jobfacts

Dancer

Dancers and choreographers — SOC 2020 3414

Dancers and choreographers devise, direct, rehearse and perform classical and contemporary dance routines.

Also calledDance artistDance performerChoreographerDance teacherBallet teacherDance instructorand 6 more titles
People in the job15,000across the UK
Demand for workersElevated
New adverts a month1,500↓ 25%on last year · 129th of 412

Pay

ONS · ASHE 2025
Typical pay by regionUK median —
North EastNot published by ONS–
North WestNot published by ONS–
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS–
East MidlandsNot published by ONS–
West MidlandsNot published by ONS–
East of EnglandNot published by ONS–
LondonNot published by ONS–
South EastNot published by ONS–
South WestNot published by ONS–
ScotlandNot published by ONS–
WalesNot published by ONS–
Show as table
UK median, —
North EastNot published by ONS
North WestNot published by ONS
Yorkshire and The HumberNot published by ONS
East MidlandsNot published by ONS
West MidlandsNot published by ONS
East of EnglandNot published by ONS
LondonNot published by ONS
South EastNot published by ONS
South WestNot published by ONS
ScotlandNot published by ONS
WalesNot published by ONS

Jobs and demand

ONS · Textkernel adverts · DfE

About 1,500 jobs for dancers are advertised each month. The Department for Education rates demand for workers as elevated.

New job adverts a month, Jan 2017 to Aug 2026
New advertsMonth not published by ONS (4 in all)
Show as table
Aug 20261,025
Jul 20261,021
Jun 2026Not published
May 20261,899
Apr 20261,843
Mar 2026Not published
Feb 20261,581
Jan 20261,633
Dec 2025858
Nov 20251,741
Oct 20251,616
Sept 20251,886
Aug 20251,363
Jul 2025Not published
Jun 2025Not published
May 20253,533
Apr 20252,071
Mar 20252,317
Feb 20252,308
Jan 20252,350
Dec 20241,407
Nov 20241,898
Oct 20241,884
Sept 20241,968
Aug 20241,458
Jul 20242,035
Jun 20242,429
May 20242,835
Apr 20242,416
Mar 20242,268
Feb 20242,068
Jan 20242,724
Dec 20231,953
Nov 20232,295
Oct 20231,842
Sept 20231,961
Aug 20231,635
Jul 20231,813
Jun 20232,785
May 20232,535
Apr 20232,172
Mar 20232,821
Feb 20232,583
Jan 20232,971
Dec 20222,341
Nov 20222,898
Oct 20222,488
Sept 20222,163
Aug 20221,590
Jul 20222,355
Jun 20222,711
May 20222,679
Apr 20222,160
Mar 20222,636
Feb 20222,025
Jan 20222,316
Dec 20211,827
Nov 20212,038
Oct 20211,631
Sept 20211,460
Aug 20211,074
Jul 20211,767
Jun 20212,155
May 20212,510
Apr 20212,038
Mar 20212,254
Feb 20211,504
Jan 20211,783
Dec 20201,782
Nov 20201,906
Oct 20201,753
Sept 20201,663
Aug 20201,273
Jul 20201,703
Jun 20202,271
May 20202,427
Apr 20202,797
Mar 20202,967
Feb 20202,647
Jan 20202,714
Dec 20192,104
Nov 20192,953
Oct 20192,412
Sept 20192,150
Aug 20191,821
Jul 20193,219
Jun 20194,480
May 20194,304
Apr 20192,167
Mar 20192,801
Feb 20192,242
Jan 20192,370
Dec 20181,481
Nov 20182,544
Oct 20182,149
Sept 20181,811
Aug 20181,347
Jul 20181,850
Jun 20182,717
May 20182,477
Apr 20182,196
Mar 20182,685
Feb 20182,152
Jan 20182,954
Dec 20171,476
Nov 20172,233
Oct 20171,918
Sept 20171,765
Aug 20171,227
Jul 20171,466
Jun 20172,946
May 20172,499
Apr 20172,354
Mar 20172,811
Feb 20172,594
Jan 20172,612
Is there a shortage of dancers?
Elevated

The Department for Education rates demand as not high, elevated or critical, using five indicators. This is its 2025 assessment; in 2024 it was not high.

  • Visas grantedAbove usual
  • Online job advertsWell above usual
  • Wage growthAbove usual
  • Pay against similar jobsUsual
  • Hours workedUsual
Vacancies hard to fill because of skills
20%against 27% for all jobs
Broader groupFigure for culture, media and sports occupations, which includes dancers. DfE Employer Skills Survey 2024.
Where the most jobs are advertisedadverts a quarter
London836
Birmingham114
Buckinghamshire84
Manchester75
Leeds58
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole43
Bristol, City of43
Sheffield43
Liverpool41
Wiltshire41
London is published as one area. Averages leave out quarters ONS withheld.
Where dancers are most concentratedShare of local job adverts, compared with the UK.

Recruitment from abroad. 252 sponsored work visas were granted for this job from July 2025 to June 2026, most to people from India, Cuba, South Africa, ranking it 62nd of 313. Home Office

Who does it

ONS · Annual Population Survey · April 2025 to March 2026
Age of dancers
48%!
n/p
n/p
n/p
28%!
14%!
!Small sample: treat with cautionn/p: too few in the survey to publish
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16–2448% (small sample)
25–34Not published
35–44Not published
45–54Not published
55–6428% (small sample)
65+14% (small sample)
Highest qualification
Degree or equivalent!65%
Higher education below degree!27%
A levels or equivalent–
Not published
GCSEs or equivalent!47%
Other qualifications–
Not published
No qualifications–
Not published
!Small sample: treat with caution
Show as table
Degree or equivalent65% (small sample)
Higher education below degree27% (small sample)
A levels or equivalentNot published
GCSEs or equivalent47% (small sample)
Other qualificationsNot published
No qualificationsNot published

Main employers: cultural education (56%), other education nec (19%), other amusement and recreation activities (16%), general secondary education (15%).

How to get in

Hold a degree
65%
as their highest qualification
Apprenticeships
None
none leads directly into this work

Routes in

Dancer

You can get into this job through:

University

You'll usually need a degree or diploma in professional dance or musical theatre. These take 2 to 3 years to complete and are offered by dance schools, performing arts schools and universities.

Academic qualifications may not be essential if you show enough talent at audition.

You could get a Dance and Drama Award to help with fees and living costs.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • to pass an audition

College

There is no set entry route to become a dancer but it may be useful to do a relevant subject like:

  • Level 2 Diploma in Performing Arts
  • Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing Arts - Dance
  • A level Dance

For entry to some courses at level 3 and above you may need to attend an audition.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course

Other ways in

Volunteering

Dancing is very competitive and you'll need to develop your skills by getting as much dancing experience as possible.

You could do this through:

  • amateur dance clubs
  • college and university dance societies
  • student dance festivals and competitions

This can also help you to build a network of contacts in the dance profession. This will be useful when looking to get experience or a job.

Apply directly

You can apply directly to become a dancer, if you have a high level of training and ability in at least one form of dance.

Other routes

Most professional dancers start taking dance classes from a young age. You can take graded exams from awarding bodies like:

  • Royal Academy of Dance
  • Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
  • bbodance (ballet)

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

Classical ballet dancers start training very young, usually at 10 or 11 years old. It's possible to make a career in contemporary dance if you start at a later age, if you're prepared to work hard and put in a lot of training.

The amount of hours you work as a dancer will vary depending on your job. It can range from a few sessions a week to over 40, including rehearsals, if you're working on a show.

Professional and industry bodies

You could join One Dance UK and Equity for professional development and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a dancer from:

  • One Dance UK
  • Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for dancer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Choreographer

You can get into this job through:

University

You'll need a high level of dance training and experience. You could do a foundation degree, degree or postgraduate award to develop your skills.

Relevant subjects include:

  • professional dance
  • musical theatre
  • dance and choreography

These are offered by dance schools and universities.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
  • to pass an audition

Other ways in

Work your way up

You could start out as a professional dancer and combine this with an assistant choreographer role.

With further training and experience you could work your way up to become a choreographer.

Volunteering

You may find it useful to get work experience with an established choreographer.

You could also develop your skills by volunteering to choreograph amateur dance club performances.

Apply directly

You may be able to apply for work if you're an experienced professional dancer or dance teacher.

Registration and professional bodies

Career tips

When you're starting out it's good to have a mentor, perhaps someone whose work you admire, to guide you and give you advice.

You can find professional choreographers in the UK Directory of Choreographers.

Observing as many different types of dance to increase your knowledge of dance styles is also useful.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join One Dance UK for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a choreographer from One Dance UK.

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for choreographer. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Dance teacher

You can get into this job through:

University

You'll need a relevant degree in dance or performing arts. There are some degrees in dance that include teacher training. To teach in a state school you'll usually need qualified teacher status (QTS).

As a primary teacher, you'll train to teach all subjects and could develop a subject specialism in physical education, which may include dance or creative movement.

At secondary level you could teach dance as a single subject or combine it with other subjects like physical education, drama or performing arts.

To be a lecturer in a university or conservatoire, you'll need a postgraduate qualification or a recognised profile as a professional performer, along with teaching experience.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
  • 3 A levels or equivalent

College

To teach in a further education college, or as a sessional tutor in schools or private education, you’ll need a minimum of a level 3 qualification in dance.

You'll improve your chances of employment by doing a professional qualification with a recognised dance awarding organisation, such as:

  • bbodance (previously British Ballet Organisation)
  • Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
  • International Dance Teachers' Association (IDTA)
  • Royal Academy of Dance
Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

Work your way up

You could work your way into this role if you've got several years' experience in dance.

You could start as an assistant in a private dance school and do teaching qualifications with a dance organisation approved by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT).

If you're a qualified teacher but without dance subject knowledge, for example a PE teacher, you could also take a CDMT-approved course.

What you’ll need

  • pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults

Registration and professional bodies

Registration
  • you'll usually need qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach in a state school in England
Career tips

You can search for jobs in schools through the Teaching Vacancies service.

You can get advice about training to be a dance fitness instructor from EMDUK.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join One Dance UK for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a dance teacher from:

  • One Dance UK
  • Get Into Teaching

Routes in are from the National Careers Service job profile for dance teacher. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

The work

ONS · ESCO · O*NET

Typical tasks

  • builds and maintains stamina, physical strength, agility and general health through fitness exercises and healthy eating
  • attends rehearsals to develop and practice dance routines for performance
  • participates in dance performance
  • demonstrates and directs dance moves, monitors and analyses technique and performance, and determines how improvements can be made

Skills

  • maintain safe working conditions in performing arts
  • manage artistic career
  • promote yourself
  • work with broad variety of personalities
  • work with respect for own safety
  • analyse score
  • demonstrate specialisation in a dance tradition
  • inspire enthusiasm for dance
  • manage artistic project
  • read dance scores
  • show intercultural awareness
  • teach dance
  • work in an international environment
  • accept feedback on artistic performance

Knowledge

  • be in touch with your body
  • intellectual property law
  • labour legislation
  • acting techniques
  • art-historical values
  • theatre techniques

Suits people who like

  • Creating and designing
  • Practical, hands-on work

Outlook

DfE · Skills Imperative 2035
Broader groupThese projections are for culture, media and sports occupations, a group of 13 jobs that includes dancers.
Change in jobs, 2020 to 2035↑ 10%about 79,000 more jobs
Workers needed by 2035442,000including people replacing those who retire or leave

Sources

Pay
ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, 2025 provisional
People in the job, who does it
ONS, Annual Population Survey, April 2025 to March 2026
Job adverts
ONS, online job adverts (Textkernel), to Aug 2026
Demand, skill shortages
Department for Education and Skills England, Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey
Outlook
The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE
Routes in
National Careers Service job profiles
Apprenticeships, qualifications
Skills England occupational maps
Skills, interests
ESCO classification of the European Commission; O*NET data, U.S. Department of Labor (CC BY 4.0, modified)
Visas
Home Office, immigration system statistics

Figures as of 10 October 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Occupations in demand and the Employer Skills Survey: Department for Education and Skills England. Immigration system statistics: Home Office. Contains public sector information from the National Careers Service licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

© Skills England 2025. This information is licensed under the Open Government Licence https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Source: The Skills Imperative 2035 (2024), NFER/Nuffield/DfE/IER/CE.

This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission.

This service includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This service has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. CC BY 4.0 licence.

jobfacts is independent. It is not part of, affiliated with or endorsed by the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, Skills England, the National Careers Service, the Home Office, the European Commission or the U.S. Department of Labor.