Professional dancer resume examples
What makes this a great professional dancer resume sample
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Customized to the industry
This resume focuses more on relevant dance skills than typical resume talking points. Because of the nature of dance, including a photograph is an appropriate choice.
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Well organized
This dancer resume example is cleanly organized into an industry-appropriate template, making it easy to read despite being very dense with information.
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Emphasizes skills and qualifications
Since this applicant has relatively little work history, this resume smartly centers her skills, training and other qualifications using a functional resume format.
What makes this a great dancer resume sample
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Highlights work experience
Since this candidate has over a decade of experience, he emphasized his work history using a chronological resume format.
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Lists certifications
Certifications are a great way to demonstrate professional expertise. This applicant has included two relevant dance-related certifications.
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Includes a mix of hard and soft skills
Being a professional dancer is not just about choreography. This applicant has included things like leadership and interpersonal skills as well.
Choose the right format for your professional dancer resume
Auditions are a big part of landing a professional dance role, but to get to this stage, you need your resume to make an impact first. Selecting the resume format helps ensure your resume makes its way into the right hands.
- Experienced applicants should consider a chronological resume format. With lots of experience behind you, a timeline is an excellent way of showcasing the progress of your career.
- Applicants with little to no experience should consider a functional resume format that allows skills and other qualifications to fill in blanks in experience.
- Midlevel applicants with a few years of work experience should try a combination resume format with a proper balance of work experience and other qualifications.
To learn more about formatting your resume to showcase your qualifications in the best light, explore our detailed formatting guide.
Select an appropriate professional dancer resume template
Most resume templates are basically the same because they usually include the same sections. You can still add a lot of originality within these constraints. Choose the right dance resume template to ensure your resume stands out. Our creative resume templates are perfect for a professional dancer who wants to display some personality. For something more professional and classic, check out our template library or look at our array of modern resumes and simple templates.
How to write a professional dancer resume in 5 simple steps
The best resume is the one that gets you noticed. Follow our guide to make sure that your dance resume helps you put your best foot forward. A perfect resume is tailor-made for the industry and even the specific role you’re applying to.
STEP 1
Examine the professional dancer job description
The job listing is a valuable source of information you do not want to ignore. Read it carefully and try to hone in on what your potential employer is looking for. Those are the qualifications that you should focus on showcasing the most.
STEP 2
Write a professional summary or resume objective
A professional summary or a resume objective are useful ways to introduce yourself to the employer and communicate your personality. Consider this section your resume profile, where employers can get to know you and become acquainted with your skills, experience, and achievements.
Candidates with less experience should choose a resume objective focusing more on career goals and skills than work history. More experienced applicants are better off with a professional summary highlighting professional achievements, career milestones, and related skills.
Here are some strong examples for your professional dancer resume:
Dancer professional summary example:
Classically trained professional dancer with eight years of experience. Lead dancer for dozens of sold-out ballet performances. Athletic and adaptable. Strong communication skills. Excels at taking direction. Eager to learn new and challenging choreography. Interested in mentoring junior dancers. Passionate about building relationships with other dancers and industry professionals.
Dancer resume objective example:
Talented and motivated dancer looking to contribute to a creative dance team. Graduate of Nor Cal Dance Academy. Comfortable tackling complex choreography in a variety of styles. Eager to learn and advance my craft.
STEP 3
Highlight your relevant dance skills
For experienced dancers and newcomers alike, hiring departments and casting directors will be looking to assess the professional dance resume skills you choose to list. Skills for a professional dance resume should be featured within your resume skills section and highlighted within your professional summary or resume objective.
Your skills should include a good mix of hard and soft skills. Hard skills are measurable abilities usually necessary to perform the job responsibilities. These skills are the kind that can be taught. Soft skills, on the other hand, are less concrete. Your soft skills are the traits and talents you’ve developed, making you a good fit for the job. If that is confusing, look at this side-by-side list of hard and soft skills for dancers, which will help you make sense of the differences between the two.
Hard and soft skills for a professional dancer resume
Here is an example of a strong professional dancer skills section:
- Trained and skilled in classical and contemporary ballet
- Experienced at creating and teaching choreography
- Adaptable and great at learning on the fly
- Excellent communication skills
Pro Tip
Dancing might seem like it’s all about athleticism and talent, but employers will still be looking for soft skills that demonstrate why you would be an excellent fit for the role. Choreography is hard to teach, but strong interpersonal skills are much harder!
STEP 4
Write a strong dancer work experience section
A great resume means writing a work experience section that tells your career story. This is your opportunity to show off the experiences that make you the most qualified candidate for the job.
Here is an example of a great professional dancer work experience entry:
Professional dancer, Lawrence Performing Arts Center
San Francisco, CA
January 2019 – Present
- Dance in over a dozen shows a year with hundreds of performances for audiences up to 10,000 guests per show.
- Choreograph and instruct dances for junior dancers.
- Teach weekly dance classes for over 200 students using own choreography and dance curriculum.
- Lead teams of dancers in practices and exercises.
- Take direction and improve skills while managing difficult choreography.
Pro Tip
Your dance resume will stand out more if you use many action words. Backing up your experience and skills with numbers also helps your resume pop and demonstrates the concrete effect you’ve had on your previous roles.
STEP 5
Showcase your education and training on your professional dancer resume
The ability to learn new things is as essential to a dancer as any physical skill. Use the education section of your professional dance resume to describe your dance education and demonstrate your knowledge and capacity to learn. For a dancer, this is an important opportunity to highlight all the rigorous training that has brought you to this point.
How to list your graphic design education:
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Dance University of Texas, Dallas Richardson, TX
Certifications
- Certified Dance Educator (CiDE)
- NASM Sports Medicine Certified
Pro Tip
Certifications are another great way to show off useful experience. Include any relevant certifications to demonstrate your learned skills and professionalism.
Optional sections for your professional dancer resume
Awards and Certifications
Many dancers compete within a competition circuit. Whether or not this is you, including awards and accolades on your resume is a way to set yourself apart from other dancers. Competitions where you have won, or even just ranked, scholarships that you have earned, and different types of achievement awards should be listed in this section.
How to list awards on your registered nurse resume:
2021 Southwestern Invitational Dancesport Challenge – Winner
2018 National Youth Dance Championship – Finalist
Projects
Projects for a dancer don’t work in the same way that they might for different types of resumes. A section outlining projects can still be a relevant addition to your resume. This is a great place to highlight productions that you have participated in. Danced as Odette in a local production of Swan Lake? This is a great place to let casting directors know.
If you’ve written choreography, mentored junior dancers or tackled other dance-related projects, include them in this section.
How to list projects on your professional dancer resume:
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Danced the role of Swanhilda in Coppelia
Performed as Swanhilda for audiences of over 10,000 during a three-month performance run. Mastered complex choreography and owned the part throughout the rehearsal and performance process. -
Leadership and Choreography
Choreographed a simplified version of the Nutcracker for a recital for beginner dance students. Mentored and instructed the students through the learning process, allowing them to shine on stage.
Languages
Languages allow you to show off your mental agility and cultural awareness. Learning new languages is difficult, so knowing more than one language is a great way to show that you are skilled at learning new things. Being multilingual also showcases proficiency in communication.
Dance is an international sport. Dancers often have to interact with other dancers, choreographers, and performing arts professionals worldwide. Some shows may even be written in foreign languages. For these reasons, being multilingual is an especially valuable skill for professional dancers.
How to list languages on your professional dancer resume:
- Fluent in French and English
- Proficient in Italian
Interests and Hobbies
Hobbies and interests demonstrate that you are a complete person with well-rounded interests. Even the most passionate dancers must have other things in their lives besides dance. Those other things add character to your resume and show hiring departments and casting directors who you are as a person and a dancer. Include hobbies on your resume so long as they are relevant and appropriate. It is an excellent idea to include hobbies and interests that intersect with valuable soft skills.
How to list interests and hobbies on your professional dancer resume:
- Passion for music with a special interest in cello and clarinet
- Interested in visual arts and design
- Dedicated gardener
Add a cover letter
Adding a cover letter is essential in landing a job interview for the position you want. After writing a detailed dance resume, a cover letter might feel like an afterthought, but do not be fooled! A persuasive cover letter is a significant asset. Learn how to write a cover letter for a professional dance by becoming comfortable with the six parts of a cover letter: the header, salutation, introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, conclusion and signoff. You can also check out our cover letter examples to get an idea of what a great cover letter looks like and how you can format your cover letter to give you the best shot at your dream job.
You may also use our Cover Letter Builder, which guides you through the writing process and suggests professionally-worded text for each section.
Hailey Brophy is an experienced writer with a diverse career in digital publication. She is passionate about using her unique skills and experiences to help job seekers find the information that they need to succeed.
