Dancer

You'll specialise in a form of dance, like:

• classical ballet
•  contemporary dance
•  modern stage dance, like jazz, tap, and musical theatre
•  African or Asian dance
•  street dance

Typically you could:

• rehearse routines
•  prepare for and go to auditions
•  take part in dance classes and maintain your fitness
•  perform in front of a live audience or to a camera
•  promote yourself as a performer

• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• knowledge of the fine arts
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• persistence and determination
• ambition and a desire to succeed
• the ability to use your initiative
• physical skills like movement, coordination, dexterity and grace
• physical fitness and endurance
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• applying directly
• specialist courses

Many dancers combine their performance work with part time teaching or behind the scenes work in the arts.

With experience, you could become a choreographer or become self employed and set up your own dance school.

With further training, you could go into community arts development or dance therapy.