INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Dance positions are at a 31% growth rate, which is much faster than average. With that said, there are currently 13,600 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 4200 to 17,800 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Dance jobs was $19.11 per hour in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $11.68 per hour, and the highest 10% more than $48.76 per hour.
Our conclusion? The Dance job market is wide open for candidates.
Top dance sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Writing a strong dance experience section
Dance resume experience section: ultimate checklist
- Use no more than 4-6 bullet points per position;
- List relevant positions and situations that add value to your application;
- Describe situations, tasks, actions, and results (the S-T-A-R method);
- Remember to include numbers in whatever form you like (e.g. the number of projects you’ve finished);
- Begin each bullet point with an action verb.
Check out the examples below when building your experience section. They will help you stand out!
- Worked with top lists artists on various projects/shoots: Beyonce, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, Jason Deurlo, Whitney Housten, Shakira
- Assist top choreographers for cutting edge creative direction in movements and visuals
- Creating visual story telling through movements for clients
- Performed in school events
- Provided equipment and space for practice
- Collaborated with different groups to effectively perform
- Choreographed dance pieces for performance and recording
- Three summers in row I had to take care of kids aged between 11 and 18 years old which made me very organized, responsible.
- I was trusted with organizing and preparing social evening activities.
- Being a dance teacher I managed to succeed in improving the score for Dance activities from the past years.
- Taught Dance genres - Jazz grade 1 and Tap grade 1 (kids aged 5-8 years old)
- Generate my own lesson plans
- Learn, perfect then teach the children their curriculum
- Educate the Dance students on the terminology and technique
- Successfully opened both resorts, ensuring all day- and night time entertainment, activities, staffing, tools, resources and administrative work was in order
- Managed a team of 25 members, including dancers and musiciansSucc
- Choreographed 6 different 50 minute dance/musical productions
- Successfully planned guest activities and evening entertainment ensuring a satisfactory entertainment experience for all guests
- Traveled to Almond Beach Resort in Barbados from time to time to enhance guest entertainment
- giving regular classes - street dance (hip hop, jazz funk) and creative dance (for children under 3 years)
- design and implementation of dance courses for different levels
- making choreography for performances, open classes KEY RESULTS
- School NY Show – 5 performances. 3 months of preparation, around 100 students involved (who learnt street dance from scratch)
- Show at the end of the studying year – 9 performances, 200 students involved.
- giving regular classes - street dance (hip hop, jazz funk), contemporary, stretching
- design and implementation of dance courses
- staging of different performances
- shooting video tutorials
- giving workshops
- performing as a dancer in videos KEY RESULTS:
- established and successfully implemented Basic Course of Contemporary Dance for beginners
- prepared around 15 successful group performances
- took part in around 40 dance routine videos as dancer/choreographer
- giving dance classes for children on different styles
- making choreography for vocal shows
- development of rhytmic and dancing skills among the youngest pupils
- fulfillment of monitor's duties in a camp dedicated to creative skills development
- Successfully opened both resorts, ensuring all day- and night time entertainment, activities, staffing, tools, resources and administrative work was in order
- Managed a team of 25 members, including dancers and musicians
- Choreographed 6 different 50 minute dance/musical productions
- Successfully planned guest activities and evening entertainment ensuring a satisfactory entertainment experience for all guests
- Traveled to Almond Beach Resort in Barbados from time to time to enhance guest entertainment
- Initiated use of ADAPT syllabus within training of students, implementing annual ADAPT dance exams maintaining standard of training on a National level.
- Choreograph dance routines in multiple genres for various competitions at both National and International levels resulting in many choreography and overall achievement awards.
- Choreograph shows for in house Performance Company (New York, Disney, London, Spain, Paris, Carnival Cruise Lines)
- Designed, implemented and maintain social media presence (twitter, instagram, facebook)
- Demonstrated and encouraged positive culture among clients and staff that eventually allowed for 100% client retention rate both years.
- Developed and integrated a quantifiable curriculum that aligned with an institutional mission of providing elite training and genuine care.
- Maintained steady growth in both of the programs after doubling enrollment in the first year.
- Assisted in the staff management of a team of twelve.
- Maintained portals of information such as newsletters, mass emails, social media outlets, and the company website.
- Communicated important updates and information to clients, families, and staff.
- Teaching beginners to competitive dance athletes in the Latin-American dances: Cha Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble and Jive; as well as social dances: Salsa and Bachata.
- Successfully acquired a license to adjudicate under World Dance Council (WDC) and have been invited to judge DanceSport Competitions in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and other parts of Asia.
- Successfully passed the exam and acquired a license to teach by the United Kingdom Alliance of Professional Teachers of Dance (UKA) and have been teaching freelance and in different studios in Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore.
- Was asked by a Russian dancer and agreed to a dance partnership and has been winning numerous championships ever since in the local and international arena.
- For more information about my dancing, head over to www.deegerodias.com/dance-profile
- Asian Top Ranking Female Latin Dancer
- 23rd and 24th Southeast Asian Games Silver Medalist
- 2004 Asian Championship Gold Medalist
- For a full list, refer to www.deegerodias.com/dance-profile
- The Hub (Co-working space for Startups): Guest Speaker & Salsa Teacher for an event - Right Steps, Right Rhythm with your Business Partner.
- Laneway Learning - Latin Groove with Dee http://singapore.lanewaylearning.com/classes/latingroove/
- Funzing: Salsa in the Park - http://sg.funzing.com/funz/3470
- Funzing: Learn To Cha Cha Cha - International Style - http://sg.funzing.com/funz/5845
- Also taught freelance at different dance studios.
- Worked with the leading artists of the time.
- My choreography toured internationally.
- Performed in leading festivals internationally.
PRO TIP
Don't make the same mistake everyone else does. What we mean is, don't list your Dance job responsibilities instead of your achievements. Recruiters know what you do. They want to know what kind of difference you can bring to their company. Focus on what you've accomplished.
Action verbs for your dance resume
Recommended reads:
Writing a strong skills section for your dance resume
Checklist for your dance skills section:
- Include all relevant skills from the job description to pass ATS;
- Focus on skills that show your expertise;
- List your technical skills in a clear and concise manner;
- Leave room for transferable skills related to teamwork, communication, negotiation, and conflict management.
Top skills for your dance resume
Choreography
Ballet
Music Theory
Contemporary Dance
Singing
Self confidence
Creativity
Humor
Innovation
Storytelling
PRO TIP
When describing your experience, don’t go too far from its terminology. Recruiters use ATS systems to filter resumes based on them having certain keywords, so make sure you use at least a few keywords mentioned in the job description.
Recommended reads:
Dance resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your dance resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Dance resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
The ideal summary for your dance resume
Mastering the summary section: checklist
- Mention the total years of experience you have in the field;
- Focus on 2 to 3 of your top achievements;
- Highlight the things that make you the best fit for the position;
- Go for short, easy-to-read sentences to keep the recruiter’s attention.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Your summary section should act as a professional taster. Use it wisely. Effectively convey your professional profile and let the hiring manager know that if they hire you, they won’t be disappointed. Make sure to include keywords from the job description too! Elaborate on your abilities further in your experience section. Again, cater to the job description.
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Things to include in your dance resume education section
Dance resume education section checklist:
- Mention your highest education degree;
- Add the duration of your course and the institution you attended;
- List the awards you’ve received during your studies;
- Feature your certifications if they are relevant to the position;
- Entry-level positions: Share more about projects and classes.
Top certifications for your dance resume
Shuffle Dance Master Class Vol 1. | How to Shuffle Dance
The step-by-step system for learning how to Shuffle dance (Cutting Shapes, EDM Dancing)
Basic Dance Moves for Guys - Completely beginner lessons
Step-by-step, follow along system for the common man with 0 dance experience to learn how to dance
Learn How to Shuffle Dance!
Everything you need to be able to shuffle
Hip Hop Dance For Beginners
Learn 12 Beginning Hip Hop Dance Routines Without Stepping Foot In a Dance Studio
Belly Dance for Beginners: Technique and Combinations
Master Belly dancing techniques with step by step instructions and dance practices full of fun!
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
There are dozens of certifications that you can claim as a Dance. But, some are more effective than others. That’s why you mustn’t include every certificate other applicants might have. Try instead to earn and list a few of the difficult ones.
Formatting your dance resume
What’s worse than a .docx resume? A resume with a poorly chosen format.
In general, there are three basic resume formats we advise you to stick with:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
Choosing between them is easy when you’re aware of your applicant profile – it depends on your years of experience, the position you’re applying for, and whether you’re looking for an industry change or not.
The reverse-chronological resume format is just that – all your relevant jobs in reverse-chronological order. It’s great for applicants with lots of experience, no career gaps, and little desire for creativity.
When working with less experienced applicants, we suggest the functional skills-based resume format. It’s great for recent graduates or people with large career gaps. Functional skills-based resumes focus on your personality, the skills you have, your interests, and your education. Ultimately, the idea is to show you’re the perfect fit without putting too much emphasis on your work experience (or lack thereof).
If you’re in the middle or are generally looking to make your resume feel more modern and personal, go for the combination or hybrid resume format. It offers the best of both worlds by combining sections focused on experience and work-related skills and at the same time keeping space for projects, awards, certifications, or even creative sections like ‘my typical day’ and ‘my words to live by’.
Dance Resume Formatting Checklist
- Choose the resume format based on your level of experience and the company you’re applying for
- Go for a traditional 10-12p font
- Stick to 1-inch page margins to ensure high readability
- Match the length of your resume to your experience, but don’t go for more than two pages!
To take it a step further, check out how your resume can stand out without leaning too much on the creative side.
Recommended reads"
PRO TIP
Test your draft Dance resume by sending it out to peers and mentors in your circles. Ask them to review it as if they are hiring you for a project and implement the feedback afterwards.
Additional sections for your dance resume
In some cases, especially when it comes to entry-level positions, adding more sections beyond the usual ‘experience’, ‘skills’, and ‘education’ works well in your favor. Such additional sections will help you paint a fuller picture of who you are in the recruiter’s head.
Here’s a list of fun yet informative additional sections for your resume:
Making your dance resume creative
We know too well that recruiters go through tons of resumes every day. The worse part is, they often need to hire people for different positions and teams. So how do you make yourself stand out in such cases?
By adding a dash of creativity to your Dance resume. It can be in the form of a colorful layout, a section describing your typical day, or even a picture of your favorite book – you decide!
Just make sure that the levels of creativity match the industry, company, and position you’re applying for.
What makes a great dance resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
