Dance Resume Template, Examples, & Writing Guide
Use our dance resume template and examples as references when writing your own. Then, follow our expert writing tips to craft a compelling dance resume that helps you stand out from the competition.
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Dance Resume Template (Text Format)
Look at other resume samples to get ideas for how to format your dance resume.
Copy-and-Paste Dance Resume Template
FIRST AND LAST NAME
Email: your.email@email.com
Phone: (123) 456-7891
Address: Street, City, State
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile
Summary
Dedicated dancer with [number] years of experience. Seeking to leverage my experience in [relevant abilities] to fill the Lead Dancer position. Have [certification/experience] in [Certification Title/specialization]. Skilled at [2–3 relevant skills]. A [adjective #1] and [adjective #2] dancer aiming to contribute to the success of [Studio/Show Name].
Professional Experience
- Include a bulleted list of your achievements as a dancer
- Start each bullet point with an action verb (like “collaborate” or “contribute”) to grab attention
- Use the present tense for your current dancer role, unless describing a completed performance or show
- Use hard numbers when possible to quantify your accomplishments as a dancer
- Mention how you’ve used some of the dance skills listed in your skills section to demonstrate your mastery of these abilities
- List relevant accomplishments from your previous role as a dancer
- Assuming you’re no longer working in this role, use past tense verbs to describe your work
- Include 3–6 bullet points for each dance role, both your current one and previous ones
- Skip the pronoun “I” and begin directly with a verb
- Although you’ll usually list work experience, feel free to include dance-relevant extracurricular activities if you lack formal work experience
Education
GPA: 3.X/4.0 (optional)
Latin honors (if applicable)
Skills & Certifications
- List skills and certifications relevant to the dance role you’re applying for
- Look at the job description for ideas of the skills the employer wants and that are common in the dance world
- Emphasize dance-specific hard skills and technical skills in this section
- Be as specific as possible by including names of dance styles, equipment, and techniques you’ve mastered that are used in the dance industry
Dance resume examples for different roles
In this section, we’ll provide dance resume examples for various roles, including performers and dance educators.
Dance teacher resume
As a dance teacher, your resume should highlight your technical expertise in various dance styles, as well as your teaching experience across different age groups and skill levels. For example:
Why this is a good dance teacher resume
- Strong professional experience: The resume presents a clear progression of the candidate’s teaching experience, starting from a junior role and advancing to a leadership position, showing their career growth and ability to take on greater responsibilities.
- Strong skills section: The skills section includes a targeted list of skills that are essential for a dance teacher, such as choreography, music editing, and event planning, further demonstrating the candidate’s qualifications.
Dance instructor resume (ballet)
When applying for a position as a ballet dance instructor, it’s crucial to create a resume that showcases your expertise, teaching experience, and passion for the art form, like this one:
Why this is a good dance instructor resume
- Emphasizes adaptability: The summary mentions how the applicant adapts their teaching methods to meet individual needs, which is an important skill for a dance instructor working with students of varying skill levels.
- Hard data: The candidate quantifies the accomplishments on their resume, providing concrete evidence of their experience and impact.
Professional dancer resume
A strong professional dancer resume should demonstrate your dedication to your craft, your versatility as a performer, and any special skills or accolades that set you apart from other candidates. For example:
Why this is a good resume for a professional dancer
- Awards section: Including a separate awards section draws attention to the candidate’s recognition within the dance community, adding credibility to their skills and experience.
- Adaptability and collaboration: The resume emphasizes the candidate’s ability to adapt quickly to changes, collaborate with choreographers, and work well with different dance styles and client requirements, which are essential skills in the dance industry.
How to write a dance resume
Some people think that workers in the entertainment industry don’t need a resume, but with a great resume to showcase your past experience, you have a reliable way of getting auditions and interviews and landing better gigs. Use this guide to help you write a resume that sets you apart.
1. Highlight your skills
“Dancer” is a broad job title when there are so many styles of dance. Make it clear what you can do with a complete skills section.
Use some of these top dancer skills on your resume to prove you have what it takes to succeed:
- Proficiency in various dance styles (ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern, tap, ballroom, voguing, etc.)
- Interpersonal skills
- Teamwork
- Communication skills
- Public performance skills
- Creativity
- Choreography
- Musicality and rhythm
- Stage presence
- Teaching and mentoring
- Ability to take direction and apply feedback
- Creativity and improvisational skills
- Proficiency with dance-related technology (video editing software, music software, etc.)
2. Write a strong resume objective
A compelling resume objective is crucial for dancers seeking to make a strong first impression on potential employers.
In a highly competitive industry, where auditions and casting calls often involve a quick review of numerous resumes, a well-written introduction can set you apart from the crowd.
A strong resume objective highlights your unique skills, experiences, and career goals, demonstrating your value as a performer and your commitment to your craft.
Here are some examples:
Choreographer resume objective
Creative and visionary choreographer with 10+ years of experience in developing original works for stage, film, and television. Skilled in various dance styles, including jazz, contemporary, and musical theater. Collaborate closely with directors, producers, and performers to bring concepts to life through dynamic and expressive movement. Aiming to leverage strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills in managing dance projects from inception to final performance.
Contemporary dancer resume objective
Technically skilled contemporary dancer with experience in both concert dance and commercial settings. Trained in Graham, Horton, and Release techniques. Perform with emotional depth and physical precision, conveying complex themes and stories through movement. Adept at improvisation and quickly adapting to different choreographic styles. Seeking to explore the boundaries of contemporary dance and contribute to innovative productions.
Ballroom dancer resume objective
Award-winning ballroom dancer specializing in Latin and Standard styles. Compete at the national and international level, consistently placing in the top rankings. Skilled in choreographing and performing intricate routines that showcase technical precision, musicality, and partner connection. Teach group and private lessons, helping students of all levels develop their technique and confidence on the dance floor. Known for bringing elegance, charisma, and passion to every performance.
3. Add hard numbers to your achievements
Many of the most common measurements of success are subjective in the entertainment industry. Even facts like “performed to sold-out audiences” don’t mean much if the theater in question seats only a handful of people.
But if you quantify the achievements on your resume, you provide the reader with a more complete picture of what you’ve achieved.
For example:
- Develop and practice new dance routines and perform in various shows with audience sizes ranging from 500–1500 people
Here are some metrics to consider adding to your dance resume:
- Years of dance experience
- Number of hours spent in dance training per week or year
- Audience sizes
- Number of awards or nominations
- Number of lead or featured performances
- Number of dance routines you’ve choreographed or performed
- Revenue generated from ticket sales
- The speed at which you can learn a complete new routine, particularly if it’s significantly faster than other dancers
- Number of students taught or other dancers mentored
- Number of cities, states, or countries toured with dance productions
- Number of collaborations with notable dancers, choreographers, or artists
3. Emphasize your awards and certifications
For dancers, featuring awards and certifications on a resume is particularly important, as these achievements demonstrate expertise, dedication, and recognition within the field.
Unlike many other professions, where a traditional education section highlighting degrees and academic accomplishments is expected, the dance world places greater emphasis on practical experience, skill development, and industry accolades.
Here’s an example of how one dance instructor showcased their awards and certifications:
AWARDS
Outstanding Choreography Award
Dance Educators of America Conference
20XX
CERTIFICATIONS
Certified Dance Educator (CDE)
Dance Educators of America
20XX
Certified Ballet Teacher
American Ballet Theatre (ABT)
National Training Curriculum, Level 5
20XX
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