Dance Resume

A dance resume is like your ticket to auditions, gigs, and opportunities. But here's the thing, it's not the same as a regular resume you'd use for an office job. Forget the one-size-fits-all advice you get for other careers. Dance resumes follow their own rules, and if you're not careful, yours might not stand out the way it should.

What most people miss is that casting directors and choreographers don't have time to sift through pages and pages of information. They want to glance at your resume and immediately know if you're the right fit. So let's make sure your dance resume does exactly that.

The Basics You Can’t Mess Up

First off, keep it to one page. Seriously, I've seen dancers try to cram every single performance they've ever done into their resumes and it just doesn't work. You’re not writing your life story here, you’re showcasing highlights that make you a compelling choice.

Your name should be at the top, clear and easy to read. If you have a professional name you go by in the dance world, use that. Below your name, include your contact info, email, phone number, and maybe your website or social media if you’ve got a solid professional presence online. Skip the home address. No one needs it anymore.

And honestly, your headshot deserves some attention. It’s common for dance resumes to have a small headshot attached. Make sure it's high-quality and looks like you, not the overly retouched version of you. Casting teams want to see who they’ll meet in person.

What Actually Belongs on the Resume

This is your chance to show off your training and experience without overwhelming the reader. List your dance education first, schools, workshops, or private training, but don't feel like you have to list every single class you've ever taken. Focus on the most relevant or prestigious ones.

Performance experience comes next. Highlight roles or productions that mean something. If you danced in a major production or worked with a well-known choreographer, definitely include that. But even if your experience is local or regional, that's okay too. Just make sure the formatting is clean and easy to skim.

And don't forget skills. Can you do pointe work? Hip hop? Partnering? Acrobatics? Be specific about what styles you excel in because directors are often looking for very particular skill sets.

Formatting Matters More Than You Think

Here’s the part that drives me nuts when I review resumes: messy layouts. A dance resume needs to look polished. That means consistent fonts, clear sections, and zero spelling errors. If formatting isn't your thing, get help. Seriously, there's no shame in asking someone who’s good at this stuff to take a look.

Use columns or tables to organize details like performance dates, choreographers, and locations. It keeps everything neat and easy to scan. And for the love of dance, don’t use tiny fonts to fit more stuff on the page. If it looks crowded, cut something.

Should You Include Photos or Links?

This is tricky because it depends on where you're applying. If you’re submitting digitally, you might want to include links to videos of your performances or reels. Just make sure the links work and take them directly to your best material. If you're handing in a physical copy, the resume should stand on its own with maybe the attached headshot.

The Part Nobody Tells You About

Your resume is only part of the story. Even if it’s perfect, it’s not going to matter much if you don’t show up to auditions prepared and professional. Make sure you know the role you're auditioning for, arrive on time, and bring extra copies of your resume just in case. No one wants to scramble to print your info last minute.

And one more thing, networking matters a ton. Directors and choreographers often remember faces more than resumes, so take every opportunity to introduce yourself at workshops or industry events. Sometimes the conversations you have offstage make a bigger difference than what’s on paper.

A great dance resume won’t get you every gig, but it’ll open doors. Make sure yours shows the best version of your skills and experience, and keep it updated so it stays relevant. Now go put it together and get out there.