To be a dancer, you need to be a very special type of person. Having a strong sense of rhythm, timing, physical fitness and concentration and memory skills are all very important, but to get through training, rehearsals - and injuries - dancers must have nerves of steel.

The work of a dancer can vary according to the styles of dance required for specific performances and most dance students train to be a particular kind of dancer. Dance can sometimes merge with an acting role, as in classical ballet or some less formal or 'contemporary' dance groups might specialise in dance influenced by different cultures or disability dance. Modern stage dance or musical theatre combines a wide range of styles such as tap, jazz and disco, and is often performed in films and television.


Dancers need professional skills and most will have been through at least three years of training. Serious training for performers can begin as early as 10 or 11 (particularly for would be ballet dancers), but full-time training should be undertaken from age 16 onwards.

If you are thinking seriously about a career in dance and believe you have the talent you should consider attending a specialist dance school. They offer courses specifically designed to prepare you for a career as a performer. The training will include many hours each day of practical work in dance together with supporting studies. The teaching staff are experts in their own disciplines and guest teachers from the profession also contribute their skills.

Dance schools offer training to students aged 16 plus. A number of full-time courses offer students the opportunity to gain the necessary education and training to succeed in a career as a performer, choreographer or teacher while also offering a BA (Hons) degree. There are three main types of dance performance training on offer at present; classical ballet, contemporary dance and musical theatre. While performers may work in a variety of sectors, they will have specialised in one area during their training.


Many colleges and universities now offer Dance Diploma and Degree courses and this number is increasing. Dance Diploma and Degree courses normally cover subjects such as contemporary, ballet, choreography, notation, analysis and critical appreciation, dance and film studies, history of dance, dance and new technology, and commercial applications of dance, such as management. Many courses offer work experience placements with dance companies and organisations, which allows dance students to learn through a hands-on approach and to make useful industry contacts for the future.


For those of you interested in a more cultural-based dance style, courses are available offering dance training in South Asian and African Peoples Dance. Given the increasing demand for such courses, The Arts Council of England is working closely with dance companies to look at the feasibility of providing training in these areas. Training for dancers with disabilities is also an area being looked at closely as are ways in which students can have more access to all types of dance styles and how dance courses are structured.


Funding for dance courses will depend on the type of course and the place where you study. National scholarships funded by the Department For Education and Skills (DfES) through the Dance & Drama Awards (DaDA) scheme are available at certain leading independent dance schools. How each scholarship is awarded is decided by each of these schools and decisions are usually made through an audition process. Should you decide to pursue dance training through a college or university, you will find other sources of public funding available to help pay your fees. For more information, visit the UKP-Arts 'Funding' section. Younger students should also see the DfES Music and Dance Scheme.

If you are considering approaching a dance school as opposed to a college or university and are keen to be considered for a scholarship, it is important you make contact with the school well in advance of the Spring of each year because it is during that time that most auditions are held. Contacting scholarship-awarding schools toward the end of the previous year to receive an audition or interview date would be highly advisable. It is also important to remember that each school operates differently in terms of audition processes.


Before you even enter the world of working dancers, there are choices to be made and obstacles to overcome. Your training will require hard work, which can only put you in good stead for when you pursue a dance career. Working hours for anyone seriously pursuing a career in the performance industry are long and dancers are no exception to this rule. It is important anyone wanting to be a professional dancer understands the majority of time will be spent rehearsing, it will not be spent performing on a stage. The amount of time required to perfect your routines far outweighs the time you will spend performing them.

Most dancers do not work 365 days a year and many full-time dancers employed by a dance company often have a short break during the summer. Even during quiet periods, you could be called back to work very quickly if you are needed for a particular performance. Dancers work in a range of venues such as theatres, film and TV studios, nightclubs, hotels, halls and holiday resorts and most dancers work away from home, sometimes abroad. Most performances are in the evenings and are usually indoors but some venues - and especially rehearsal rooms - can be dirty, cold, damp and draughty.

Minimum salaries for dancers are negotiated by Equity (the Trade Union representing artists within all areas of arts and entertainment) and depend on the type, length and location of the job. For example, dancers with The Royal Ballet earn between £14,000 and £18,000 per year. A soloist earns around £22,000 per year and a principal or leading dancer earns on average between £30,000 - £35,000. As the dancer becomes more successful, this figure can increase. Modern Dance rates of pay are usually less. Many dancers work as freelancers on a contract basis and rates of pay vary widely according to the type of dance and where they are working. You will find many dancers make additional money through teaching dance or as choreographers.

There are plenty of opportunities for any dancer who is prepared to find them. Make no mistake however, the industry is an extremely competitive one and many dancers go through periods of unemployment. The most likely - and popular - opportunity areas are:

ballet

community dance

classical dance

contemporary dance: including dance with a cultural theme

musical theatre: musicals, cabaret, film and television

disability dance

dance in education

Jamaican/African/Caribbean dance.

For more detailed information about studying dance you should contact the leading body for representing professional dance training, the Council for Dance Education and Training (CDET). The CDET offers information and advice to anyone wishing to study dance in England and can provide contact details for all the schools and training establishments. They can be contacted at Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial Street, London E1 6LS, Tel: 020 7247 4030, Fax: 020 7247 3404, Email: info@cdet.org.uk; Website: www.cdet.org.uk.

The fact that you are even considering pursuing dance training or a career in dance suggests you probably have what it takes to succeed. Use the course search facility in UKP-Arts to find a course that matches exactly what you want to do, and where you want to do it. Always remember, when pursuing your dancing ambitions or any goal in life, if someone else has achieved success doing what you want to do, then it can be done!