Dance Resume Examples to Help You Succeed This Year

Updated July 26, 20221.2k

Dance experts need to have skills that they can showcase on a resume. Here’s how to write a perfect dance resume using a dance resume example to get you started quickly and easily.

Dance Resume Example

The world of dance is an incredibly vast and varied one, so it makes a lot of sense that there would be many different types of job openings. No matter the type of dance work that you’re interested in, there are job openings out there that match your experience and talent. In addition to your dance skills, you’ll also want to highlight your teamwork, communication and creativity skills on your dance resume. Here’s how to create the best resume for any dance work that you might want to do.

Jobs That Can Use Dance Resumes

Every dance performance has dozens and sometimes even hundreds of people behind it. When you’re creating your dance resume, this can include all sorts of dance positions that you may never have considered before. Here are a few of the dance jobs you could use a dance resume for:

Choreographer
Dance instructor/Dance teacher
Professional dancer
Artistic director
Ballet dancer
General dance training

Whether you’re involved in choreography, dance instruction or dance performance, no matter what type of dance it is, you’ll want to write a professional resume using these writing tips.

Important Elements for Dance Resumes

Although the structure of your resume will partially depend on your resume format, several sections are consistent throughout most dance resumes. Here are a few sections that you’ll typically include, regardless of the resume format you use.

Resume summary or objective

At the very start of your resume, you’ll see a resume summary or resume objective. This is a 2-3 sentence paragraph that quickly shows off your best skills, knowledge and qualifications. Use this section to convince a hiring manager why you’re the best person for the job in one paragraph. A resume summary is for the experienced as it summarizes your experience and achievements. If you lack experience, use a resume objective that showcases your skills and overall career goals.

Skills

Your skills section will change significantly depending on the job you’re applying for. Read through the job description to find specific dance skills you might need to include. Here are a few bullet points to consider:

Specific dance moves
Different dance techniques (Contemporary dance, hip-hop, ballet)
Team player
Teaching
Ability to work with different dance studios
Leadership
Interpersonal communication

Remember that while you need to show hard skills that indicate your dancing abilities, you also need to show soft skills that make you a good employee.

Work experience

Any past professional experience with a dance studio, ballet company or other dance jobs can be helpful when looking for a new one. In your work experience section, you will want to list specific performance experience, listing certain productions you were part of, to indicate the exact type of experience you have. This can be especially helpful in ballet, where listing roles and performances like, “Odette in Swan Lake” or “Clara in The Nutcracker” instantly showcases your talent.

Education

Many dance professionals have official education in the world of dance. So, if you have a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Juilliard School, be sure to include it on your resume. Include all relevant training in this section, too.

Certifications and awards

There are many certifications that you might want to invest in, especially as a dance teacher rather than a performer. Do some research to find out the dance certifications that might be best for your specific field. Also, include any dance awards that you have received.

Dance Resume Examples You Can Use

If you’re looking for a dance resume example, there are plenty available through ResumeNerd. Check out all the different resume examples on the ResumeNerd website, then use a dance resume template to ensure that your skills and knowledge are presented in the best possible light. You can use the ResumeNerd resume builder to create your resume.

Tips for Creating Your Dance Resume

Here are some additional tips for writing your dance resume:
- Typically, GPA is even less important for dance resumes than many other resumes. Think of dance as a trade, then indicate what makes you good at the trade.
- Focus on a specific angle that indicates your talent. For example, you may prefer to list different dance companies you’ve worked for and different productions you’ve been part of.
- A portfolio is worth a thousand words for a dance resume. Show off your dance experience by including your professional portfolio links or professional social media links, like your LinkedIn profile.

FAQ: Dance Resume Example

Do I need to submit a cover letter with dance resumes?

It’s always a good idea to submit a cover letter with any resume. Even the perfect resume can still be helped along by a cover letter, as the cover letter is a good way to go more in-depth into who you are and your experience. If you’ve never written a cover letter for dance, the ResumeNerd cover letter builder can help.

Can I get a dance job with no experience?

Although dancer resumes typically have a lot of experience, with many dancers starting work as early as elementary or middle school, there are many openings out there for people with significantly less experience. In these situations, emphasize your skills and education over your work history for the best results.

Is it a good idea to change up my dance resume for every job posting?

Yes. It’s generally pretty frowned upon to send the same resume in for multiple job postings because every posting is different. Sending in a form resume may not allow you to tailor each resume to the job description that you’re applying to. Use resume keywords from the actual job posting to personalize your resume. Review the job description carefully and pick out key phrases that indicate the primary skills and attributes needed for the position. Then use those keywords in your resume and cover letter.

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.