You can battement tendu and grand jeté with the best of them. But you’ll look like an amague unless you prove your dance skills. Do it with this expert dance resume sample.
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Professional dancer with 7+ years of experience. Seeking to excel at Los Angeles Ballet. At American Contemporary Ballet, performed featured roles of Clara and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Also played Odette in Anthony Johnson’s Swan Lake at Ballet Magique. Corps de Ballet in Battle of the Year (film).
Professional Experience
American Contemporary Ballet
Corps de Ballet and Featured Roles
2018–2019
Lincoln Jones’:
The Nutcracker - Clara
Swan Lake - Odette
Ballet Magique
Corps de Ballet and Featured Roles
2014–2018
Anthony Johnson’s:
The Nutcracker - Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Flake
Don Quixote - Aldonza Lorenzo
Cinderella - Anastasia
Giselle - Bathilde
Sylvia - Aminta
Battle of the Year (Film)
Corps de Ballet — Director, Benson Lee
2013
Street scenes.
Anaheim Ballet
Corps de Ballet
2012–2014
Recognized by artistic director for form.
Education
BA Dance, USC
2008–2012
Excelled in repertory & performance classes.
Conducted senior project in dance technique.
Summer Courses
Los Angeles Ballet, 2007
Marat Daukayev School of Ballet, 2006
Awards
Cover of Dance Magazine, May 2018.
Featured in article in Dance Studio Life.
Additional Activities
Study classical music.
Teach weekly yoga classes.
Hard Skills: Ballet, hip hop, jazz dance, French
Soft Skills:Interpersonal skills, teamwork, active listening, communication
Create resume sections like Heading, Summary, Professional Experience, Education, and Skills.
Save your work as a PDF. A PDF resume moves gracefully from one computer to the next.
Don’t add a photo. Save that for your portfolio website—or attach it to the back.
Expert Hint: There are only about 150 ballet companies in the US, and precious few other venues that hire dancers. Your dancer resume has to glow like Misty Copeland.
2. Make a Dance Resume Objective or Summary
Imagine this.You’re slogging through a pile of 500+ dance resumes. They all look “pretty good.” But you only need five dancers. Now turn the tables. Why should anyone choose you?
Chin up. Make them notice you with a well-crafted resume summary or resume objective. That’s just a quick paragraph that matters to the artistic director.
Add:
An adjective or two (professional, capable)
“dancer”
Years of experience (1+, 8+)
Your goal (excel at Los Angeles Ballet)
Best dance moments (played Odette in Swan Lake at Ballet Magique...)
Tip: make your best dance moments match the job, and write it last for a smooth transition. These professional dance resume examples show how:
Dance Resume Summary—Example
The difference is clear. Both samples reference The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. But one adds American Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Magique, Clara, and Odette.
But wait. Are you writing a professional dancer resume with no experience? You still need proof. See these dance resume examples for balance:
Dance Resume With No Experience [Objective]
The second of those dancer resumes with no experience begs for a chance. But the first shows you’ve earned it.
Expert Hint: Most dancers work in theaters or dance schools. In a dance instructor resume, it helps to show you’ve worked in a similar position in the past.
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3. Write a Graceful Dance Job Description and Skills Section
Don’t make the choreographer read through everything you’ve ever done. That’s exhausting. Just pick the few credits that’ll wow him. For instance, does the company do Nutcracker every year? What about Swan Lake?
If you’ve done those, say it. But also say what company you worked for, and the choreographer. Add your role (if any). And put your last job first. Emulate the first of these dance resume samples:
Dance Job Description for Resume [Sample]
The last of those dance resume examples uses the wrong order. Sure, it “shows the progression of your career.” But what if the director has 600 dancer resumes to read? (She does!)
She’ll never get to your “progression” if you bury roles like Clara and Odette down deep. Next—an entry-level resume:
Entry-Level Dance Resume Job Description [Sample]
Don’t have even that much dance experience? Don’t pull a Madame Butterfly just yet.
Make your education and training section longer. Then put it higher on your resume. That’s next.
Especially in a dancer resume with no experience, education matters. But an education resume section can’t blend in like Corps de Ballet.
So research the artistic director a little. What things does she care about? Put those in your education section. This dance resume sample shows the routine:
Dance Resume Example—Education
In a dance resume for college, your education can cover the whole page.
Expert Hint: Dance jobs are shrinking, not growing. But you can still get a high-paying job right out of school. List educational achievements that match the job you’re vying for.
5. Include Additional Sections in Your Dance Resume
They’ll want to know you’re passionate, not just temporarily interested. Show them dancing is your real love. Include additional information in your dancer resume that may strengthen your candidate profile. Check these examples:
But don’t overdo it. Let your credits and education do most of the talking. The next of our dance resume examples is en l’aire:
Dance Resume—Extra Sections
Expert Hint: Learn how to write a cover letter. Your resume for dance jobs stands a better chance if you write one. In it, show your love of dance and why you fit the company so perfectly.
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Key Points
Here’s how to write a dance resume that works:
Use the dance resume template up top. It lets you fit your skills to the artistic director’s needs.
Show your credits in reverse-chronological order.
In a dance resume for college, stretch your education to fill most of the page.
Add “other” sections that express your passion for motion.
Got questions on how to write great resumes for dance jobs? Not sure how to show dance on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply!
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At ResumeLab, quality is at the crux of our values, supporting our commitment to delivering top-notch career resources. The editorial team of career experts carefully reviews every article in accordance with editorial guidelines, ensuring the high quality and reliability of our content. We actively conduct original research, shedding light on the job market's intricacies and earning recognition from numerous influential news outlets. Our dedication to delivering expert career advice attracts millions of readers to our blog each year.
Having published over 200 career-advice articles, Tom Gerencer is a career expert who covers the whole array of job-seeking topics for people at all career stages, from interns to C-suite members. His insights, commentary, and articles reach over a million readers every month. With inside knowledge of key industry players and in-depth research, Tom helps job seekers with advice across all professions and career stages.