Choreographer

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Choreographers (5131.3) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Producers, Directors, Choreographers and Related Occupations (F031) 
• 2011 NOC: Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations (5131) 

Choreographers translate stories, ideas and moods into movements for performance by professional dancers or to provide physical activity for untrained individuals. This may involve:

• expressing ideas through physical movements, patterns and formations
• choosing music, sound effects or spoken narrative to accompany movement
• experimenting with different dancers, dance steps and placements
• reinterpreting and re-staging existing works in a dance company's repertoire
• choosing suitable dancers
• teaching dancers and other performers
• practising regularly to keep in shape.

To communicate creatively through the human form, choreographers must take into consideration the limits to which dancers' bodies can be pushed. At the same time, they must build a safe and trusting environment for creative risk-taking.

Choreographers may use recording equipment or choreographic methods of recording dance movements and patterns.

In small dance companies, choreographers may have additional artistic or managerial responsibilities. For example, they may:

• design lighting and costumes. For more information, see Lighting Designer, Set Designer and Costume Designer occupational profiles.
• incorporate images, text, interactive media and live or recorded music
• write grants and take on other administrative duties
• co-ordinate tours.

Choreographers work long hours including weekends and holidays. Rehearsals are particularly busy times, when choreographers must work with artistic directors, theatre designers and technical crews. Rehearsals may take place during the day or in the evening to accommodate dancers who may work at other jobs. Performances are usually in the evening.

Choreographers need to possess:

• a strong desire to create
• an appreciation of various musical styles
• a unique vision
• the ability to build a support system to facilitate their vision.

They should enjoy creating innovative dances, taking charge of situations and teaching others.

Choreographers usually work with professional dance companies. Full-time (resident) positions for choreographers are rare. In fact, dance companies often ask members of their dance troupes to create new works rather than contract a choreographer.

Professional choreographers often work part time as choreographers and work in other occupations such as dancer, dance teacher or movement coach as well. Some are the artistic directors of their own dance companies.

Choreographers may also be hired by organizers of events such as:

• community festivals
• fashion shows
• theatre, opera or circus performances
• large sporting events or spectacles such as the Olympic Games
• television shows or music videos.

Opera and theatre companies may hire choreographers to train actors in dance movements or to design dance sequences.

Choreographers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 5131: Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations. In Alberta, 89% of people employed in this classification work in the Information, Culture and Recreation (PDF) industry.

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

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Information, Culture and Recreation industry)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions)
• size of the occupation.

Over 1,800 Albertans are employed in the Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations occupational group. This group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 2.2% from 2016 to 2020. As a result, 40 new positions are forecast to be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover. Note: As choreographers form only a part of this larger occupational group, only some of these newly created positions will be for choreographers.

Cultural Human Resources Council website: www.culturalhrc.ca

For more information on career planning, education and jobs call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre toll-free at 1-877-644-9992 or 780-644-9992 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.