Dance as a Passion & The Truth for Beginner Dancers
Most choose dance as a passion, and make their focus on nourishing the art in the beginning. Yeah, it seems to be good until you don’t have to pay your bills on your own,
You might think your answer to the query “How much do dancers make?” is deflected. No, its part of your answer, which we want you to know,
There is a backstage story of the dance industry that no one acknowledges to the newcomers, so it begins….
In each career, there are always two types of people who have an aura of being better in their job, one is average, and another is the topper, but in most professions, average & topper get started earning after being passed out,
While in the dance industry, it is different, students who are in the top creamy layer, which is 0.1 percent, whose competition teacher mark in the standard level get a good start in earning, and get the opportunity in various projects, and when we consider rest students who have been showcase as an average, they need to compromise with their passion for dance, as they don’t get immediate projects, they need to start with apprentice which can be paid or unpaid, to fulfill the daily needs one has to perform the odd jobs which can be such as waiter, driving cab, etc.,
Most dancers prefer driving a cab as an odd job, as one can quickly go for the auditions, rehearsals and many small dance companies who hire you for a short tenure and giving less wage, allow you for odd jobs, as a dancer you will get the money on an hourly basis or weekly basis,
The dance degree salary out of college is approximately $ 280 to $ 350 per week for average dancers, and most importantly, it depends on the contract. If you have a contract of 28 weeks, you need to perform odd jobs or diversify your income for survival,
So, the parents making their child graduate in dance and want a career in performance need to calm and support their child after graduation for two years, to stabilize their income.
In his Interview, Michael Novak (Dancer, Paul Taylor Dance Company) says, “dance is an underpaid, overwork and short-term career,”
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An unpaid apprentice means you will not get paid to dance. Apart from this, you will be facilitated with prerequisites which include dance wearable including leather shoes and costumes,
Tips For Professional Dancers To Get Good Pay
1. Check the Details
Its essential one should get detailed information about the project before start working and deciding on the pay,
Case Study for Better Explanation
One of the directors ask newbie dancer to work in music video and directly request the charge you will incur, without making him clear about the total rehearsals and duration of the project,
Instead of speaking your charges for the project instantly, you should get detailed information related to the project. Here are some examples of questions you can ask
- Are you dancing for choir or full song?
- How many rehearsals are there?
- How long rehearsals are there?
- Do you want help related to choreography?
Do not limit upto these questions; get more details. As each detailing help, you calculate the proper pay for your hard work and time.
2. Check the market
In the industry, there might be people who have worked with the company or artist with whom you are going to work,
Make connection with those industry people via social media, and you can ask them about the pay they got from that company and their work experience with the company,
Apart from this, you can also connect with professionals with good dance expertise and ask your query related to your project pays. They will help you to decide on the specified pay range for working on that project,
If you have a mentor, it will be fabulous. As mentors, know better about your pros and cons so you can discuss with them for project selection and pay finalization,
3. Check Yourself
When clients approach dancers for proposing gig, they want to know the outcome that you can provide to them,
So kindly match your skills with details of gig and analyze the marketplace for pay, and guarantee only the results which you can give,
It’s our recommendation not to opt the project for exposure; when you don’t give the guaranteed outcome, it will create a wrong impression in the industry for you.
4. Check Your Beliefs
As you start working in the dance industry, your brand will also start building for the specific style, trust value, and pay range as well,
So, we recommend not going for projects against your values, as one drought can demolish your brand in the market.
How much do dancers make ?
While seeking dance industry statistics for average dancer salary in BLS, we have seen its variation based on industries and location.
For your help, we have a list of the best cities for dance careers in terms of wages. It includes
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
1. As Per Types and Industries
As per Types
- Ballet Dancer Salary – $1,326 per week. (Average)
- Jazz Dancer Salary – $ 1050 per week (Average)
- Ballroom Dancer Salary – $ 1320 per week (Average)
As per Industries
- Broadway Dancer Salary – $ 2095 per week (8 performances)
- Music Video Dancer Salary – $520 (10 hour a day)
- Regional Theatre Productions – $560 – $ 730 per week
- Las Vegas Style Shows – $ 15 to $30 per hours (Beginners)
- Cruise Ships – $800/wk. min
- Theme parks – $500/wk. min
- Dance Companies – $500-600 per week.
2. Dancer Alliance Rates
General Minimum Charges taken by a dancer for live shows, Music Videos.
Rehearsal
Fittings
Agency fees apply on top of these minimum rates
$175 | 1-4 hours
(Anything over 4 hours = time and a half)
$250 | 4- 8 hours
(Anything over 8 hours = time and a half)
Fittings outside of rehearsal day:
$50 / hour
Fittings on rehearsal days apply as time worked.
Rehearsal
Agency fees apply on top of these minimum rates
$175 | 1-4 hours
(Anything over 4 hours = time and a half)
$250 | 4- 8 hours
(Anything over 8 hours = time and a half)
Fittings
Fittings outside of rehearsal day:
$50 / hour
Fittings on rehearsal days apply as time worked.
Show/Shoot Day
Travel/ Retainer Days
$500 minimum per show/shoot day
Rate for additional same-day shows is negotiable
$150 minimum per travel/retainer day
Show/Shoot Day
$500 minimum per show/shoot day
Rate for additional same-day shows is negotiable
Travel/ Retainer Days
$150 minimum per travel/retainer day
Wardrobe
Per Diem
Performers requested to supply their own costumes shall be compensated at:
$25 / outfit
$15 / pair of shoes
If wardrobe asks to bring personal options but decide to use their clothing, you may wear your own clothing, but you will not be compensated.
Domestic Travel -Ranges between ( $60 to $ 76 per day)
International Travel:
$75 minimum / day
Depending on the company policy, it can be distributed on the first day of the job, or inside your check.
Wardrobe
Performers requested to supply their own costumes shall be compensated at:
$25 / outfit
$15 / pair of shoes
If wardrobe asks to bring personal options but decide to use their clothing, you may wear your own clothing, but you will not be compensated.
Per Diem
Domestic Travel -Ranges between ( $60 to $ 76 per day)
International Travel:
$75 minimum / day
Depending on the company policy, it can be distributed on the first day of the job, or inside your check.
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If you want to know SAG-AFTRA Union Dancers Contract, you can kindly click on this link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dance Instructor salary ranges between $ 30,000 to $ 80,000, it is totally dependent on
the location of studio and experience of your working.
Average Salary for a dancer ranges between $26 per hour in US.
