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Choreographer

Choreographer Image

A choreographer creates and puts together dance steps, movements and sequences set to music as routines for dancers, actors or musicians. The aim can be a specific one-off show for film, television or theatre, a new addition to the general repertoire of dance for professionals or amateurs to learn, or for a music video or live performance.

The Work

Choreographers usually specialise in one style of dance such as:

You could be:

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. There is wide variation in the income of choreographers depending on:

Earnings for choreographers can vary widely, depending on the type of contract and production you work on. Equity (the performers' union) negotiates minimum rates of pay for choreographers each year, both for the commercial and independent theatre. The Independent Theatre Council (ITC) website publishes 2022-2023 minimum rates of pay as follows:

Conditions

Workforce Employment Status

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Useful Subjects

Getting In

As with all artistic careers, getting in depends largely not only on your talent but also on successful networking. At first you may have to work in an unpaid placement in order to make contacts. You can work for a dance company, or film, TV or video production companies.

You may work on a freelance basis, earning a fixed fee for individual projects, or a major company such as Scottish Ballet may employ you.

Workforce Education Levels (UK)

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Job Outlook Scotland

Employment

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Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland
2024
384
10.2 %
RISE
2029
423
  United Kingdom
2024
2810
5.9 %
RISE
2029
2975

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What Does it Take?

You should have:

You also need:

Training

Getting On

Video

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.

British Ballet Organisation (BBO)
Tel: 020 8748 1241
E-mail: info@bbo.dance
Website: http://www.bbo.dance
Twitter: @bbodance
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbodance/

British Theatre Dance Association (BTDA)
Tel: 0116 397 0866
E-mail: info@btda.org.uk
Website: http://www.btda.org.uk
Twitter: @BTDAdance
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/British-Theatre-Dance-Association-1501833233450091/

Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)
Tel: 020 7240 5703
E-mail: info@cdmt.org.uk
Website: http://www.cdmt.org.uk/
Twitter: @CDMTorg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CDMTuk/

Equity
Tel: 020 7379 6000
E-mail: info@equity.org.uk
Website: http://www.equity.org.uk/
Twitter: @EquityUK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EquityUK

Membership of Equity is open not just those in the acting profession but to anyone working professionally in the field of entertainment.

One Dance UK
Tel: 020 7713 0730
E-mail: info@onedanceuk.org
Website: http://www.onedanceuk.org
Twitter: @onedanceuk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onedanceuk

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