers to succeed.  Completion of a college degree is required for teaching in college, high school or elementary school.

 

Related Career Titles:

 

Dancer

Choreographer

Dance Director

Lighting Designer

Teacher

Dance Critic

Dance Costumer

Dance Reporter

 

Web Sites:

 

National Association of Schools of Dance

http://nasd.arts-accredit.org/index.jsp

 

Dance/USA

http://www.danceusa.org

 

Occupational Outlook Handbook

http://stats.bls.gov/oco/

 

 

Salary Information:

 

The middle 50 percent of dancers earned between $14,260 and $34,600.  The middle 50 percent of choreographers earned between $17,970 and $42,080.  Dancers and choreographers who are covered by union contracts may be entitled to sick leave and other benefits.

 

Salary figures quoted are based on national figures. Local or regional salaries may be lower.

 

 

 

Citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2004-05 Edition, Dancers and Choreographers, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos094.htm