Choreographers

What the job really is

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

At a glance

• Sector: Arts, Design & Media
• O*NET-SOC code: 27-2032
• O*NET job zone: 3 — medium preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Direct rehearsals to instruct dancers in dance steps and in techniques to achieve desired effects.
• Advise dancers on standing and moving properly, teaching correct dance techniques to help prevent injuries.
• Teach students, dancers, and other performers about rhythm and interpretive movement.
• Record dance movements and their technical aspects, using a technical understanding of the patterns and formations of choreography.
• Direct and stage dance presentations for various forms of entertainment.
• Choose the music, sound effects, or spoken narrative to accompany a dance.
• Experiment with different types of dancers, steps, dances, and placements, testing ideas informally to get feedback from dancers.
• 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.
• Coordinate production music with music directors.
• 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.
• Audition performers for one or more dance parts.

Tools and technology

Facebook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Salesforce software, Chorel Technology Dance Designer, Compact disk CD players, Credo Interactive DanceForms, Digital stopwatches, Digital video cameras, Digital video disk DVD players

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Dancers
• Music Directors and Composers
• Musicians and Singers
• Actors
• Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary
• Talent Directors
• Art Directors
• Producers and Directors

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 3 (medium preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Choreographers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.