Perhaps, you are already dancing and have thought of how to become a famous dancer. Maybe you are obsessed with a particular direction like K-pop, jazz, salsa, contemporary, hip hop or ballroom dancing. But the fact you have become a good dancer, unfortunately, doesn’t mean you managed to become a famous one.
Below you will find several tips on how to become a famous professional dancer.
What is a professional dancer?
Professional dancers are those who has certifications with skills, training, and gain experience specific to a particular type of dance. Dancers show choreographed dancing before an audience.
They use their bodies and movement style to communicate emotions and tell stories. They have a specialization in different types of dances, such as modern dance street, contemporary hip-hop, and ballet, and are featured in theater modern dance performances, films, music videos, and Broadway productions.
What does a professional dancer do?
A professional dancer collaborates together with choreographers, casting directors, as well as another professional dancer in the creation of the dance experience sequences needed for shows. Professional dancers perform in professional settings as well as are hired by big dance companies.
They learn complicated choreographies as well as interpreting the instructions of choreographers. The other responsibilities that professional dancers are required to fulfill include:
- Rehearsing and practicing for shows
- Participating in auditions and getting ready for them
- Learning about different dance experience styles
- Practicing safety
- Utilizing different skills, for example, singing, acting, or even dancing
- Being on time for rehearsals, events for promotion as well as auditions.
- Establishing positive relationships with fellow instructors, other dancers, and other senior members of the staff
Professional dancers can be found in many industries, however, they are mostly in three groups. They include:
- Dancers from dance companies: These other dancers typically are employed by a single dance company, and they frequently work for a lengthy duration.
- Commercial other dancers tend to be freelancers who hard work on commercial dancers productions that involve movies or music, cruise ship as well as musicals and commercial dancers.
- Dance teachers: Teachers typically become dance teachers after they are unable to dance anymore or discover they love teaching.
How to become a professional dancer
Professional dancers are enthusiastic dedicated, focused and committed to getting their targets. These are steps that can assist you in your transition into professional dance:
1. Start Practicing
So, as you might have guessed, in order to become a famous backup dancer, you have to start with becoming just a good one. To reach this you should train a lot and practice on a daily basis. It is a common situation for professional dancers to start training from a very young age.
Some of them get further education in high schools and colleges at academies or conservatories, but it is not a must for this profession. However, strong post-secondary education can give you a necessary basis and help you gain some extra points in comparison with the others.
A lot of schools offer bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in dancing within their theater and fine arts departments. There is an undeniable advantage that a degree in dancing can give you – it is conversance with all kinds of dance, which makes your knowledge universal.
Studying ballet classes is the most reasonable way to start with art form. It is a platform from where you can develop further in any direction. This dance style is classical and provides you with strength, flexibility, and muscle memory, which can become your key strengths in the future.
In big cities, you may find any dance schools of any dances of the world. If you live in a small town, you may be restricted in opportunities. But you still can check the available dance classes at dance studios in your surroundings.
Even if you have no offline school besides you, video lessons on the internet are available for all levels from any part of the globe. No doubt, personal feedback from the trainer and the physical presence play a very important role.
Nevertheless, online classes are a powerful tool, and you can combine them with real-time lessons as well.
2. Find Your First Job
What you will need at the beginning of your way is an good impression portfolio. To gather material for it, you should employ as a dancer. Consider different variants of related jobs, such as self-employment or freelance, or working for a particular dance classes company.
A good position for a start is a local dance company or a community theatre. Other options are working as a professional dancer on music videos at a dance studio or going for tours with company dancers at a set of various theatres. Be prepared for long and irregular working hours, where you rehearse and train during the day and perform in the evening.
3. Find Your Zest
Next, you need something unique, some feature to identify you at once. To orient in all possible choices you can take, learn different dance style. Seek your inspiration from someone you respect at first and then create dance routines of your own. Try to determine what you are good at most.
Perhaps, you are capable of doing difficult leaps, or you are remarkably flexible, or you perfectly express the emotions and ideas behind the music. Work on something that will later become your signature.
4. Go to an Audition
Try your best in as many auditions as you can. There is a belief among professional dancers that one should go to a hundred auditions in order to have a chance for a single role.
If you have some world-famous places as, for example, Broadway in your sights, gain some additional information skills. Singing and acting are among the first of all. They will not be your leading responsibilities.
Still, knowledge of the basics of singing and acting will make you more desirable and increase the number of offers you may get.
One more thing you should not forget is being positive and friendly. You are more likely to pass the audition if you are easy to work with. There is a tiny remark here: enter the audition like you enter the class, not a competition. As a result, you will be more relaxed and have more fun. Haven’t found yourself yet?Important information on how to become famous without talent!
5. Consider getting a bachelor’s degree
It’s not required to get an education to be professional dancer, however the study of dance may provide you with exposure to various types of dance. Additionally, you have the option to focus on one particular dance. Many institutions and colleges offer majors in dance, through department of fine arts or theatre. When you study a dance degree you are taught:
- Dance: You develop your dance skills by utilizing various techniques as well as ways to express yourself with new choreography.
- Production: When you are students, you are taught about the backstage processes involved in production. It could include the operation of sound, learning how you can operate a light board, costume designing lighting, and staging management.
- The history of dance: You will learn about the roots of dance, and the way that people across the globe view dance from a religious and cultural point of view.
- Teaching: You are taught how to improve your teaching abilities in order to instruct classes to students with different ages as well as communities.
- The body and its alignment are taught through movement. The lessons you learn are about coordination between muscles as well as body posture.
6. Learn about union jobs
Big dance companies are affiliated with a union, and jobs relating to television, film, and Broadway are union jobs. You must have a union card to be eligible for auditions. A union card identifies you as a legitimate member of a union and allows a union to represent you. Here are some unions that represent dancers:
-
Screen Actors Guild/American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA): They represent dancers, recording artists, new writers, stunt performers, and other media professionals.
-
Actor’s Equity Association (AEA): They represent Broadway shows.
-
American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA): They represent the New York City Ballet.
-
American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA): They represent performing other artists.
7. Find a talent agent
Making yourself a pro dancer can be a challenge This is the reason why many dancers opt to partner with a talent agency. Talent agents are professional with the goal of helping clients navigate through the world of entertainment industry and assist their clients in finding auditions and send dance reels as well as resumes.
They can make making a dance career in dance reel simpler. It is important to do your investigate and locate a highly-rated talent agent dance career.
A union is usually a representation of an experienced talent agent. The laws in each state differ concerning talent agencies, however the agent should not demand payments from you. Agents typically receive 10% from your earnings whenever you sign a contract. Find an agent who is in line with your goals and who is genuinely interested in your skilled dancer.
Contacting dancers and choreographers for suggestions is one option and you could also look up the websites of agencies to determine the kind of customers they serve. There are three essentials in place prior to applying to the ideal agency:
- Letter of recommendation: You may have your dance reel instructor to draft an individual recommendation letter that emphasizes your talents.
- Resumes: Your resume must include your educational and performing gain experience, including the work you’ve done and the title of the dance reel commercial projects that you participated in, and the organization you work with. If you’ve not been involved for a company then you should list any performances, competitions, and local musicals in which you’ve been a part to enhance your performing knowledge.
- Dance videos Agency is looking to observe your talent So make sure to capture a dance routine that shows your talent and dance style.
Video: How to Become a Famous Dancer
Do you want to know how to become a professional dancer? Watch this video.
5. Keep up the Momentum
No matter how far you managed to promote. Never stop your progression and always keep your eyes open. A good way to be proud of your strengths and work on your weaknesses is simply to record your practice dance sessions and watch and analyze them later.
And of course, join the ranks of some professional communities. Actor’s Connection, for example, connects such specialists as actors, singers, and most dancers with people who are greatly influenced by agents, casting directors, and other professionals in the sphere.
There are also seminars on networking and auditioning and other useful events to help you learn the depths of the industry and teach you the skills of effective personal presentation.
We sincerely hope that these recommendations will help you on the path of how to become a famous dancer. We wish you good luck and never lose your drive and passion! Haven’t found yourself yet?How about becoming a plumber?
Perhaps, you want to try to find out how to become famous overnight.