How to write a dance resumeA dancer or actor resume is a different animal then the average resume – if there is such thing. This won’t sound strange or unusual to a dancer who is used to standing out from the pack.

How To Write A Dance Resume

In a standard, non-performance resume, most personal information and pictures aren’t required and are actually frowned upon. But, as you will see below, this is not the case in the performance industry.

Include Your Basic Information

In dance and theater, what you look like is of the importance for most roles. There is an imagery and symmetry that is being sought and they will want to know immediately if you meet those basic requirements.

At the top of the resume include the following:

  1. Your name and performance name, if the names are different
  2. Address, including country, if you are sending your resume out internationally
  3. Phone Number
  4. Email (one you check frequently, including spam inbox)
  5. Age (do not include your birth date)
  6. Height & Weight (these two are extremely important in the dance world)
  7. Professional head shot (and full body in poise for dancers)

Outline All Of Your Dance Training

As you know, where you went to school and where you obtained your dance training is of the utmost important. In its own section, called Education and Training, include the following:

  1. Colleges, dance schools and institutes (and the dates you attended)
  2. Focus & Specialties – At each school, list all style training, special classes, courses or training that you obtained.
  3. Did you train with a notable or famous dance instructor? Be sure to include their name and what training you received from them.
  4. If this is an entry level dance resume, you can even include high school classes and dance camps to beef up the document. If you desire, you can remove it later once you are established.

List Your Performances

Your performances are your employment history on a dance resume. Including information such as theater name, choreographer, name, tour dates, cities, name of performances, style of dance (ballet, hip hop, African, etc.), and any notable performers you danced with are all important in the job description. The types of performances are varied and you can be as creative as you need to be. (Note: You will want to include relevant performances and training in your cover letter too.) Example performances include:

  1. All School/College/Dance School performances
  2. Professional dance troop assignments and/or performances
  3. Amateur or community performances. Even flash mob performances count.
  4. Music videos
  5. Point out notable items. This includes commercials, stage performances, music videos, etc.
  6. Include the name of the choreographer, if applicable.

List Other Dance Experience

Non performance dance experience is crucial. Put this information in a different section called Teaching & Support Experience. Include the following in this section:

  1. Teacher, Instructor or Assistant – List the title, classes you taught, where you taught them, style of dance and any performances you choreographed.
  2. Did you work 1:1 with an individual, but don’t feel it is official enough? Include that too, and make it official. You are in charge of your resume and what you put on it.
  3. In the age of social media, list any dance instructional videos you created and include the url link.

List Dance Competitions & Awards Received

Writing a resume is an appropriate time to brag about yourself. By all means, create a section that highlights the competitions and awards you received.  Include the competition name, where it was held, the performance name and the music, the style of dance, the award you won, how many people you beat out, who the judges were (if they are notable)…the list is endless.

Dance Photographs

Last, but not least, think about adding a few high definition photographs at the end of the resume, across the bottom. These pictures can be of different poses in costume, performance shots, and posters you were featured in. It’s a nice touch and gives them a visual of who you are as a dancer.

CHECK IT OUT! This yoga blog will give you more formatting guidelines for how to write your dance resume.