An Introduction to various types of professional dancers and dance paths…

An Introduction to the various types of professional dancers and dance paths……..

Wow. Long title for an “introductory” article! Welcome to our first official DART talk. This article will help clarify the varied career paths one can take as a professional dancer. There is no one way to “do” this career. There are many professional experiences that one can have as a dancer. Each has a unique training path leading to distinct career destinations and fulfillment.  The hope is that with a clearer understanding of what is required for success in any of these genres, you can make informed decisions to guide you on your way. And while many dance styles and companies are highlighted here, many others are not. Let this be a starting point to your research!

Classical Ballet Company Member:

The dream of little kids everywhere; tiaras, pointe shoes, The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Classical dancers focus on ballet and generally need to start to focus their training quite early. Ballet  phrases are performed both on pointe and using soft slipper shoes, and classical ballet companies have full length productions in their repertoire. Ballet dancers must study classical ballet, contemporary ballet, jazz, and modern to be competitive in the marketplace. Ballet study includes pointe work, partnering, variations (the study of set ballet pieces) and character work (mainly Eastern European Folk dance). Seasons in a major ballet company will include work in all of these genres. Leading companies include England’s Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada, The Paris Opera Ballet and The Australian Ballet. New York City Ballet is considered a Neoclassical company since the style is that of its founder George Balanchine. Other Neoclassical companies include Pacific Northwest Ballet and Miami City Ballet. Many classical companies have neoclassical works in their repertoire, so some of these boundaries are blurred. For example, both San Francisco and Boston Ballet perform neo-classical works but are considered classical companies.  It is essential that if one wants to dance in a mainly Balanchine company, that they train at a school which teaches technique from the School of American Ballet. 

Contemporary Dance Company Member: (Contemporary Ballet and Contemporary Dance):

There are actually three different types of contemporary companies. There are ballet based companies that require dancers to work on pointe (Complexions, Lines Ballet) and ballet based companies that do not. There are also contemporary companies that source dancers from other dance forms or their own training. While most of these dancers also have strong ballet backgrounds, other training may be more prevalent in their foundation. Contemporary work includes improvisation, floor work, partnering and exploratory choreography. Contemporary dance classes draw from ballet, modern and somatic traditions and vary quite a bit. Most of these companies also have strong theatre elements in their productions and creations. The world’s top contemporary companies include Netherlands Dance Theatre, Kidd Pivot (Canada), Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (USA) and Bat Sheva (Israel). 

Modern Company Member:

Modern companies each have their own specific styles of dance. Many of them are named after the founders of the style of movement: Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Kathryn Dunham, Jose Límon and Alvin Ailey are all choreographers with eponymous companies and many of these companies also disband after their founder’s death. Each company has a school of technique upon which its repertoire is based. For example, the Graham company dances mainly Graham technique.  Ailey repertoire is based upon the school of modern dance founded by Lester Horton. Cunningham is a modern technique, as is Dunham. To join these companies (both Cunningham and Límon are no longer running, though other companies do perform their repertoire) a dancer should study that technique intensely while augmenting that training with other techniques. For example, an advanced student at the Ailey School will study Horton, Dunham, Graham, African and ballet in just one semester.

Broadway Dancer:

A dancer who works on Broadway or in Musical Theatre needs to train in multiple dance styles: Classic Jazz, Broadway Jazz, Ballet, and Tap at a minimum.  Many dancers also have extensive modern training and  contemporary training, and other dance forms such as African, Hip Hop, Salsa, Tango and Aerial have all made their way to the Broadway stage. Versatility is a plus for dancers who want to work in theater. Dancers also need to take voice lessons and acting classes since there are very few roles that require just dance. Broadway style dancers can also find work on Cruise ships, at theme parks, in movies and in television shows and commercials. Broadway also reflects the world at large, so there is crossover between popular dance forms of any time and Broadway shows. The “Golden Era of Broadway” featured many choreographers from the ballet world. Christopher Wheedon and Justin Peck are current ballet crossover artists. There is also a trend for current musicals and revivals of classic musicals to employ other dance artists: contemporary and commercial choreographers such as Sonya Tayeh and Camile A. Brown have had recent successes with Moulin Rouge and an edgy revival of Oklahoma. 

International and Cultural Companies:

Dance is a universal language that takes many forms. Most cultural groups have dances specific to their heritage. Many companies focus on a specific style: Tango, Bellydance, Bollywood, African, and Indigenous First Nation Dances are just a few examples. Training in these styles is often part of growing up within a culture or a locale. Professional companies can grow out of folk and theatre traditions in every country around the world. 

Commercial Dance Artist/ Tour Dancer:

Commercial Dance Artists work in Music Videos, dance in live shows and tour with artists such as Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Cher and Lizzo. They also work in commercials, television shows and films. Training for a commercial dance artist includes hip hop, street jazz, jazz funk, classic jazz, heels, burlesque, contemporary and many of these dancers also add in ballet and modern. Many dancers, like the previously listed choreographers,  also work on Broadway or in theater so there is some crossover training. 

Acrobatic Dancer/ Cirque Du Soleil/ Speciality Act:

Finally, there are numerous opportunities for dancers in shows like Cirque Du Soleil and other circus style acrobatic shows. Dancers in these shows tend to have very strong ballet, contemporary and modern training as well as speciality training in silks and aerial work. They could also be gymnasts or acrobats. 

This is a short introduction to the types of professional dancers working throughout the world. In many markets, such as Los Angeles, dancers cross over between different styles a lot. Dancers who work for LA Contemporary Dance Company also work at Disneyland or Universal Studios theme parks and may also dance in commercials.  Dancers that work on Broadway in New York may also dance in television shows or movies. European companies often have longer contract periods so dancers can be dedicated to working just there. Many ballet dancers in smaller companies may also guest for other companies, which is known as being a freelance artist. 

There are many ways to have a successful dance career. It starts with knowing what you want and finding the training to support your dream. 

Did this article inspire you or did it raise more questions? Reach out below! We would love to have a conversation!

Written by: Nancy Dobbs Owen