So you love creating movement and dream of seeing your dance visions come to life on stage or screen? Choreography lets you transform music into motion, emotions into expression, and ideas into art. Whether you’ve been dancing since childhood or discovered your passion later, becoming a choreographer offers a creative career path that combines artistic vision with technical skill. This guide walks you through what choreographers actually do, how to prepare yourself for this career, the skills you’ll need, typical career progression, and what you can expect to earn.
Key Takeaways
- Most choreographers start as dancers and gradually transition into creating and teaching movement
- Building a diverse dance background across multiple styles significantly improves your versatility and job prospects
- Formal education is helpful but not always required; experience, creativity, and networking often matter more
- Choreography careers span many industries, including theater, film, television, music videos, and dance education
- Income varies widely based on experience, location, and industry, with opportunities to create multiple revenue streams
What Does a Professional Choreographer Do?
Design Dance Routines
At its core, choreography is about creating movement that tells a story, expresses emotion, or interprets music. Choreographers develop sequences of steps, gestures, and formations that dancers perform. This creative process might start with a concept, a piece of music, or specific characters and themes.
Work with Dancers and Performers
Creating the dance is only half the job. Choreographers also teach their routines to performers, helping them understand not just the steps but the intention behind the movement. This requires patience, clear communication, and the ability to adapt your vision to different body types and skill levels.
You’ll spend hours in studios demonstrating movements, giving feedback, and refining details until the performance matches your vision. For larger productions, this might involve working with dozens of dancers simultaneously.
Collaborate with Creative Teams
Choreographers rarely work in isolation. In professional settings, you’ll coordinate with:
- Directors who oversee the entire production
- Music directors who handle sound and timing
- Costume designers whose work must accommodate movement
- Lighting designers who highlight and enhance your choreography
- Producers who manage budgets and timelines
This collaborative aspect means you need to both advocate for your artistic vision and compromise when necessary for the good of the entire production.
Adapt to Different Styles and Venues
Versatility is invaluable for choreographers. Depending on your specialization, you might create works for:
- Traditional theater productions and musicals
- Music videos and commercial performances
- Film and television sequences
- Competition routines for dance teams
- Wedding first dances or special events
- Site-specific performances in unusual locations
Each venue and style presents unique challenges and opportunities. A ballet for a traditional theater requires different considerations than a flashy pop performance for television or an intimate contemporary piece for a small studio space.
What Are the Steps to Becoming a Choreographer?
Develop a Strong Dance Background
Almost all choreographers begin as dancers. To create movement for others, you need to understand movement in your own body first. This typically means:
- Training in multiple dance styles (ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, etc.)
- Taking classes consistently for several years
- Performing in various productions to understand staging and audience perspective
- Learning proper technique and body mechanics to prevent injuries
Study and Analyze Choreography
Become a student of movement by:
- Watching performances live whenever possible
- Studying recordings of influential choreographers’ work
- Taking workshops from different choreographers to understand their processes
- Breaking down routines to understand structure, transitions, and spatial patterns
Pay attention to how choreographers use elements like levels, formations, dynamics, and repetition to create impact. Notice how different artists interpret the same music or themes in unique ways.
Gain Formal Training
While not strictly required, formal education can accelerate your development and provide structure to your learning. Options include:
- Bachelor’s degrees in dance or choreography
- Specialized choreography programs at performing arts schools
- Workshops and intensive programs focusing on composition
- Certifications in specific dance styles or teaching methods
These programs typically cover dance history, composition theory, music analysis, and opportunities to create original work with feedback from professionals.
Start Creating and Sharing Your Work
The best way to learn choreography is by doing it. Begin with small projects:
- Create short pieces for yourself to perform
- Volunteer to choreograph for community theater or school productions
- Offer to create routines for friends or local dancers
- Film your work and share it on social media platforms or fitness communities like Perspire.tv where you can reach a wider audience
- Teach combinations in dance classes if given the opportunity
Each piece you create teaches valuable lessons about what works, what doesn’t, and how to translate your ideas into physical movement others can perform.
Build a Portfolio and Network
As you create more work, document everything:
- Record rehearsals and performances from multiple angles
- Create a choreography reel highlighting your best and most diverse work
- Develop a website or social media presence showcasing your style
- Collect testimonials from dancers and directors you’ve worked with
Meanwhile, build relationships with others in the dance and entertainment industries. Attend performances, participate in workshops, join professional organizations, and connect with fellow creators. Many choreography opportunities come through personal recommendations.
Seek Mentorship and Experience
Working alongside established choreographers provides invaluable real-world education:
- Apply for assistant choreographer positions
- Volunteer to help with rehearsals
- Attend choreography workshops led by professionals
- Ask for feedback on your work from experienced choreographers
These opportunities let you observe how professionals manage the entire process from concept to final performance while learning the business aspects of the profession.
What is a Typical Career Path of a Choreographer?
Most choreography careers follow a progression:
- Dancer/Performer: Gain performance experience and technical skills
- Assistant or Associate Choreographer: Help established choreographers, learn production processes
- Choreographer for Small Productions: Create pieces for community theater, student showcases, or small companies
- Lead Choreographer for Larger Productions: Take on full productions with bigger budgets and more dancers
- Artistic Director or Resident Choreographer: For those who excel, leadership positions at dance companies or theaters
The timeline varies dramatically based on talent, networking, location, and opportunity. Some choreographers find success quickly, while others build careers gradually over decades.
Career paths also diverge based on specialization:
- Commercial choreographers work on music videos, commercials, and entertainment shows
- Concert dance choreographers create works for dance companies and performance seasons
- Broadway/theater choreographers focus on musicals and dramatic productions
- Competition choreographers create routines for dance teams and solo competitors
- Teaching choreographers work primarily in studios or educational settings
Many successful choreographers combine several of these paths, creating multiple income streams and creative outlets.
What Are the Professional Skills for a Choreographer?
Beyond dance technique, successful choreographers need:
Creative vision and originality – The ability to generate fresh ideas and develop a recognizable style that stands out
Strong musicality – Understanding rhythm, phrasing, and how to interpret different musical elements through movement
Spatial awareness – Visualizing how dancers will use the performance space and creating interesting formations
Communication skills – Clearly articulating movement qualities and artistic intentions to dancers and creative teams
Leadership abilities – Motivating performers, managing rehearsals efficiently, and maintaining authority while being approachable
Adaptability – Problem-solving when facing limitations in time, space, dancer ability, or budget
Business acumen – Marketing yourself, managing contracts, handling budgets, and scheduling productions
Teaching ability – Breaking down complex movements and explaining them in multiple ways for different learning styles
Physical stamina – Demonstrating movements repeatedly during long rehearsal days
Emotional intelligence – Creating safe spaces for dancers to take risks and managing the interpersonal dynamics of a cast
How Much Do Choreographers Make?
Choreography income varies tremendously based on:
- Experience level and reputation
- Geographic location and local market rates
- Industry (commercial work typically pays more than concert dance)
- Project scope and budget
- Union vs. non-union status
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for choreographers in the United States is approximately $52,000, but this figure doesn’t capture the wide range of earnings. Top choreographers for major productions or popular artists can earn six figures per project, while those starting out might earn much less.
Many choreographers supplement their income through:
- Teaching regular classes at studios or colleges
- Conducting workshops and masterclasses
- Creating online tutorial content
- Performing in addition to choreographing
- Directing their own companies or programs
The Bottom Line
Becoming a choreographer offers a creative career path for those passionate about movement and storytelling. While the journey requires dedication, patience, and continuous learning, it provides the unique satisfaction of seeing your artistic vision come to life through other bodies. Start by building your technical foundation, create every chance you get, document your work, and connect with the dance community. With persistence and growth, you can transform your love of movement into a fulfilling career creating dances that move audiences and express your unique artistic voice.
FAQs
Do I need a degree to become a choreographer?
No, formal education isn’t required. Many successful choreographers have no degree but extensive performance experience. However, a dance or choreography degree can provide valuable training, connections, and credibility, especially for educational positions.
How long does it take to become a professional choreographer?
Most choreographers spend 5-10 years developing as dancers before successfully transitioning to paid choreography work. Building a sustainable career often takes another 3-5 years of creating, networking, and gaining recognition.
Can I specialize in just one dance style as a choreographer?
Yes, some choreographers become known for excellence in a specific style. However, versatility across multiple styles typically creates more employment opportunities, especially early in your career.
How do choreographers get their first jobs?
First opportunities usually come through personal connections, dance teachers who need assistance, fellow dancers starting projects, or community theaters seeking affordable talent. Creating and sharing your own work online can also attract attention and opportunities.
Is choreography a stable career?
Choreography tends to be project-based rather than providing steady employment. Most choreographers balance periods of intensive work with slower periods, and many maintain teaching positions or other part-time work for stability. Building a sustainable career typically requires entrepreneurial skills and multiple income sources.