What do ballet companies look for in a dancer?

“I look for dancers who are intelligent—right away they’re picking up the steps,” says Wistrich. “I look for personality—if they are dancing from the inside out rather than the outside in. I really like dancers who have a voice, who have something to express—with a light in their eyes. They shine.”

Do ballet companies pay dancers?

Most ballet dancers’ salaries fall between $14,500 and $36,500. The average salary is about $1,326 per week. Many ballet dancers work their whole life to be a part of a prestigious company. Below, there is a breakdown of a ballet dancer’s salary at each career stage and how to making money as a ballet dancer.

What is the average career of a ballet dancer?

On average, a dancer’s performance career tends to end around the age of 35. They’ve often been shaping muscle and bone into elegant lines since shortly after they first learned to walk, moulding their bodies to achieve the perfect balance of powerful athleticism and artistic grace.

At what age do ballet dancers peak?

That being said, most dancers who reach the rank of Principal dancer are in their mid 20s. Many retire by age 30. Then you have exceptions of those few who go on to age 40, like Wendy Whelan of NYCB .

How many dancers are in a ballet company?

The largest ballet company in the world is the Bolshoi Ballet of Moscow, which employs over 240 dancers, as of 2010. The largest companies in Western Europe and North America employ around one hundred.

Do ballet companies have trainees or apprentices?

Some companies (especially in North America) have trainees or apprentices, who rank below the corps de ballet, and may be unpaid. Some companies further subdivide these grades, and the terminology used varies from company to company.

Who coaches the ballet dancers?

Day to day coaching of the dancers is the responsibility of one or more ballet masters and ballet mistresses. Some companies also employ répétiteurs and dance notators. There is often a resident choreographer . All but the smallest companies divide their dancers into at least three grades.

What is ballet dance?

The term “ballet” is sometimes used to refer to dance styles in any culture’s classical tradition, mainly in reference to classical styles of dance performed in parts of Asia.