Careers Brief - Performing Arts: Dance FdA
Overview
The performing arts industry is highly competitive and demanding, but can be very rewarding. Within the field of dance, you can perform and find employment within a variety of related careers.
To succeed in dance you need to have talent, rhythm and timing, personality, a good movement memory, determination, enthusiasm and a high level of fitness and stamina. You may find work within a dance company or consider setting up your own.
You could progress onto related careers, such as: choreography; dance teaching, both in the public and private sector; movement therapy; community theatre; arts administration; arts journalism; complementary therapies (e.g. Alexander Technique). You could combine these routes.
To consider a wider choice of careers, matched to your interests, use Prospects Planner and other tools listed in the Career Planning section of this Careers Guide.
Use the website links below to find out more.
Further Study
You will be able to apply for a Top-up degree. Top-up degree programmes are designed as direct progression from Foundation degree to achieve an Ordinary or Honours degree.
Institutions offering Top-ups with dance include:
University of Cumbria; Doncaster College; University of Hertfordshire; Hull College; New College Nottingham; Newcastle College; University of Sunderland; Teeside University.
Check the Course Brief for Performing Arts: Contemporary Theatre Performance FdA for other Top-ups in Performing Arts.
Alternatively, you could transfer into a related Honours degree. Entry point would depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses but could be into the final year.
Check out courses at University College Chichester; De Montfort University Leicester; Liverpool John Moores University.
Progression is available to a one-year top-up Honours degree (Level H) at University College Winchester. Go to the Links on the HE Home page for details.
To search for degree courses go to www.ucas.com/ (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK). Use the university/college links for course details.
You will need to use UCAS to apply for courses. Contact the Course Tutor of your chosen course to find out your position, before you make your formal application.
Find out how much this will cost you. Where is the funding coming from? Go to the university/college website for information on costs and finance and to www.direct.gov.uk/uni/ for additional help with student support.
With a good Honours degree (First or 2.1), you could progress onto an appropriate higher level Masters and/or PhD doctorate. This could be to develop your area of study to a more in-depth practical and/or academic level or to gain other specialist training.
For information on all postgraduate courses and research, go to the national online directory at www.prospects.ac.uk/links/pgstudy/ .
Go to the main section on Further Study of this Guide for more information and help.
Resources
Creative Choices - online service supporting the individual and business in the creative industries and cultural sector.
Drop down sub-heading 'Knowledge' + go to sector side-heading 'Performing Arts'.
Graduate Prospects - online national careers service for HE students studying in the UK:
- Drop down 'Careers advice' and click on 'Use your qualification' for 'Your foundation degree...what next?' + 'Options with your subject'
- Drop down 'Jobs & work' and click on 'What jobs would suit me?' for Prospects Planner
http://careersadvice.direct.gov.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles/
Careers Advice Service
www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u
Jobs4U Careers Database - click on sub-heading 'Job Families & Articles'
Check out side-heading '4TALENT'
The Stage Online (magazine for the entertainment industry) - go to sub-heading 'Advice' for 'How to Guides'
www.ukperformingarts.co.uk/dance
UKP-Arts: UK performance industry training and careers
Equity - UK Trade Union representing professional performers and other creative workers across the entertainment, creative and cultural industries
BECTU - The Media & Entertainment Union
www.guidance-research.org/future-trends/arts/
Warwick Institute for Employment Research - 'Creative and cultural industries' for 'Performing arts'
www.intute.ac.uk/creativearts/
Intute - free online service that helps you to find the best web resources for your studies and research
The British Association of Dramatherapists
Arts Professional - the UK's leading arts management magazine
http://jobseekers.direct.gov.uk/
Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search by either clicking on side-heading 'Careers' and choose a category or type in job title.
www.britishcouncil.org/arts-drama.htm
British Council Drama information source - drop down 'Art Forms' for 'Dance'
Arts Matrix is the skills and enterprise development agency for creative professionals in the South West
The Council for Dance Education & Training - comprehensive information service
Dance UK - for the UK-based dance professional
Foundation for Community Dance - online directory of dance companies
Go to the Job Applications section of this Careers Guide for help and advice with making applications.
