How to become a Dancer
Official title: Dancers
Also called: Dancer, Tap dancer, Folk dancer, Line dancer, Belly dancer, Group dancer, Ballet dancer, Chorus dancer, Classical dancer, Folkloric dancer, Interpretive dancer, Interpretative dancer
Dancers are employed by ballet and dance companies, television and film productions and nightclubs and similar establishments. This unit group also includes dance teachers who are usually employed by dance academies and dance schools.
Main tasks
- Dancers
- Practise and rehearse dance routines under direction or instruction to achieve desired interpretation and presentation
- Perform dances as soloists or as members of groups before live audiences or for film or television
- Train and exercise to maintain the required levels of ability and fitness
- May choreograph their own performances
- Dance teachers
- Teach dance technique and artistic interpretation to amateur and professional individuals and groups
- Teach the techniques, cultural origins and symbolic meanings of Aboriginal, ethnic and folkloric dances
How to become one
A university degree or college diploma in dance or Graduation from a private dance school or academy may be required. Talent and ability, as demonstrated during an audition, are important hiring criteria. Dance teachers usually require experience as dancers. Membership in a guild or union related to the occupation or type of performance may be required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $64,233 a year The middle half earn $48,750 to $81,900.
- About 13,600 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 16,300 are projected by 2033. (+19.9%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
Related jobs
- Actors, comedians and circus performers
- Painters, sculptors and other visual artists
- Theatre, fashion, exhibit and other creative designers
- Artisans and craftspersons
- Patternmakers - textile, leather and fur products
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Dancer?
A university degree or college diploma in dance or Graduation from a private dance school or academy may be required. Talent and ability, as demonstrated during an audition, are important hiring criteria. Dance teachers usually require experience as dancers. Membership in a guild or union related to the occupation or type of performance may be required.
How much does a Dancer earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $64,233 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $48,750 to $81,900.
Is a Dancer a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 20% by 2033, from about 13,600 to about 16,300 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a Dancer?
Not always. 30% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03