Choreographers

Overview
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Experience

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Examples

Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators.

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

Salary Salary

Salary at 10th Percentile: $21K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $29K
Median Salary: $43K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $63K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $101K

Demand
Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend
Core Tasks

Direct rehearsals to instruct dancers in how to use dance steps, and in techniques to achieve desired effects.

Teach students, dancers, and other performers about rhythm and interpretive movement.

Choose the music, sound effects, or spoken narrative to accompany a dance.

Advise dancers on how to stand and move properly, teaching correct dance techniques to help prevent injuries.

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.

Seek influences from other art forms such as theatre, the visual arts, and architecture.

Develop ideas for creating dances, keeping notes and sketches to record influences.

Experiment with different types of dancers, steps, dances, and placements, testing ideas informally to get feedback from dancers.

Train, exercise, and attend dance classes to maintain high levels of technical proficiency, physical ability, and physical fitness.

Direct and stage dance presentations for various forms of entertainment.

Read and study story lines and musical scores to determine how to translate ideas and moods into dance movements.

Audition performers for one or more dance parts.

Coordinate production music with music directors.

Design sets, lighting, costumes, and other artistic elements of productions, in collaboration with cast members.

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

Record dance movements and their technical aspects, using a technical understanding of the patterns and formations of choreography.

Assess students' dancing abilities to determine where improvement or change is needed.

Manage dance schools, or assist in their management.

Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Customer relationship management CRM software
Salesforce software
Data base user interface and query software
Music databases
Electronic mail software
Email software
Graphical user interface development software
Salesforce Visualforce
Graphics or photo imaging software
Credo Interactive DanceForms
Internet browser software
Web browser software
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Video creation and editing software
YouTube
Web page creation and editing software
Social media sites
Word processing software
Microsoft Word
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Personal computers
Consumer electronics
Digital video disk DVD players
Lighting Fixtures and Accessories
Stage lighting systems
Musical Instruments and parts and accessories
Electronic metronomes
Photographic or filming or video equipment
Digital video cameras
Timepieces
Digital stopwatches
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Fine Arts
94%
Importance

Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.

Administration and Management
69%
Importance

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Education and Training
66%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Communications and Media
62%
Importance

Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.

English Language
60%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Psychology
57%
Importance

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Sociology and Anthropology
57%
Importance

Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

Customer and Personal Service
56%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Design
56%
Importance

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Sales and Marketing
55%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Top 10 Skills
Instructing
83%
Importance

Teaching others how to do something.

Active Listening
80%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking
80%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Coordination
78%
Importance

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Monitoring
78%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Critical Thinking
75%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Social Perceptiveness
75%
Importance

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Judgment and Decision Making
73%
Importance

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Reading Comprehension
73%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Time Management
73%
Importance

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Top 10 Abilities
Gross Body Coordination
88%
Importance

The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.

Oral Comprehension
83%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Fluency of Ideas
80%
Importance

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Oral Expression
80%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Originality
80%
Importance

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Gross Body Equilibrium
78%
Importance

The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.

Multilimb Coordination
78%
Importance

The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.

Speech Clarity
78%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Deductive Reasoning
75%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Problem Sensitivity
75%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Top 10 Work Activities
Thinking Creatively
99%
Importance

Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Performing General Physical Activities
98%
Importance

Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
95%
Importance

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates
92%
Importance

Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Coaching and Developing Others
86%
Importance

Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
86%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
85%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others
85%
Importance

Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Developing and Building Teams
85%
Importance

Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
85%
Importance

Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Detailed Work Activities

Train others on performance techniques.

Study scripts to determine project requirements.

Choreograph dances.

Determine presentation subjects or content.

Coordinate artistic activities.

Audition or interview potential performers or staff members.

Practice athletic or artistic skills.

Evaluate skills of athletes or performers.

Monitor current trends.

Develop artistic or design concepts for decoration, exhibition, or commercial purposes.

Manage operations of artistic or entertainment departments or organizations.

Work Context
Physical Proximity

To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people?

Electronic Mail

How often do you use electronic mail in this job?

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?

Level of Competition

To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?

Face-to-Face Discussions

How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Work With Work Group or Team

How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?

Contact With Others

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body

How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?

Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance

How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?

Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions

How much does this job require making repetitive motions?

Education
Majors
Major
Dance
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
Interests
Artistic
100%
Importance

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Social
72%
Importance

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Enterprising
67%
Importance

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Realistic
39%
Importance

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional
24%
Importance

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Investigative
24%
Importance

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Top 10 Work Styles
Persistence
98%
Importance

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Initiative
96%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Achievement/Effort
95%
Importance

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Dependability
95%
Importance

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Innovation
95%
Importance

Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

Adaptability/Flexibility
94%
Importance

Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Leadership
93%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Attention to Detail
92%
Importance

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Stress Tolerance
92%
Importance

Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Independence
88%
Importance

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Work Values
Achievement
86%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Independence
81%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Relationships
81%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Recognition
77%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Working Conditions
60%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Support
29%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.