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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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53120.01 – Dancers

Dancers perform as soloists, with partners and with other dancers as members of dance groups and companies.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Ballet dancer
  • Dancer
  • Group dancer
  • Interpretative dancer

Core competencies

  • Social Perceptiveness to read and respond to the emotions, cues and dynamics of their fellow performers and the audience, ensuring effective collaboration and communication during performances
  • Oral Communication: Active Listening to accurately follow music, cues and instructions from choreographers or fellow dancers, ensuring synchronization and smooth execution of routines
  • Body Flexibility to perform complex choreography that requires extended limbs, deep bends and high kicks
  • Gross Body Coordination to synchronize movements, maintain balance and perform complex routines with precision and fluidity
  • Creativity and Innovativeness to express emotion, tell stories and develop unique movements that push the boundaries of their art form
  • Knowledge in Arts to understand, interpret and apply the principles of body movement, dance forms, routines and techniques

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Practise and rehearse dance routines under direction or instruction to achieve desired interpretation and presentation
  • Perform dances as soloists or as members of groups before live audiences or for film or television
  • Train and exercise to maintain the required levels of ability and fitness
  • May choreograph their own performances.

Additional information

  • Dancers may specialize in specific types of dance such as ballet, ballroom, folk, jazz or modern.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

5 – Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport

TEER

3 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of less than two years; or more than six months of on-the-job training

Major group

53 – Occupations in art, culture and sport

Sub-major group

531 – Occupations in art and culture

Minor group

5312 – Occupations in creative and performing art

Unit group

53120 – Dancers

Occupational profile

53120.01 – Dancers

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.