High School

Since most choreographers started out as dancers, your high school education should include courses in drama, art, and music, and activities (such as sports and theatre) that help develop your physical abilities and your creativity. English and speech classes will help you to become a strong communicator.

Postsecondary Training

No degrees in choreography are available, so you should earn a bachelor’s or graduate degree in dance and augment this education with chorography classes. About 240 colleges and universities offer bachelor’s and graduate degrees in dance. For a list of more than 80 accredited programs, visit the National Association of Schools of Dance’s Web site, https://nasd.arts-accredit.org/directory-lists/accredited-institutions. Aspiring dancers can also receive training via informal apprenticeships from professional dance teachers or by attending a professional dance school such as the famous Martha Graham School. There are a number of such schools in the country; most of them are located in large cities.

Certification

Some colleges, dance studios, and dance schools offer dance certificate programs. “Unlike teacher training, a certificate in dance doesn’t actually certify students in any specialty,” according to Dance Magazine. “But it’s an option for those who want to diversify their training, boost their resume and make connections, without the commitment of time and money that college requires.” Contact schools in your area to learn what type of certificate programs are available.

Other Education or Training

Dance/USA offers professional development opportunities at its annual conference. Recent sessions included Emerging Technologies in Dance: From Studio to Stage & Beyond; Future-Proofing the Arts: Streaming, Artificial Intelligence & Privacy in the Digital Age; and Vortex-Moving Through Space Using Sagittal, Transverse & Frontal Planes. Visit https://www.danceusa.org/conference for more information. Additionally, many other dance and general arts organizations provide continuing education classes.

Certification or Licensing

There are no certifications or licenses available for choreographers.

Choreographers generally begin their careers as dancers, and during their training they participate in informal apprenticeships with experienced choreographers to study and practice how to choreograph dance routines. By their mid- to late-30s, many dancers are ready to transition to careers as choreographers or in other professions. Some dancers also work as choreographers during their dance careers.

Successful choreographers are extremely creative and imaginative, have expert knowledge of dance and movement, and are excellent teachers. They must be in good shape in order to demonstrate dance moves and sequences, and able to multitask because they often work on more than one production at a time. Patient and perseverance are also important because choreographers 1) spend many hours going over the same routines with dancers until they’ve perfected the moves or sequences, and, 2) it takes a lot of hard work, and many false starts, to create great works of art.

Choreographers need excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and they must be team players. Some people may think that choreography is basically about bringing one’s creative ideas to fruition in concert with dancers, but choreographers actually work as a part of a much larger team. They collaborate closely with costume designers, lighting designers, music directors and composers, and others.