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 Guide.
Further Study
Top-up degree programmes are designed as progression routes from foundation degrees to honours degree.
College recommended further study routes:
University College Winchester; University College Chichester; De Montfort University Leicester; Liverpool John Moores University.
Other institutions offering related top-up honours degree courses:
Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College; University of Cumbria; Doncaster College; Hereford College of Arts; University of Hertfordshire; Hull College; Leeds Metropolitan University; NESCOT; New College Nottingham; Northbrook College Sussex; Northumbria University; Sheffield Hallam University; University of Sunderland.
To search for other suitable honours degree courses, use www.ucas.com/search (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK). Use the university/college links for course details. Entry point could depend on your grades, experience and overlap between courses.
You will need to use UCAS (see link above) 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? Use the website www.aimhigher.ac.uk (with useful links) for information on student support.
Go to the main section on Further Study in this Guide for more information and help.
Resources
- Drop down 'Careers advice' and click on 'Use your qualification' for 'Your Foundation degree...what next?'
- Also click on 'Options with your subject'
- Drop down 'Jobs & work' to 'Explore job sectors' - 'Creative and cultural arts'
- Drop down 'My Prospects' and click on 'What jobs would suit me?' for Prospects Planner
www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles
Learn Direct - national learning advice
www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u
Jobs4U Careers Database - click on 'Job Families & Articles' or Quick Search by tying in job title
www.netgain.org.uk
The Arts Advice careers site from Metier (Creative Industries) and Learn Direct for working in the industry, courses, job profiles, funding, business guidance and tailored career or course information
www.bbc.co.uk/blast/dance
BBC careers website with articles, links and Ask the Dance Expert
www.thestage.co.uk
The Stage Online (magazine for the entertainment industry) - go to 'Advice' for 'How to Guides'
www.ukperformingarts.co.uk/dance
The UK performance industry training and careers site - learn about starting a career as a professional dancer, training, using agencies, auditions, funding and career profiles of those working in the industry
www.yourcreativefuture.org
Click on 'Performing arts'
www.intute.ac.uk/artsandhumanities
Intute is a free online service providing a database and access to web resources for education and research in the Creative Arts and Humanities. Click on 'Music and the Performing Arts'.
www.badth.org.uk
The British Association of Drama Therapists
www.artsprofessional.co.uk
Arts Professional magazine for theatre, dance and arts administration jobs
jobseekers.direct.gov.uk
Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search by either clicking on 'careers' and 'choosing a category' or typing in job title.
www.equity.org.uk
Equity - UK trade union for those working in the performing arts and entertainment, including actors, singers, dancers and choreographers
www.bectu.org.uk
BECTU is the UK independent union for those working in broadcasting, film, theatre, entertainment, leisure, interactive media and allied areas. Offering information and support to employed, contract and freelance workers within these sectors.
www.britishcouncil.org/arts-drama.htm
British Council Drama Education - information source for UK drama, dance, live art and srteet art companies, education, the drama scene, events in the UK and overseas
www.artsmatrix.org.uk
Arts Matrix network providing information and advice on skills development to arts practitioners across the south west of England
www.danceuk.org
Dance UK - for the UK-based dance professional
www.cdet.org.uk
The Council for Dance Education & Training - comprehensive information service
www.communitydance.org.uk
Foundation for Community Dance - online directory of dance companies
