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What To Learn

High School

What high school courses should you take if you're interested in this career? Get your answers from the Arts, Audio-Video Technology and Communications cluster Performing Arts pathway.

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Most female ballet dancers begin training with private teachers and ballet schools between the ages of five and eight. Male ballet dancers usually begin between the ages of 10 and 12. Serious training generally begins at that point at major ballet companies.

Once they've completed a few years of serious training, most dancers begin auditioning for professional companies. This takes place by age 17 or 18.

"In dance, there's a physical requirement -- the shape of the body -- where if someone doesn't have that, their chances are diminished. They may have all that wonderful physical equipment, but not have the mind or the discipline for the demand. The complete package of mind, body and desire is rare," says White.

"A very popular route is to dance with a school that is connected with a company. The two most common entries into a professional company are by audition and promotion from the top ranks of a school," says John Munger of Dance USA.

College or university isn't necessary for the professional dancer who plans to perform. In fact, a dancer who waits until they have a college degree may have waited too long.

But a master's degree is necessary for those dancers who want to teach at the college level. For some teachers and choreographers, however, experience performing can substitute for a background in a college program.

Some of the largest American ballet companies have dance schools: the School of American Ballet in New York, San Francisco Ballet School, Boston Ballet School and Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle.