Dance Practices Career Insight by LJMUCareers

Dance Practices CAREER INSIGHT

LJMU CAREERS TEAM 0151 231 2048/3719 ❚ careers@ljmu.ac.uk

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Career Insight: Dance Practices

Introduction A career in dance is very exciting but also demanding and requires a lot of commitment, practice, creativity and a lot of determination to succeed. Career opportunities in dance do not just take place on a stage. Your degree will prepare you for career opportunities in performance, arts administration, education and community work. Many students move into teaching, management, therapy and notation. Making it as a professional dancer can be hugely competitive, there are a range of other roles you can go into utilising the skills and experience you have gained.

Over the course of your degree you will develop a good mix of subject specific and technical skills as well as transferable core skills. Consider these alongside your other activities, such as: JMUp start Dance Company; Improvisation and Creative research project and Making Connections: International Dance & Music Project; paid work, volunteering, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile. In recent years, securing a graduate role has become increasingly competitive, so gaining relevant work or voluntary experience and engaging in extracurricular activities alongside your studies is crucial to demonstrate to prospective employers that you have the motivation to succeed in your chosen area and have developed the required skills. Being aware of the range of options open to you is important to make an informed career decision. Researching different career pathways and entry requirements is essential preparation for your graduate career, so ensure you make the most of available resources, attend career events or employer talks, and take every opportunity to network with professionals to find out as much as possible about the career areas that interest you. Typical Career Options: A degree in Dance Practices can open up a number of career pathways in sectors ranging from performance, education, healthcare and the voluntary and third sector. You could start exploring typical job options via Prospects: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/options_with_your_subject.htm Many dance professionals embark on a portfolio career â&#x20AC;&#x201C; an individual with a number of skills, perhaps in performing, teaching and managing can combine these strengths and become a highly employable and flexible dance artist. You can choose between jobs that are degree-related or those that appeal because they use other interests or elements of your degree. Your options within the Dance Performance sector include: Dance Performer - To succeed as a dancer you need to be creative, fit, a good performer and single minded! Extensive training and qualifications are required from a university, dance or performing arts school. Many dancers combine performing with other related work such as teaching or working on projects in schools and colleges. As a dancer you may need to have a number of different skills, for example in teaching or administration, to make a living in dance. Many dance jobs are based in London, but there are also opportunities to work for regional dance organisations and companies,

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Career Insight: Dance Practices touring productions and to work abroad. You could work full-time for a dance company, although you are usually more likely to work as a freelancer on short, fixed-term contracts. You will often find work through networking and making contacts in the industry and some choreographers choose to form their own dance company. Community Dance Practitioner includes working in the community as a workshop leader or teacher. Community Dance Practitioners work in a variety of settings such as youth centres, old peoples’ homes, arts, community and leisure centres. Dance artists working in this particular area will have skills and experience that have been accredited in one or more ways such as a degree in dance, vocational training at a dance school, a specialised Dance in the Community course or registration with a private dance teaching association. http://www.prospects.ac.uk/dancer_job_description.htm Choreographer Many choreographers start out as performers in professional companies and gain experience touring and in rehearsal with the company and its artistic director. Students set up companies of their own with their contemporaries. https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/choreographer.aspx Dance/Arts/ Culture Adminstrator work for funding bodies or Local Authorities. Most Arts Officers at local authorities or in Arts Council offices are graduates in arts or arts related courses and some may have been dancers themselves. Their main role is in strategic planning, grant giving and monitoring dance activity in their area or region. http://www.prospects.ac.uk/arts_administrator_job_description.htm http://www.prospects.ac.uk/community_arts_worker_job_description.htm Theatre Stage Manager http://www.prospects.ac.uk/theatre_manager_job_description.htm Dance Movement Therapist : Dance Movement Therapists must have a postgraduate qualification recognised by The Association of Dance Movement Psychotherapy (ADMPUK) and a minimum of two years’ experience of at least one dance or movement. Dance therapists work in a variety of settings including hospitals, psychiatric and rehabilitation units and schools. Dance and movement is used to help people with a wide range of emotional, social, psychological and physical difficulties. Therapists work with individuals and groups to help improve their self-esteem, develop communication skills and develop strategies to manage their lives. They work with a variety of conditions such as autism and eating and emotional disorders. http://www.prospects.ac.uk/dance_movement_psychotherapist_job_description.htm Dance Company Education Specialist: Responsible for running workshops, performance projects, talks on the working practices and repertoire of the company. Professional dancers can develop additional skills in teaching and project co-ordination to take on an education role in the company. Youth Worker: Youth workers provide enjoyable, educational and challenging activities to help young people improve their confidence, develop new skills and cope with issues that affect their lives. They mainly work with people aged 13 to 19. The role may include organising sports, arts, drama and dance activities, mentoring young people, supporting groups such as young carers or those at risk of offending, developing and running projects that tackle issues like health, bullying or crime,

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© 2017. Liverpool John Moores University. The content of this document is copyright material of Liverpool John Moores University. No part of this document may be reproduced or distributed without prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Career Insight: Dance Practices Professional youth workers need a youth and community work qualification validated by the National Youth Agency (NYA). http://www.prospects.ac.uk/youth_worker_job_description.htm Source for the above: http://www.onedanceuk.org/ Some job options within the Education & Health sector include: 

Hospital Play Specialists: Hospital play specialists work with sick children in hospitals, child development units, hospices and at the child’s homes after hospitalisation. They help to minimise the trauma a child may experience by being ill and separated from their parents and by undergoing treatment. There are courses at several colleges. Students on the course will be employed by a hospital or will be on a 200 hour placement organised by the college. Vacancies for jobs are advertised in the local press and Nursery World Magazine. For further information and details of the college courses contact: The National Association of Hospital Play Staff www.nahps.org.uk Hospital Play Staff Education Trustwww.hpset.org.uk

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Primary/Secondary Teacher: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/primary_school_teacher_job_description.htm http://www.prospects.ac.uk/secondary_school_teacher_job_description.htm You might also like to download our teaching factsheets from: https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm

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Learning mentor http://www.prospects.ac.uk/learning_mentor_job_description.htm

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Teaching post 16/FE Lecturer: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/further_education_lecturer_job_description.htm Education Administrator http://www.prospects.ac.uk/education_administrator_job_description.htm

Some job options within the Third sector (community, voluntary and charity) include: 

Advice worker http://www.prospects.ac.uk/advice_worker_job_description.htm

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Community Development Worker http://www.prospects.ac.uk/community_development_worker_job_description.htm

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Charity Officer http://www.prospects.ac.uk/charity_officer_job_description.htm

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Charity Fundraiser http://www.prospects.ac.uk/charity_fundraiser_job_description.htm

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Volunteer Co-ordinator http://www.prospects.ac.uk/volunteer_coordinator_job_description.htm

Teacher Training Unless your first degree is a Bachelor of Education (BEd) or a BA/BSc with qualified teacher status (QTS) for England and Wales, you will need further training to achieve QTS. To achieve qualified

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Career Insight: Dance Practices teacher status (QTS) you need to complete an initial teacher training (ITT) course. There are a number of options available and you need to choose the one which most suits your needs. When deciding on the route to teaching you would like to take it is important to make sure you meet the entry requirements. You must be very clear on what you want to teach and who you want to teach so can you choose the best training option for you. All routes provide rigorous training and detailed preparation for a career in teaching. Although all courses meet the requirements for accreditation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), not all award a PGCE qualification or Masters credits. The options available to you are: 

PGCE: This is a University based training course led by Higher Education Institutions (HEI). www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/ teacher-training-options/university-based-training/pgce

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School Direct: This route offers trainees the opportunity to train to teach in a school. Schools work in partnership with HEIs requesting the subject routes they have a need to recruit for.

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SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training) programmes are designed and delivered by groups of neighbouring schools and colleges. Training is led by experienced, practising teachers, and often tailored towards local teaching needs.

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Teach First offers a two year contract in a challenging school, where you will also complete a Leadership Development Programme. http://www.teachfirst.org.uk/

Teaching factsheets from the Careers Team – information about postgraduate teacher training options and gaining relevant work experience - http://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm Department for Education: Get into Teaching: http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching

Further Education Teaching FE learners range from 14 years old to adults, and although the majority are aged over 19, as an FE teacher you could work with a broad cross-section of people of different ages and circumstances. The full teaching qualification for the sector is the level 5 Diploma in Education and Training (DET) but if this is taken at a university [or even some FE colleges] it may be called a PGCE or a Cert Ed. Level 5 aspire to, or hold, a teaching role with an extensive range of teaching Levels 6 or 7 – PGCE (HEI study)– UCAS application. http://www.prospects.ac.uk/further_education_lecturer_job_description.htm https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/explore-my-options/further-education-teacher-training https://www.feadvice.org.uk/ Main employers Typical employers differ depending on graduates’ chosen career pathways. Employers can range from performing companies, NHS, schools, local authorities, art organisations and charities. LJMU students have been successfully employed by a wide range of employers in a variety of roles including; selfemployment setting up their own dance company; Teacher training at RAD and progressing to head of dance at the Community School, Apprentice with Motion House, Project Manager for the Department of Education and PGCE in Dance progressing to head of dance at a sixth form college.

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Career Insight: Dance Practices All occupational profiles listed on http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm include a section on typical employers and vacancy sources, so use these as a starting point to research potential employers within the career areas that interest you. The type and size of your future employer will impact on your working environment, salary, career development or training opportunities, so ensure you start researching potential employers early on. Graduate Training Schemes In addition, there are lots of graduate training schemes with large companies and many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject. If you are interested in these roles you will need to be aware of the graduate recruitment cycle. Many recruiters begin the graduate recruitment process during the autumn term for final year students. Some placements are advertised then as well. Most closing dates are in November and December but some are earlier so it is important to start researching companies that you want to apply to early on. Most of the large recruiters have a section on the student/graduate pages of their website that outlines the different steps of their selection process, so check these to find out what is required. For more information about graduate schemes, download the ‘Graduate Schemes’ guide from http://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm. Many of these opportunities are advertised in the Prospects Directory and the Targetjobs Directory (available from the Careers Team or on the Prospects and Targetjobs website); on websites like www.milkround.com as well as on the organisations’ own websites. Check out the Target Jobs website for more information: http://targetjobs.co.uk/graduate-schemes. Further Study Options: a Masters can give you the edge in a competitive job market and the opportunity to specialise in your field, but make sure you know what’s involved before committing to further study. Your degree and relevant experience will be taken into consideration. MA Dance Practice MA Arts Management

Conservatoires play a unique and pivotal role in the higher education landscape as international centres of excellence in higher education and training in the performing arts. Conservatoire training is vocational: it’s an immersive experience that is very different to studying at a regular university. Practice-based training is characterised by rigour, intensity, small class sizes and unparalleled access to the performing arts industry. For example: MA Contemporary Dance Performance (Verve) .VERVE is the postgraduate company of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance. The MA equips students with Professional performance skills as members of a touring Contemporary dance company. Each year VERVE commissions choreographers to create a distinct, engaging, and thought provoking programme of work. Postgraduate Study - download our mini-guide on “Thinking about Postgraduate Study” from https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm for an overview of the different options available. Follow relevant companies/organisations websites through Twitter: @LJMUCareers

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@Grad2Merseyside

@ace_national

@NHS_Careers

Career Insight: Dance Practices @Prospects

@getintoteaching

@educationgovuk

@MOVEITSHOW

@targetjobsUK

@TheStage

@tes

@TeachFirst

Download our mini-guide on “Making yourself employable whilst at University” from http://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm for an overview of the different types of work experience available and some general suggestions about finding work experience opportunities. Key events and networking

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Liverpool Careers Fair: usually held in the autumn and spring of each year, see fairs website http://www.liverpoolfairs.org.uk/ for additional events

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Manchester Careers Fairs: open to students and graduates from any university; check http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/events/ for details

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Careers and Employability events at LJMU: Keep an eye on our events pages at https://worldofwork.ljmu.ac.uk/events/ for details of upcoming employability workshops, networking sessions and employer talks.

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LiverpoolSU Clubs and Societies: http://www.liverpoolsu.com/clubsandsocs

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LinkedIn: You could also consider setting up a LinkedIn account (http://www.linkedin.com/) to network online with professionals and organisations in your chosen industry

Other information LJMU Volunteering Contact 0151 904 6356 or c.j.prescott@ljmu.ac.uk to enquire about current opportunities. Useful websites to research a range of voluntary opportunities include http://www.doit.org.uk/ and http://www.liverpoolguild.org/volunteering. LJMU has been managing a summer internship programme for Level 5 students in recent years, so keep an eye on your LJMU inbox for details of any opportunities. To find work placements and internships you can use the prospects search tool: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/work_experience.htm Centre for Entrepreneurship Supports students and graduates who want to set up their own businesses. Whether you want to develop a new business idea, work as a freelancer or launch a product or service, the Centre for Entrepreneurship can help. To book a place at one of their free workshops or a confidential business advice session with a business adviser, call 0151 231 3300 or visit https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/startup/ Careers Zones Campus-based Careers Zones provide easy access to careers support in convenient locations at Byrom Street, Aldham Robarts Library and at IM Marsh, staffed by the Careers Team. Support available includes CV and application form reviews, Careers Adviser appointments, drop-in quick queries, practice interviews and access to careers resources and information. The Zones also host regular employer visits during term time where you can meet and network with employers and discuss job and placement opportunities. For the latest updates and details of locations and opening times, try our Twitter and Facebook pages.

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