Dance Professional Resume examples & templates

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Copyable Dance Professional Resume examples

Nearly 87% of professional dancers sustain at least one significant injury during their careers—yet the field continues to grow at a surprising rate of 6.4% annually. The dance profession represents this fascinating intersection of physical demand, artistic expression and career resilience that few other fields match. What's changing? The definition of "professional dancer" itself. Beyond traditional ballet companies and Broadway stages, dancers now find themselves in high demand across emerging sectors like immersive entertainment, corporate team building, therapeutic movement programs and digital content creation. The pandemic forced a dramatic pivot (pun intended!) when performances went virtual, but this unexpected shift opened entirely new revenue streams for dance professionals who adapted quickly.

The growth of dance-adjacent careers has been particularly noteworthy, with choreography for video games, movement direction for actors and dance therapy all expanding their footprints in the job market. As motion capture technology becomes more accessible and the lines between physical and digital performance continue to blur, dance professionals who combine traditional training with technological fluency will find themselves uniquely positioned to shape the next evolution of this ancient art form.

Junior Dance Professional Resume Example

Sophie Winters

Seattle, WA | (206) 555-1874 | sophie.winters@email.com | linkedin.com/in/sophiewinters

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Contemporary and ballet dancer with 2 years of performance experience and formal training in multiple dance styles. Skilled in choreography creation, stage presence, and adapting to various artistic visions. Committed to physical conditioning and technical growth while bringing creative energy to productions and teaching environments.

EXPERIENCE

Junior Company Member – Pacific Northwest Dance Collective, Seattle, WA
September 2022 – Present

  • Perform in 6-8 contemporary and mixed repertoire productions annually, including 3 main stage shows and 2 community outreach events
  • Collaborate with guest choreographers to develop new works, contributing movement phrases during creative workshops
  • Participate in daily technique classes and rehearsals, maintaining physical readiness for performances
  • Assist with beginner-level community classes, introducing 12-15 students to contemporary movement vocabulary

Dance Teaching Assistant – MoveMent Studios, Seattle, WA
January 2022 – Present

  • Lead warm-ups and across-the-floor combinations for children’s ballet and jazz classes (ages 6-12)
  • Demonstrate proper technique and provide individual corrections to students
  • Created 3 short dance pieces for student showcases, incorporating age-appropriate choreography
  • Help maintain studio schedule and communicate with parents regarding class updates and performances

Dance Apprentice – Seattle Contemporary Ballet, Seattle, WA
August 2021 – June 2022

  • Selected from 47 applicants for the company’s competitive apprenticeship program
  • Performed corps roles in “Winter Showcase” and “Spring Repertory” productions
  • Understudied soloist parts, learning choreography while developing artistic interpretation
  • Participated in 18 hours of weekly training, including ballet, contemporary, and improvisation

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance
Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, WA – May 2021
Concentration: Contemporary Dance Techniques

Additional Training:

  • Summer Intensive, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance (2020)
  • Gaga Movement Workshop with Batsheva Dance Company Member (2022)
  • Injury Prevention for Dancers Certificate – Dance Medicine Institute (2021)

SKILLS

  • Dance Styles: Contemporary, Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Improvisation
  • Performance: Stage presence, Musicality, Partnering, Emotional expression
  • Teaching: Youth instruction, Demonstration, Curriculum planning
  • Physical: Flexibility, Core strength, Stamina, Proper alignment
  • Creative: Choreography, Movement invention, Artistic interpretation
  • Technical: Knowledge of dance terminology, Music theory fundamentals
  • Software: QLab (basic), Final Cut Pro, Dance studio management systems

ADDITIONAL

Volunteer dance workshop leader at Greenwood Community Center (monthly since October 2021)
CPR and First Aid Certified (renewed January 2023)

Mid-level Dance Professional Resume Example

Maya Coleman

Denver, CO • (720) 555-8294 • maya.coleman@email.com • linkedin.com/in/mayacoleman

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Versatile dance professional with 6+ years of experience specializing in contemporary and ballet techniques. Performed with regional dance companies while building teaching experience with diverse student populations. Known for developing creative choreography that balances technical precision with emotional expression. Seeking to grow as both performer and instructor in a collaborative environment.

EXPERIENCE

Dance Instructor & Choreographer – Mile High Dance Academy, Denver, CO

January 2021 – Present

  • Teach 12+ weekly classes to students ages 8-18, specializing in contemporary, ballet, and improvisational techniques
  • Choreographed 7 original pieces for spring showcase, including a group contemporary piece that won regional recognition
  • Increased advanced class enrollment by 31% through targeted social media promotion and student showcases
  • Mentor 3 junior instructors, providing feedback on teaching methods and class structure
  • Collaborated with artistic director to revamp curriculum, integrating more diverse dance styles and accessible teaching methods

Company Dancer – Elevation Dance Project, Boulder, CO

August 2019 – December 2021

  • Performed in 14 productions with audiences of 400+ across Colorado’s Front Range
  • Participated in community outreach program bringing dance to 8 underserved public schools
  • Contributed choreographic elements to collaborative company pieces (my floor sequence in “Threshold” was kept in the final production!)
  • Assisted with grant writing efforts that secured $18,500 in funding for 2021 season

Teaching Artist / Dancer – MovementWorks Studio, Portland, OR

June 2018 – July 2019

  • Taught beginning and intermediate contemporary classes to adults and teens
  • Performed as company apprentice in 4 seasonal showcases and 2 community festivals
  • Coordinated social media content resulting in 47% increase in workshop registrations
  • Developed specialized warm-up sequence for injury prevention that was adopted studio-wide

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance – University of Colorado, Boulder

Minor in Arts Administration – Graduated 2018

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) Certification – 2022
  • Youth Protection in Dance – National Dance Education Organization – 2021
  • First Aid/CPR/AED – American Red Cross – renewed annually

SKILLS

  • Dance Techniques: Contemporary, Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Improvisation
  • Choreography & Composition
  • Dance Pedagogy & Curriculum Development
  • Injury Prevention & Safe Dance Practices
  • Performance Experience (stage and site-specific)
  • Music Editing (Audacity, GarageBand)
  • Social Media Marketing for Dance
  • Event Planning & Production
  • Grant Writing (basic)
  • Costume Design & Basic Alterations

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Guest Choreographer – Denver Arts High School Spring Showcase, 2022 & 2023

Workshop Leader – Colorado Dance Convention, Summer 2021

Senior / Experienced Dance Professional Resume Example

Teresa Rodriguez

San Diego, CA • (619) 555-8742 • trodriguez.dance@email.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/teresarodriguez • Instagram: @teresa.moves

Versatile dance professional with 8+ years of experience as a performer, choreographer, and educator. Classically trained in ballet with extensive contemporary, jazz, and Latin dance expertise. Known for developing innovative training programs that blend traditional technique with modern expression. Former principal dancer with the San Diego Contemporary Ballet who’s successfully transitioned into teaching and production roles while maintaining select performance engagements.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Dance Program Director & Lead Faculty | Movement Arts Academy, San Diego, CA | 2020–Present

  • Oversee curriculum development and instruction for 6 dance disciplines, serving 340+ students ages 5-adult
  • Implemented hybrid in-person/virtual instruction model during pandemic, retaining 88% of students when similar programs saw 50%+ attrition
  • Choreographed 14 original works for student showcases, including a collaborative piece featured at the 2022 Southern California Youth Dance Festival
  • Recruited and manage team of 7 part-time instructors; created standardized evaluation criteria that improved overall class quality ratings by 27%
  • Established professional mentorship program connecting advanced students with working dancers, resulting in 5 students securing professional opportunities

Company Member & Teaching Artist | Fusion Dance Project, San Diego, CA | 2018–2020

  • Performed in 23 productions as featured dancer, including 2 international tours (Mexico City and Vancouver)
  • Led weekly contemporary technique classes for intermediate/advanced adult students
  • Coordinated outreach programs in partnership with 4 underserved schools, bringing dance education to 700+ K-12 students
  • Assisted in grant writing efforts that secured $47,500 in arts education funding

Principal Dancer | San Diego Contemporary Ballet | 2015–2018

  • Performed lead roles in classical and contemporary repertoire during 3 full seasons
  • Originated roles in 5 world premiere works by renowned choreographers including James Williams and Sophia Chen
  • Selected to represent company at the 2017 West Coast Dance Exchange alongside 2 other company members
  • Conducted pre-performance talks and demonstrations for audience engagement (avg. 150 attendees per event)

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance – University of California, Irvine (2014)

Certified Yoga Instructor – 200-hour certification, Mindful Movement Studio (2019)

Injury Prevention for Dancers – Professional Development Certificate, Dance Medicine Institute (2021)

ADDITIONAL TRAINING & WORKSHOPS

  • Summer Intensive, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (2016)
  • Gaga Movement Language Workshop with Ohad Naharin (2018)
  • Adaptive Dance Methods for Special Populations, Kennedy Center (2022)

SKILLS

  • Performance: Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Modern, Latin, Improv
  • Choreography: Narrative development, Musical interpretation, Spatial design
  • Pedagogy: Age-appropriate instruction, Safe progression planning, Kinesthetic cueing
  • Production: Stage direction, Light/sound coordination, Performance scheduling
  • Technical: Final Cut Pro, QLab, Dance notation, Familiarity with motion capture
  • Languages: Fluent Spanish, Conversational Portuguese

SELECTED PERFORMANCES & CHOREOGRAPHY

  • “Intersections” – Choreographer & Performer, San Diego Fringe Festival (2019)
  • “Winter’s Passage” – Principal Role, San Diego Contemporary Ballet (2017)
  • “Raíces” – Co-choreographer & Performer, Latinx Arts Festival (2020)
  • “Through the Looking Glass” – Movement Director, Youth Showcase (2022)

How to Write a Dance Professional Resume

Introduction

Landing your dream dance job starts with a resume that showcases your unique talents and experience in the performing arts world. Whether you're a ballet dancer seeking a company position, a commercial dancer looking for tour opportunities, or a teaching artist applying to studios, your resume serves as your first audition. Unlike traditional corporate resumes, dance resumes have their own conventions and expectations that highlight your technical training, performance history, and special skills.

Your dance resume should be as disciplined and expressive as your dancing. Keep it concise but comprehensive—just like a well-choreographed piece tells a complete story in limited time.

Resume Structure and Format

Dance resumes follow specific formatting conventions that differ from standard business resumes:

  • Keep it to one page—casting directors and company managers rarely read beyond that
  • Use a clean, professional font like Arial or Times New Roman in 10-12pt size
  • Include your headshot (typically 8x10 for theater/concert dance or comp card for commercial work)
  • List physical stats at the top: height, weight (optional), hair/eye color
  • For performance roles, place your dance experience before education
  • For teaching positions, emphasize pedagogical training and experience first

Profile/Summary Section

While traditional resumes often begin with lengthy summaries, dance resumes should start with a brief statement (2-3 lines max) highlighting your strongest technical abilities and specializations. For example:

"Contemporary ballet dancer with strong Vaganova foundation and 6 years of professional company experience. Specializing in neoclassical repertoire with extensive partnering skills. Recently featured in Jiří Kylián's Petite Mort."

Professional Experience

This section should be the heart of your dance resume. Structure it by company/production rather than chronologically when possible:

  • List companies/productions, followed by roles/positions (not the other way around)
  • Include dates, but you can list just years rather than months for longer tenures
  • For freelance dancers, organize by choreographer or production name
  • Bold the company names, not the roles—companies carry weight in the dance world
  • Include notable choreographers you've worked with (especially for concert dance)

Example:
Miami City Ballet (2019-2022)
Corps de Ballet: Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Serenade
Featured Soloist: Western Symphony (3rd movement), Rubies

Education and Certifications

Your training background matters tremendously in dance. Include:

  • Formal dance degrees and certifications (BFA, MFA, teaching certifications)
  • Major training programs and intensives (list only prestigious or relevant ones)
  • Primary teachers and mentors (if they're well-known in the industry)
  • Specialized training (Cecchetti, GYROTONIC®, Horton, etc.)

Keywords and ATS Tips

While performing arts jobs rely less on ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) than corporate positions, larger institutions and universities do use them. Include these dance-specific keywords strategically:

  • Technical styles you've mastered (Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Hip-hop, etc.)
  • Specific methods/techniques (Graham, Horton, Limón, Cunningham)
  • Performance qualities ("strong turner," "exceptional jumper," "nuanced interpreter")
  • Teaching methodologies if applying for educational positions

Industry-specific Terms

The dance world has its own vocabulary. Include relevant terminology like:

  • Repertoire names (especially for ballet dancers)
  • Technical specialties ("adagio specialist," "character work")
  • Partnering abilities ("experienced pas de deux," "contact improvisation")
  • For commercial dancers: "freestyle capabilities," "quick pick-up"

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Listing every performance you've ever done (focus on highlights)
  • Including non-dance work experience (unless relevant to the position)
  • Using vague descriptors like "passionate dancer" instead of concrete skills
  • Forgetting to include current contact information (many dancers move frequently)
  • Exaggerating roles or company positions (the dance world is small!)

Before/After Example

Before: "Danced in The Nutcracker for 3 years. Good at ballet and contemporary."

After: "Cincinnati Ballet (2020-2023): Corps de Ballet in The Nutcracker, Snow Corps, Waltz of the Flowers; Understudy for Dew Drop Fairy (2022). Featured dancer in Ohad Naharin's Minus 16."

Remember that dance is both an art and a profession. Your resume should reflect both your technical capabilities and your artistic sensibilities while maintaining professional presentation. Update it regularly as you gain new experiences and retire older, less relevant ones from your document.

Soft skills for your Dance Professional resume

  • Collaborative energy – builds rapport with choreographers, directors, and fellow performers, adjusting personal style to complement others in ensemble work
  • Nonverbal communication – expresses complex emotions and stories through movement while reading subtle cues from partners during performances
  • Resilience under pressure – maintains composure during last-minute changes, technical difficulties, or when recovering from physical setbacks
  • Mentorship ability – guides junior dancers through difficult sequences while providing constructive feedback that builds confidence rather than diminishing it
  • Creative problem solving – finds innovative ways to interpret choreography that honors artistic vision while working within physical limitations or venue constraints
  • Time-space management – juggles teaching commitments, rehearsals, performances and personal practice while maintaining physical and mental well-being

Hard skills for your Dance Professional resume

  • Proficiency in multiple dance styles (Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip-Hop)
  • Choreography development and notation using Benesh Movement Notation
  • Dance injury prevention techniques and basic kinesiology
  • Stage production software (QLab, LightKey)
  • Video editing with Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere
  • Music editing with ProTools or Audacity for performance customization
  • Dance curriculum development for various age groups and skill levels
  • Somatic techniques (Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method)
  • First Aid/CPR certification with specific dance injury focus