Choreographers: Career & Application Guide

What do choreographers do?

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

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

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.

Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.

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