”I think especially on PEI, we are blessed in this community...We’re not just another number, there is a community here that comes to recognize us, so take advantage of that.
Peggy ReddinDancer and Dance Teacher
If you like to move your body, there is no form of expression like dance. It can be fun and simple, but also complex and incredibly technical. From ballet to bollywood, hip hop to contemporary there are so many directions dance can take you – and you can make a career out of all of them. Most professional dancers on P.E.I. combine performance with teaching to round out their careers. There are several dance studios across P.E.I.; getting and staying involved with them will give you the opportunity to both improve your technique and potentially teach for money. The teachers at these studios can also help you take your career to the next level. They can put you in touch with companies looking for professional dancers in films, TV shows, theatre and musical performances. They will also prepare you to enter a university or college program in dance. Since dancers focus on movement, they are often in-demand by gyms and fitness studios who employ them to teach classes that get their clients moving in healthy and fun ways. If performance is your passion, P.E.I. may be the perfect place for you to be. A small, but co-operative group of dancers, teachers and venues on the Island are consistently looking to create and stage dance shows that captivate audiences and advance the careers of those involved.
Want to know more?
GENERAL INFO
JOBS
Dancer/Performer (Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Ballroom, Folkloric, Celtic, Contemporary etc), Dance Teacher, Choreographer, Show Producer, Dance Studio Manager, College or University Professor, Dance Historian
JOIN UP
Dance Umbrella at the Confederation Centre of the Arts offers professionally-taught classes and mentorship in many types of dance.
OTHER JOB OPTIONS
Fitness Trainer, Yoga Teacher, Physiotherapist, Actor
LET’S TALK MONEY
$17,893/year (Canada-wide average) [Source: Hill Strategies 2010]. Many dancers then supplement their income by teaching others.
GET TO BUSINESS
Skills in business management will help you successfully market and manage yourself as a freelance performer.
NEAREST SCHOOLS
Holland College School of Performing Arts, Dance Performance Program
EXAMPLE PATH TO SUCCESS
You can begin by taking dance studio classes, leading you to perform in dance recitals. After you graduate high school, you can study dance at university or college. With the connections and portfolio you’ve made, you can then join a professional dance company. From there, you can make a career performing in dance shows, films, alongside musical artists while also teaching young dancers in a studio.
Have more questions?
ASK AN ARTIST
PEGGY REDDIN
For any specific questions that Peggy may be able to answer, please click the button below to send an email.
CLICK TO ASK PEGGY A QUESTION
