Dancers use their bodies to interpret feelings, ideas, moods, music and drama. They may perform alone or with others in a group, before live audiences or in front of television and film cameras.

Most dance disciplines have a modern and a classical (traditional) side. Professional dance disciplines in Canada include:

• ballet
• modern
• folk or ethnic
• jazz
• tap
• musical theatre
• physical theatre
• ballroom
• country and western.

Most dancers in professional dance companies work in classical or contemporary ballet, modern dance or jazz. However, there also are professional ballroom and country and western dance duos, and a limited number of professional tap, folk and ethnic dance companies.

Dancers spend long hours in rehearsals, training and practice. They may lift over 20 kilograms (for example, a fellow dancer). To avoid injury, dancers must:

• maintain superior athletic conditioning
• know their own capabilities and limitations
• be extremely nutrition conscious.

Proper training by accredited instructors and schools is essential. Dancing requires tremendous passion and dedication plus years of continuous training, practice and hard work.

Dance is a highly competitive field. Of all the students who train as dancers, very few become professional dancers. In ballet, students should be on the professional track by their early teens. Dancers need to find their own niche but also be versatile. They must understand their body's capabilities and short comings (for example, some dancers just do not have the bodily form and abilities for ballet), and find the type of dance most suited to their skills and abilities.

To maintain a professional performing career, dancers must:

• practice and train many hours each week, year round, to keep their bodies toned, in shape and at their peak of athletic ability and quality
• have extensive knowledge and understanding of their anatomy and physical abilities
• have a broad knowledge of nutrition and health, and live accordingly
• understand or at least have some music training (for example, classes in music listening skills and theory)
• stay abreast of new training methods, choreography and new work by taking time off each year for intensive refresher training with qualified teachers.

It is important for dancers to have a broad knowledge and appreciation of the arts including music, visual art and architecture as well as the history of dance. Many dancers can sing, play musical instruments and act. A working knowledge of lighting and costume design is an asset for communicating with lighting technicians, costume designers, and other production technicians.

There are numerous dance training methods recognized in Canada and advanced training is offered by a variety of private dance schools (for example, Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and Canada's National Ballet School).

In Alberta, the University of Calgary offers a four year Bachelor of Arts degree program in dance. The entrance requirement is a competitive average in English Language Arts 30-1 and four of the following: Social Studies 30, Pure Math 30, Applied Math 30, Math 31, Biology 30, Chemistry 30, Physics 30, Science 30, a 30 level language other than English, Dance 35, or one five credit Grade 12 subject. An audition is required.

For current information about programs, admission requirements and mature student admission policies, please check post-secondary calendars or websites.

Continuing education programs may be offered on an as needed basis.

The Banff Centre offers five to six week Dance programs. Applicants must submit a resumé of training and experience. A live or recorded audition also is required.

The School of Aberta Ballet offers summer programs for dancers ranging from beginner to professional levels.

Before enrolling in any program, aspiring dancers are strongly advised to discuss their career plans with experienced professional dancers and representatives of professional organizations in the field.

Versatility is key to a dancer's success. After completing their training, dance professionals must continue working with a variety of dance teachers and choreographers. This provides exposure to different interpretations, movements and styles of dance.

Dancers need good training and a well rounded education to find work in the dance field.

As a rule, dancers' careers are relatively short lived. Most professional dancers retire from performing in their late thirties. With appropriate training, experience and certification, they may become:

• dance critics
• choreographers
• art administrators
• artistic directors
• rehearsal directors
• dance teachers.

Dance teachers need to remain in good health. Many dance teachers continue to instruct students into their late sixties or even seventies. 

In Alberta, 97 per cent of people employed as dancers work in the following industries:

• Educational Services
• Information, Culture and Recreation.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Many dancers work in other occupations to supplement their incomes.

Some professional dancers are represented in Canada by the Canadian Actor's Equity Association, although this is not a requirement. The association sets minimum salary levels that are recognized by professional dance companies.

According to the 2009 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Dancers group earned from $8.97 to $100.00 an hour. The average wage was $28.65 an hour.

For more detailed information, see WAGEinfo.

Post-secondary institution calendars and websites (see Educational Requirements above)

EDinfo website: www.alis.alberta.ca/edinfo

Alberta Dance Alliance website: www.abdancealliance.ab.ca

Canadian Actors' Equity Association website: www.caea.com

Cultural Human Resources Council website: www.culturalhrc.ca