WANTED:
Jazz dancers for exciting jobs!

There is a wide variety of job opportunities open to jazz dancers. The possibilities run the gamut from Broadway shows to dance companies to music videos. In fact, you may never have heard of some of these options. Each one has a different flavor and list of pre-requisites. No matter what your tastes, you are sure to find a path that appeals to you.

Being in a Broadway show is the penultimate achievement for musical theater dancers. After all, the money is great and the prestige that accompanies such a credit on your resume is even better. Remember, though, that there are plenty of other good musical theatre jobs out there.

If you enjoy traveling, you might consider auditioning for one of the many national or even international tours. Equity national tours pay extremely well and are the most highly coveted. (Equity is the union for musical theater singers, dancers, and actors. Call 212-869-9380 for eligibility information.) Non-equity tours pay reasonably well and offer a chance to see the country. International tours tend to be less lucrative and lower quality, but globe-trotting is a reward in itself.

If you prefer staying in one place, then look into the many regional and dinner theaters that produce musicals. The production quality can range drastically. Some are only a step above your high school production, while others are springboards for shows on the way to Broadway. The majority of these jobs audition in New York City but some audition locally. In New York, grab a copy of Backstage, which comes out every Thursday, for a complete listing of auditions or visit http://www.backstage.com. And don't forget summer stock. There are theatres in almost every state. Look for notices about the so-called "combined" auditions like the StrawHat in NYC and the one held by the Southeastern Theatre conference where producers and presenters from many venues gather to see talent.  

Backstage also lists singing coaches. Again, if you plan to dance in musicals, whether on the road or not, start vocalizing right away.

WORK IN MOVIES, VIDEOS AND COMMERCIALS
Jazz and Hip Hop dancers with cutting-edge style
 If you like great pay and short spans of work, then this is the spot for you. These jobs pay extremely well but are few and far between. Even dancers on the 'A' list can average less than one week of work in a three-month period, so be prepared to have a means of supporting yourself between gigs. One way to do that is to teach at dance conventions and judge the competitions. The emphasis is on being entertaining and trendy. This is great extra income, and some dancers have made a whole career of doing the conventions.  

For a little consistency, consider being a back-up dancer for a concert tour. Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, Reba McEntire, and every other R&B singer employs a group of dancers for tours. The money is excellent and the regularity of work is rare for the Los Angeles scene. Some hip hop dancers are  hired out of NYC also, but the majority of this work goes through LA. If you are interested, you need to get to LA and find an agent. Look in "The Backstage Handbook," explained in detail in Sondra Forsyth's New York Dance Scene on this site, for a listing.

PROFESSIONAL DANCE COMPANIES
Jazz dancers with strong modern and ballet technique
So you have killer technique and want to do something more artistic? Then check into the growing jazz dance company scene. Now, don't expect to cash in the way you would for a Broadway musical. Unfortunately, there is little money in this career choice. Dancers who take this route do it out of love for the art and not for big financial gain.

The most prominent company in this category is the sometimes jazzy, sometimes modern Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Also, Mia Michaels R.A.W. is currently making waves in the concert jazz scene. You can read an interview with her by Finis Jhung at Barre Side Chats on this site. Other companies to look out for are Jump Rhythm Jazz Project, Jazzdance by Danny Buraczeski, Decidedly Jazz Dance Works, and Les Ballets Jazz du Montreal. There are a ton of others popping up all over. If you get the chance, catch a performance.

MUSICAL REVUE SHOWS
Aspiring young jazz dancers with personality
Musical theater revue shows are very popular. Las Vegas, Branson, theme parks, industrials, and cruise ships all hire for this type of work. Revue shows emphasize flash and, luckily for some of us dancers, de-emphasize singing. Dancers often blend in or even lip synch the chorus parts. The revues are great stepping stones for young musical theater dancers. You can get lots of performing experience while brushing up on your singing.

Las Vegas pays well and employs many dancers. However, you may want to consider the Vegas life style before rushing off to the great casino in the desert. Branson, Missouri pays less than Vegas but is home to many theaters employing dancers these days, and the environment is slower-paced. You can check out Don Mirault's article on Branson in "Its A Living" on this site.

Theme park pay varies by the company. The bigger parks pay average unless you work at one of their overseas parks. If you don't mind leaving home for long contracts and are partial to Japanese food, think about working at one of the high-paying parks in Japan. Other smaller parks offer great summer contracts for young dancers. Some will hire dancers as young as 16 years old with parental permission.

The quality of cruise ship jobs depends on the company. Some pay well and some do not, but all contracts are negotiable. Lastly, Industrials are quick-hit gigs. They can last anywhere from one day to a few weeks. The pay is very good for these.  

Musical revue jobs tend to go on audition tours. Check out Dance Magazine to find out when one of them comes to your area. For Las Vegas and Branson, you may have to audition on location or sometimes by sending a videotape. The audition ads will give you the contact information.

TEACH
Experienced Jazz Dance Teachers
Jazz is one of the most popular classes in dance studios today so there is a never-ending need for quality teachers and choreographers. Universities and high schools also hire experienced teachers. Teaching is a time-honored way to survive for both the between gig LA dancer and the underpaid concert jazz dancer. However, not every dancer makes a good dance educator. Teaching is a special skill that can be completely separate from dancing ability. Therefore, gifted and dedicated jazz dance teachers are prized commodities.

Whatever your preference or background, the jazz dance world is a smorgasbord of tempting alternatives. Most dancers do not stick to just one type of job. In a world where working in one place until retirement is becoming rare, dancers are finding the diversity and ever-changing face of their profession refreshing rather than frightening. If you market yourself well and work hard, you can have a very profitable career. More important, you can make a living doing what you love -- dancing!