Chopper's Dance Studio

How to Make a Killer Dance Resume.

Posted on 14. Apr, 2009 by chopper.

What’s crackin,

In your pursuit of happiness to become a professional dancer there are some must have tools. One major tool is your Dance Resume.  Don’t worry if you don’t have a lot of jobs and training under your belt to add to the resume.  Over time it will grow.  Just add as much as you can to start you off.  As you’re going along on this dance journey make sure you update your resume.  Don’t wait and let a couple of years go by and you haven’t updated your resume.   Then you’re going to have to back track and remember, which can be hard to do, especially if you have a memory like mine lol.  If you don’t know how to put together a Dance Resume I have decided to help you…

Here are the elements to include in your Dance resume:

1.)  The Heading

• name,

• phone,

• date of birth,

• height,

• email address

2.)   The Body

• Performance Experience,  Career highlights (start with the most recent). List of all your Dance gigs.

• Name of show.

• choreographer of the show.

• small description of show

3.)  Award section

In this section your can brag about yourself a bit, but dont get the big head, keep it simple and to the point  Only put the most recent awards. Don’t reach all the way back to your childhood.

4.)  Dance Training

• Dance training background (Once again list the most recent first).

• list the name of the school or workshop.

• The teacher you trained under.

• How many years you trained.

5.)  Education

• High school

• College

• trade school

6.) Special Skills (Non dance skills)

• roller skating,

• gymnastics,

• martial arts,

• acting

• jump rope

• joggling

• skate board

So, There You have it The 6 Ingredients To Cook Up Killer Dance Resume. If you need anymore help in this area please feel free to hit me up.  Leave me a comment in the box below.  until next time remember There’s Only ONE.

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Top 4 Tips To Finding A Job For Professional Backup Dancers Life.

Posted on 16. Mar, 2009 by chopper.

What’s crackin         

I want to give you some tips that will help you survive on your way to becoming a back up dancer.  Back up dancer success doesn’t or may not happen over night.  You have to get a job to support yourself in the mean time.  

When I Booked my first music Video I thought that was it.  I’d made it. No more regular job.  Well I was wrong after that job was over I had to find a job right away cause as a professional dancer it takes up to 30 days to get paid.  Just because you booked one job doesn’t mean your going to book the next.  Having a Job in between gigs is important.  So here are 4 tips to help you find the job that is right for a professional back up dancers life style.

Tip #1  Find jobs with perks

Retail jobs are always a great job to have.  professional dancers have many audition where you will have to dress the part.  It is good to have a well assorted wardrobe.  Most retail stores also give you a fat discount on the clothes that you buy.  So check out retail.  If you can find work at a dance wear store that would even be better.  Most of the time the owner will understand the the life style of a professional dance and will work around your schedule

Another great place to work at  is a Gym.  working for a fitness gym is a great job because as a professional dancer you want and have to be in shape.  When you work for a gym they will give you a free membership or a fat discount. 

Another great place to work is at a dance studio.  What better place to work as a professional dance.  Thats where it all begin is in dance class where you train and perfect you craft.  Working at a dance studio as a work study you’ll get to take class for free. 

Tip #2  find out the needs of other dancers and learn that skill.  

• Web design.  we are in the technology area and dancers all need a web site or blog where they can post there dance video or digital resumes.  Learn myspace face-book and other social network site. 

• Learn how to make music or mix mudsic.  professional dancer are alway putting on shows and they need someone edit music for the performance.         

  learn how to take picture professional dancers alway need pictures.  Pictures are a must have in this business.  This is a great skill to pick up cause styles and times change and a dancers picture has to change with them so dancers will always need head-shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tip #3 Work for a entertainment company 

Ba mitzvah are a great job for professional dancers because you work only on weekends which leaves your week open for classes and audition.  Its fun to entertain kids and at the same time your practicing your performance skills. Besides  Kids are the best crowd to perform in front of cause they will let you know if you suck or not.

 

 

 

Tip #4  Find Jobs that fit Your scedule.  

Any Job that are at night is great cause it leaves you day open to audition and classes. 

• Bar tending 

• Waitressing 

• Hostess

That’s it. Hope these tips have help you narrow down what type of side jobs to get to support You.  Leave me a comment and let me know if this information was helpful or not. Once again its yo boy Chopper From ChopperDanceBlog and remember 

There’s Only ONE.

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