Many people believe that being a professional dancer limits the ways that you can make money, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are plenty of ways that you can earn money as a dancer, and there are plenty of different career choices and paths to follow. You want to earn money to further your dance career, and thankfully dance is a relatively transferable skill that can help you earn money in other ways. So how exactly do dancers get their income? Here are seven ways to make money as a professional dancer.
Perform at Events
The most obvious way to make money as a dancer is to perform at events and actually get paid for your dancing. Earning money in this manner is how most people think that dancers traditionally earn their money, and will likely be your primary method of earning income as a dancer. While your dancing gigs certainly aren’t the only way you’ll earn money as a dancer, they will make up a large portion of your income. When events need dancers they will think “Where can I find dancers for hire near me?” and if your name comes up in their search then you will likely be hired. The more talented and famous you are, the more you’ll get paid and the bigger your dancing gigs will get. If you want to make a lot of money as a dancer, hone your skills to the point where you are one of the top dancers in the area.
Do Theater
Dancing and acting are two very compatible skills, so if you’re a talented dancer and are good at acting then you could potentially do theater. Theater can not only provide you with some new well-paying gigs, but it can also allow you to network with new people in the entertainment industry. Even if you’re not good at acting, some productions may be looking for background dancers, meaning you can secure a spot even without some acting skills.
Become a Social Media Influencer
Social media is becoming more prevalent in our lives, and as a result influencers are becoming more like mainstream celebrities. As a result, even being a medium-sized influencer on platforms such as Instagram and Twitter can provide a great supplemental income in the form of ad revenue and endorsements. If you’re a talented dancer, you can earn a relatively large following and lots of views just by showing your dance moves off on social media. Not only can being a social media influencer directly provide you with income, but it can also boost your dance career and increase your income that way. You can build your brand through social media, making it more likely that people will want to hire you, and boosting the size of the contracts that you receive as a dancer.
Teach Dance Classes
Another way to earn some money as a dancer is to teach dancing classes. If you’re an experienced dancer, then you can host a class of beginner dancers and teach them the ropes of the profession. You will likely spend considerable time teaching your students various moves and dances, but you can also instruct them in other aspects of being a dancer. Teaching a class is a lot of fun, as you get to work with your students directly and watch them improve over time. In addition, the learning process is very hands on and personalized, as you’ll be able to see exactly what your students are doing wrong and be able to correct them. Finally, teaching classes can provide you with some great supplemental income, especially if it’s a relatively large class.
Write Dance Articles
If you’re a dancer that has some great copywriting skills, then writing dance articles could be a way to earn some extra cash. There are many things that you could write about as a dancer, most being instructional or informative about the industry. For example, you could write articles about how to prepare for a show, or you could write instructional blogs about how to improve as a dancer. If you’re a dancer with writing skills, then you can combine the two to provide insight into the world of dance and earn some extra cash on the side.
Be Sponsored By Brands
As mentioned before, if you have a decent size social media following, brands will want to work with you and sponsor you. You may be paid a certain amount of money to advertise a certain product and display it on your social media platform. While brand sponsorship is usually done through social media nowadays, that doesn’t mean that you need to be a social media influencer in order to be sponsored by a brand. Brands may give you a certain amount of money for using their products during performances, or they may use you as a spokesperson for their brand. Being sponsored by a brand can not only provide you with a supplemental income but can also provide you with some free equipment and products to use as well.
Film Instructional Videos
Similar to teaching dance classes, filming instructional dance videos relies on your ability to each other and monetize it. However, using video as a medium to teach others does offer some differences. Obviously, you won’t be able to personally observe the people that you’re teaching, meaning that you’ll have to adapt your teaching methods. If you’re someone who is better at giving generalized advice and overarching tips, then filming your own instructional videos could be a great way to make money as a dancer. You could even combine this idea with others on the list, posting instructional videos as an influencer on your social media accounts, or supplementing your dance classes with take-home tips in the form of a video.
