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What is a director of dance and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Donna Flournoy
introduction image
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a director of dance. For example, did you know that they make an average of $27.67 an hour? That's $57,546 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 12% and produce 159,400 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a director of dance?

Donna Flournoy

Professor, Dance Department, San Diego Mesa College

I advise a graduate student to continue networking with the faculty and students they have worked with. This will provide a solid foundation to support their dance journey. I suggest they continue training in all dance genres and cross-train regularly while maintaining good mental health. They should challenge themselves by reaching out and doing things that may not feel comfortable initially but will add to their dance story later. Always strive to be your best self and find your unique dance voice. Additionally, they should surround themselves with like-minded individuals who support them and will keep them accountable when things get tough. Lastly, taking time to stop, breathe, and enjoy the journey is essential.
ScoreDirector Of DanceUS Average
Salary
4.5

Avg. Salary $57,546

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.8

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.28%

Asian 11.35%

Black or African American 6.96%

Hispanic or Latino 9.94%

Unknown 4.90%

White 66.57%

Gender

female 79.08%

male 20.92%

Age - 46
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 46
Stress level
4.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
8.9

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Director of dance career paths

Key steps to become a director of dance

  1. Explore director of dance education requirements

    Most common director of dance degrees

    Bachelor's

    71.9 %

    Associate

    10.1 %

    Master's

    8.7 %

  2. Start to develop specific director of dance skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Fine Arts15.77%
    Dance Classes14.46%
    Alumni13.42%
    Musical Theater6.20%
    Community Events4.35%
    Show more

  3. Research director of dance duties and responsibilities

    • Start up and manage social media; Facebook, Instagram.
    • Design and teach various language, literature, and culture courses at all undergraduate levels in both German and English.
    • Order costumes, create annual budget reports, and record bookkeeping.
    • Develop a dance syllabus and overall course structure, and administer to all grades.

  4. Apply for director of dance jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a director of dance job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first director of dance job

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Are you a director of dance?

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Average director of dance salary

The average director of dance salary in the United States is $57,546 per year or $28 per hour. Director of dance salaries range between $32,000 and $100,000 per year.

Average director of dance salary
$57,546 Yearly
$27.67 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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