SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES A Choreographer needs to be physically fit and have good stamina to endure long rehearsal hours and be able to show the cast what the steps are themselves. They need to have a high level of dancing ability and thorough knowledge of dance and movement. It is also important for a Choreographer to be patient as some cast members are not as strong in dance as others may be and would need more time to pick steps up. A Choreographer should be motivated as their job requires a lot of energy and they should also be enthusiastic so that they inspire the cast. It's vital for a Choreographer to be creative and original so that the dance sequences they create are not necessarily copied and that they look visually exciting on stage. It is important for Choreographers to be healthy and responsible, during the rehearsal period they shouldn't be doing anything could potentially cause sever injury as they need to be present at all times to make sure dance work is kept clean and they also need to be able to move about. Good organisational skills are needed in a Choreographer so that they can plan some routines before the rehearsal period starts so that they can move as quickly as possible and stick to the tight schedules. It's useful for Choreographers to be fast-thinking as they may have to make many last minute decisions, if someone injures themselves during a show they need to get the cast and re-set all the routines so that they don't look odd for the next performances. A Choreographer should have good communication skills so that the cast can understand what is expected of them and what they need to do. It is good for a Choreographer to have a good understanding of health and safety issues as well. Choreographers should be adaptable as they will work in many different conditions such as studios, theatres and TV/Film sets.
SALARY Salary for Choreographers will vary depending on what projects they are working on. Most Choreographer work is freelance and Choreographers are paid by day or by project. Some Choreographers working at a high level for prestigious productions could earn up to several hundred pounds a day. The Theatrical Management Association/Equity daily rates for choreographers range from £79.27 to £184.25 per day.
OVERALL VIEW AND PURPOSE OF THE ROLE A Choreographer will project the Directors vision through the use of dance. They will create, plan and teach various routines that suit the style of the performance they are in and will also take warm-ups during rehearsals and before shows plus making sure everyone is warmed up correctly to begin the rehearsal/show. The Choreographer would also be present in the audition process to assess the strength of dancers needed for the job so they can see what they're going to be working with and also see what the dancers can do (Tricks etc)
WORKING HOURS A Choreographer would work long t daytime hours during rehearsal periods and will often be present during evening some evening performances in order to make notes. Some Choreographers may teach at different dance schools and may often be Choreographing for more than one production at time and would therefore have a very busy time schedule.
Qualifications and experience required: As with many of the job roles within the performing arts industry experience and knowledge is of a much greater value than qualifications. The most commonly followed route into this career would be by studying for a degree in dance or choreography, this degree is offered at many universities and Vocational schools. However the most valuable thing to have to be able to succeed in the industry would be experience. Experience of any kind is invaluable within the industry so many people will start of their careers working on voluntary projects or smaller scale productions to get better known within the industry and have more things avoidable to write on their CV. As a choreographer it is useful to be versatile in your knowledge of theatre and in different styles of dance, it wouldn’t be wise to limit yourself to only one style of dance as this will limit your employability. Vocational dance schools spread their time across the different styles of dance to make fore more versatile and flexible choreographers. There are different courses avoidable to aspiring choreographers. Some may choose to gain a qualification in dance and others may choose to specialise straight away in a Choreography which is often linked with dance courses. For example at Surrey University there is a course specialised in dance and choreography this is a valuable course as it makes for a experienced dancer and choreographer.
Day to day tasks and responsibility: The majority of a choreographer’s time is spent inventing, editing, and practicing routines you create an entertaining and engaging performance for a variety of audiences. It is a choreographer's responsibility to make sure that the routine is pleasurable not only for the participants but for the audience. The choreographer will listen to the music of the piece and make sure he or she fully understands the style, timing and emotion of the piece, this is to ensure it fits in well with the overall effect of the piece, for example in a musical the choreographer must insure their material is consistent with the style of the rest of the show. It is also the responsibility of the choreographer to teach the routine to the cast members and they must also speak with the other members of the creative team, such as the costume designer, they must make sure the costumes that have been designed for routines are also appropriate for the routine that is being performed.
Working conditions: The working conditions of a choreographer will be the same as that of a performer, this is because it is the performers who they will be working alongside. A choreographer will work mainly within a given rehearsal space and also in the performance area, whether it be a theatre, an arena or a open air stage. The majority of the choreograph will be learnt and set within a rehearsal space and then closer to the show there will be time allowed to place the movement into the area of the performance. Not only is choreography set in theatres and on stages it can also be part of cruise ships and a variety of other working environments. A choreographer will most likely still be required to attend rehearsals and shows even after the show or performance begins to run they will be needed for things like adapting routines cleaning certain movements to ensure the show is always at the same level and quality. Therefore choreographers are generally needed at least 6 days a week for long hours.
Salary: The salary of a choreographer is incredibly varied. As a performer the more in demand you are and the better your reputation the more you are able to charge. Smaller scale productions may pay less and similarly the larger scale and profile of a production the higher your salary will be. The weekly fee of a choreographer at the ‘Equity Trade Union’ is £447.50 and an at session rate for 3 hours would be £93.50.
Career progression: Usually becoming a choreographer is the progression of a dancer and many performers will begin their career as a dancer and then progress to be a choreographer. As a choreographer the progression is mainly to gain more and more experience and work in a variety of environment. Getting a good reputation within the choreography industry is praise itself and the more successful work you achieve the more jobs and higher salary you will get. You may begin as a dancer and then after a variety of roles gain the challenge of being a dance captain, a dance captain works closely with the choreographer to ensure all the movement is correct and perhaps occasionally giving an opinion on a sequence or movement. After gaining a few jobs as dance captain one might then see if they can find a job as a shadow choreographer, sometimes being a shadow will mean you working for free however the experience you gain is invaluable. Choreographers may also progress by beginning in a small scale local dance school both teaching and choreographing routines and then progress to larger more high profile jobs.