Choreographers

The work of choreographers can be exhilarating and fulfilling (when the hours of brainstorming, creativity, and hard work result in a dance sequence or production that is well-received by both audiences and critics) and challenging and frustrating (when the choreographer faces “creative block,” dancers have difficulty learning the dance steps, and the choreographer disagrees with the director and others about aspects of the production).

Work days for choreographers can be long during tours or in the run-up to the launch of a production, as they work with dancers in practice sessions throughout the day and work behind the scenes at performances at night. Choreographers for a television show, music video, and video streaming productions must work with dancers, singers, and actors of often varying dance abilities to perfect the movement sequences of a production. And, of course, choreographers may work at all hours of the day (and night) when inspiration strikes—foregoing sleep or a social life to turn ideas into a finished work. Professional choreographers often have periods of unemployment in the field as they move from project to project. Even after they sign on to a production, they are never sure if a production will run 20 weeks or 20 days—or fold after a handful of performances.

The career of choreographer often ranks high on "best job" lists. For example, U.S. News & World Report creates an annual list of the 100 best jobs in the United States. Occupations that rank high on its list offer a good work/life balance, low or manageable stress levels, excellent pay, and strong employment prospects with lots of jobs available. In 2024, U.S. News ranked the career of choreographer as the 65th-best occupation. Visit https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs to learn more about a career as a choreographer and to read the complete list.