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Dancer

Also called solo dancer, show dancer, jazz dancer

Dancers interpret ideas, feelings, stories or characters for audiences by using movement and body language mostly accompanied by music. This normally involves interpreting the work of a choreographer or a traditional repertory, although it may sometimes require improvisation.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects33 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Legal, social and cultural professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €1,800 (Bulgaria) to €8,800 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Legal, social and cultural professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree9 in 10 have a degree.Legal, social and cultural professionalsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.Dancers and choreographers · ILO

What you'd do

Dancers and choreographers · ILO
  • Conceiving and creating dances, which often convey a story, theme, idea or mood, by a pattern of steps, movements and gestures
  • Performing dances as a soloist, with a partner or as a member of a dancing group before live audiences or for film, television or other visual media
  • Training ,exercising and attending dance classes to maintain the required levels of ability and fitness
  • Directing and participating in rehearsals to practice dance steps and techniques required for a performance
  • Auditioning for dance roles or for memberships in dance companies
  • Coordinating the production music with the music directors
Follow time cuesAnalyse own performanceStudy roles from scriptsInteract with an audienceInteract with fellow actors+ 24 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • On your feet most of the day
  • Constant contact with people
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually under 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines now and then
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Dancers"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as legal, social and cultural professionals in the EU
5.41m6.54m7.02m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
354,000 new jobs 1,872,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Legal, social and cultural professionals33
All jobs29
Right now
3 of 27 countries report a shortage of dancers and choreographers, 5 a surplus.
Dancers and choreographers · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,800 a month (Bulgaria) to €8,800 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree is the usual route.

Highest qualification of legal, social and cultural professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 87%Vocational 6%General secondary 5%Basic schooling 2%

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could help with only small parts of the tasks.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.19 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 6 tasks
Coordinating the production music with the music directors0.36
Directing and participating in rehearsals to practice dance steps and techniques required for a performance0.23
Conceiving and creating dances, which often convey a story, theme, idea or mood, by a pattern of steps, movements and gestures0.22
Performing dances as a soloist, with a partner or as a member of a dancing group before live audiences or for film, television or other visual media0.12
Auditioning for dance roles or for memberships in dance companies0.12
Training ,exercising and attending dance classes to maintain the required levels of ability and fitness0.10

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for dancers and choreographers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).