How to be a backup dancer in music videos
Music Industry Career Roles - Berklee Online
What is Berklee Online?
Berklee Online is the online school of Berklee College of Music, delivering access to Berklee’s acclaimed curriculum from anywhere in the world. We are the world’s largest online music school—30,000+ musicians from more than 140 countries have taken our courses—but classes cap at just 20 students per section.
What does Berklee Online offer?
We offer award-winning online courses, multi-course certificate programs, a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Master of Music degree, and a Master of Arts degree.
Who is Berklee Online designed for?
Our programs provide lifelong learning opportunities to people interested in music and working in the music industry. The courses range from beginner to advanced graduate level.
What kind of subjects are taught?
Berklee Online offers more than 200 courses in every musical interest area: Everything from instruction on specific instruments (guitar, piano, bass, drums, voice) to music production software (Ableton, Pro Tools, Logic, and more) to larger concepts in music business, songwriting, theory, and composing for film, TV, and games
Do online students receive the benefits of an on-campus Berklee education?
Absolutely! Just like the students studying on Berklee’s Boston campus, Berklee Online students receive instruction from the same world-renowned faculty, with the added benefit of having music industry professionals from around the world teaching as well. You’ll also receive guidance from Berklee-trained Academic Advisors, and have the opportunity to walk at the Commencement ceremony in Boston with your cohort of graduates who studied online and in-person.
What is the process to apply for/enroll in a Berklee Online program or course?
Certificate programs and online courses are offered on an open enrollment basis. Simply complete the online enrollment form and provide payment prior to the course start date and you’re ready to go! Degree programs require an application and supporting documentation. See the Admission Requirements for more details.
Will I receive a Berklee ID and/or email address?
Berklee Online degree students are eligible to request a Berklee ID. Upon acceptance into the program, degree students are also given a berklee.edu email address.
Can I take non-credit courses in a certificate?
All courses in a certificate program must be taken for credit.
Can I waive some for-credit courses into a certificate?
Students must enroll in a certificate by paying the $175 certificate registration fee prior to completing the final course in the program.
All for-credit courses that have been awarded a passing grade and that align with a certificate program may transfer into that program.
Can I upgrade from a lower-level certificate to a higher-level certificate?
Yes! Berklee Online offers two certificate options:
- CHANGE CERTIFICATE: When a student wants to change their lower-level certificate to a higher-level certificate (or vice versa) prior to the completion of the program. There are no additional fees for this option other than the cost of additional courses, and you will only earn one certificate upon completion.
- STARTING A NEW CERTIFICATE: When a student wants to earn more than one certificate by having the courses from their lower-level certificate waived into a higher-level certificate. In this case, an additional $175 registration fee is required.
Faculty
Who teaches Berklee Online courses?
Berklee faculty and seasoned professionals teach our courses.
Our instructors are recognized experts in their respective fields—they’ve produced and engineered hundreds of artists and numerous award-winning projects, and several of their students have gone on to earn GRAMMY Award nominations.
Financial Aid
Am I eligible for financial aid?
Financial assistance is available for Berklee Online degree programs. This assistance may come from a variety of sources including federal awards, outside scholarships, and private loans.
Federal financial aid is not available for non-degree programs. Non-degree students typically finance their costs out-of-pocket or with a private loan. Review our payment options.
Graduation
What happens if I turn in my graduation application late? Do I still need to apply by December 1 even if I don’t want to walk in the Commencement ceremony?
Because we must coordinate with the Boston campus for Commencement, it is essential that students planning to walk in the ceremony submit their graduation application by 12:00 midnight ET on December 1.
If you submit your application late, you will need to wait until the following year to walk.
We ask all students planning to graduate within the current academic year to apply for graduation by December 1, regardless of their plans to participate in Commencement. Late application for students who do not wish to walk will result in processing delays for your academic record and diploma, and your name may not be listed in the ceremony program.
What’s the difference between graduating and walking in Commencement?
Great question! Walking in Commencement and graduating are two separate things.
You can walk in Commencement when you are nine (9) credits or less away from completing your degree requirements by the end of the spring term. Please note: Berklee Online degree students are not required to walk in Commencement in Boston.
You graduate when you have met all of the following criteria:
- Attained at least a 2.70 cumulative GPA in concentrate courses
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.
00 - Fulfilled all program requirements AND completed a minimum of 120 credits for a single major or 165 for a dual major
- Completed a minimum of 60 institutional credits for a single major or 105 institutional credits for a dual major
- Fulfilled all financial obligations to the college
Note Walking across the stage in Commencement
does notmean that you have graduated. You will not officially graduate and receive your diploma until you meet all of the eligibility requirements.
I just finished my last term at Berklee Online! What happens next? Is there anything I need to do?
Congratulations on finishing! If you have already filled out a graduation application, you will want to double-check the "Graduation Checklist" to ensure you have taken care of all of the various items associated with graduating. If you have not filled out a graduation application, you will need to do that as soon as possible.
You will not be able to graduate until we have received and processed your graduation application.
When will I get my diploma?
You will receive your diploma within 6-8 weeks of completing your degree requirements. Please keep in mind that instructors have up to two (2) weeks to submit final grades after the term concludes.
Diplomas are mailed to the address you include on your graduation application. If your mailing address changes after you have submitted your graduation application, be sure to update us at [email protected].
Keep in mind that if you are walking in Commencement, you will not receive your official diploma at the ceremony.
Transfer Credits
Can I find out how many transfer credits I am eligible for before I apply to the degree program?
If you are interested in applying to the Bachelor of Arts degree program and would like an estimate of the amount of transfer credit you would receive, you can request an unofficial transfer evaluation by emailing a copy of your transcript(s) to the Berklee Online Transfer Team at transfer@online.
berklee.edu. Be sure to include your name, major of interest, and any additional questions you may have. You can expect to receive your assessment within 7-10 business days.
I didn’t receive credit on my Official Evaluation for all of the courses that I thought I would. What should I do?
The earlier you contact us with questions or concerns regarding your evaluation, the easier it will be for us to address any issues. Therefore, it is very important when you first receive your official transfer evaluation that you review the information carefully.
If you notice a remaining requirement that you believe you’ve already fulfilled, first consult our document on Common Reasons Credit Does Not Transfer. It’s possible that the course you are thinking of didn’t meet our eligibility requirements.
If none of those exclusions apply, please fill out a Transfer Credit Equivalency Re-evaluation form for the courses you wish to have reconsidered.
Sometimes, we are not able to locate specific information for a course online and we are not able to determine an equivalency, but we are always happy to review additional material which will help us make that determination.
Do my Berklee Online, Berklee campus, or Prior Learning Credit coursework count towards the 60 transfer credit limit?
No, credits completed at Berklee or through the prior learning process do not count towards the 60 transfer credit limit. This maximum is for credit-bearing exams and undergraduate-level coursework completed externally.
What is a credit deficiency and why do I need to make up credit?
Credit deficiencies are caused by transferring a course that is less than three (3) credits to fulfill a three (3) credit Berklee Online requirement. Students with a credit deficiency will be short of the minimum number of credits required to graduate once they have completed their program requirements. In order to be eligible to graduate, you will need to make up the credits you are deficient in.
While the Transfer Team does their best to avoid giving students credit deficiencies, it is not always possible. You can make up the credits you are deficient in by completing additional Berklee Online coursework, by applying for prior learning credit, or by completing additional external coursework in the area in which you are deficient.
Note all external courses will first need to be approved by the Transfer Team.
Can transfer credit fulfill prerequisites?
It depends. Generally, transfer credit cannot be used to fulfill prerequisites unless we determine that the course you completed is a direct equivalent to one of the courses we offer at Berklee Online. Keep in mind that there are some courses which require you to pass a placement exam. For these you will need to achieve a passing grade on the test to fulfill the prerequisite, otherwise you will need to complete the appropriate Berklee Online course.
Can I transfer credits to Berklee Online after I have started the degree program?
Yes, you can.
To determine if the coursework you already completed or are considering taking is eligible to fulfill your remaining degree requirements, contact the Transfer Team at [email protected].
I am a Berklee campus student. Can I transfer courses from Berklee Online to my campus-based program?
View a list of transferable courses to Berklee’s campus programs.
For additional questions about transferring courses from Berklee Online to Berklee's campus programs please contact the campus transcript evaluator at [email protected].
Are Berklee Online courses transferable to other institutions?
Berklee Online is regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), the same association that accredits our main campus and other leading academic institutions such as Harvard University and MIT. Our courses are transferable to other institutions, but it's up to the receiving institution to decide the number and types of courses that may transfer.
We recommend getting a course pre-approved by an institution before enrolling.
Tuition
How do Berklee Online’s costs compare to other education options?
Berklee Online’s programs have a tuition cost that is approximately 64 percent less than on-campus tuition at Berklee’s Boston campus. Moreover, a recent study revealed that the average annual tuition at for-profit colleges is more than twice as expensive as Berklee Online. Even average annual tuition at other accredited non-profit online universities is roughly $11,000 more expensive than tuition for a year with Berklee Online!
How much does a certificate program cost?
There is a one time $175 registration fee per certificate program. Students may either pay per course term (at the $1,515 per credit course cost) or pay in full to receive a 10 percent discount. The registration fee and all courses for the term you wish to begin in must be paid in full in order to begin.
How much does an online Bachelor’s degree cost?
Online undergraduate degree tuition is $59,160 for 120 credits for all majors except the guitar major.
Tuition for the guitar major is $63,660. Students taking 10 courses per year can complete the degree in four years at a cost of $14,790 per year. (Note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.)
How much does an online master's degree cost?
Online graduate degree tuition is $33,120 for 36 credits. The Master of Music in Music Production and Master of Arts in Music Business programs are designed to be completed in one year of study. Both programs are comprised of 12 three-credit courses that can be taken during four 12-week semesters.
What is included in the cost of a course?
The cost for an individual course includes the tuition fee. The cost of required books, hardware or software must be purchased separately, unless it is stated that these costs are included with your enrollment. Some courses may include additional fees for files or content.
How Do I Become a Backup Dancer? (with pictures)
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Education
Fact Checked
Erin J.
Hill The first step you will take if you want to become a backup dancer is to become an excellent dancer through lessons and considerable practice. Once you have the necessary skills, you can audition for a talent agency to try and gain representation. Most backup dancers land jobs through auditions scheduled by these agencies. You may also be able to take part in contests to land positions as a backup dancer although these opportunities are less common.
In order to become a backup dancer you will need to gain several years experience in dancing.
You should probably choose the exact type of work you want to do, since there is a wide range of dance types. Most backup dancers work in theater productions, although you may aim to work as a dancer for a major music artist in music videos or on tours. Both arenas are very difficult to break into, due to heavy competition. The type of dance you take will probably depend on the type of jobs you want to land.
Once you are accomplished in your particular type of dance, you should make every effort to be seen. You will likely begin by dancing in local productions and in local clubs.
When you are confident in your abilities to perform in front of a crowd, the next step to become a backup dancer is to audition and land a contract with a talent agency.
Talent agencies employ experts in the various fields who have industry connections. Your agent will land auditions for you to give you a better chance of breaking into the field. Most big name productions won't see dancers who do not have an agent. Even if someone is willing to allow you to audition, you will usually be taken more seriously and given more consideration if you do have an agent.
The talent agents work to find good talent, so those who are doing the hiring will assume that you have some level of talent if you are with a reputable agency.
Once you have an agent, you will up your chances of being able to become a backup dancer if you attend as many auditions as possible. Don't expect to land the job of your dreams the first time, but gain experience working in smaller productions first to add to your resume. Once you have proven yourself as a hardworking and reliable person, you will be much more likely to become a backup dancer in larger productions.
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AS FEATURED ON:
where to study, salary, pros and cons
Author: Professional Guide
Updated by
Dancer is a person of art who performs rhythmic movements to music, taking part in theatrical performances, shows.
The profession belongs to the type “a person is an artistic image”, it requires excellent self-discipline and, of course, talent. Children who distinguish literature, physical education, music and singing from all school subjects can become dancers. By the way, the ProfGid career guidance center has recently developed an accurate career guidance test that will tell you which professions suit you, give an opinion about your personality type and intelligence. 9Ol000
Brief description
This profession has a rich history and is closely associated with the arts. However, the success of dancers by more than 50% depends on dedication, endurance, self-discipline. A specialist can work independently, performing solo choreographic numbers, it is also worth highlighting pair and collective dances.
There are a lot of types and techniques of this art direction:
- ballet;
- pop and folk dance;
- historical dance and others.
See also:
Also distinguish styles such as street jazz, hip-hop, R'n'B, contemporary dance, street dance, etc. Dancers choose the style and type of performing arts based on their physical abilities, temperament, personal preferences. On stage, they create artistic images, convey emotions, making the hearts of the audience tremble.
Features of the profession
Anyone can become a professional dancer, but it is worth starting training in childhood. Choreographers recommend giving children to dance studios at the age of 3-7 years, which will allow them to develop good posture, plasticity, stretching, a sense of rhythm and other skills necessary for professional performance. Dancers most often work in 1-2 overlapping styles, they pay special attention to training and rehearsals, maintaining excellent physical shape.
A career is short, because its peak is at the age of 15-25 years, and after 30 years, most specialists change their field of activity. They can realize their talent and knowledge in other areas, working as directors, choreographers, school teachers.
Dancers independently or under the guidance of a choreographer create performances: choice of music, sequence and rhythm of movements, costumes and image, facial expressions, plasticity. Before performing the dance, they rehearse for a long time, honing their skills. Many members of this profession often travel around their home country and travel abroad, where they give concerts. The activity is associated with certain difficulties, which leaves an imprint on the lifestyle and character of the dancer.
Pros and cons of the profession
Pros
- Excellent physical development, because dancing strengthens the body and willpower.
- Opportunity to work on the best stages.
- Talented dancers achieve success quickly.
- The profession is interesting, active and ambitious people will like it.
- Opportunity to earn income from various sources, because dancers work alone or in pairs, can take part in private productions, star in music videos.
- Useful business connections in the world of art.
- The opportunity to change the field of activity, because dancers often open schools, give private lessons, work as choreographers - the choice of directions is huge.
Cons
- High injury rate.
- Serious injuries can put an end to a professional career.
- Short career period.
- Very high competition.
See also:
Important personal qualities
Dancers have excellent plasticity, but in this profession not only technical performance is important, but also emotionality. The dancers convey the idea of the performance with the help of movements, facial expressions, so they must be distinguished by well-developed artistry.
Increased efficiency, resistance to physical stress and low pain threshold are very important, because rehearsals and performances often end with sprains, dislocations and other minor injuries. Only those people who do not suffer from laziness, negligence, and excessive self-confidence ascend to the pinnacle of success.
Dance training
Professional education can be obtained in different institutions:
- schools and academies of choreography;
- dance studios;
- colleges;
- universities.
There are no special requirements for the education of a dancer, the level of his skill is determined during choreographic tests. It is worth starting training at a young age in order to reach a professional level. Let's consider the most interesting directions:
- "The art of dance (by type)", implemented in choreographic colleges and schools. You can start training after grades 7-9, which depends on the requirements of the college;
- The Art of Ballet.
The direction of training is open in many creative colleges, studio schools, academies. Children who have completed the 4th grade of the school are invited to study.
You can also go to study at a university, choosing a specialty related to choreography, folk dance and other areas. Primary training can be obtained in public and private schools of choreographic art, during individual lessons.
Universities
-
4 years
90,000 ₽/year
12 budget places
-
4 years
158,100 ₽/year
23 budget places
-
4 years
65,000 ₽/year
8 budget places
-
4 years
200,000 ₽/year
16 budget places
Best Primary Schools
- Dance Quarter School.
- School for children "Dancevaliya".
- State 27 Dance Studio.
Best colleges and academies for dancers
- ARB im. A. Ya. Vaganova.
- MGAH.
- MCU at the Moscow State Academy of Theater Arts "Gzhel".
- School-studio (school) at GAANT them. I. Moiseeva.
- KMTI them. G. P. Vishnevskaya.
Best universities
- IPCC.
- GITIS-RATI.
- MGAH.
- ARB them. A. Ya. Vaganova.
- Russian State University A. N. Kosygin.
- ISI.
- UGAI.
- SPbGUP.
- AGIIK.
- KemGIK.
See also:
Place of work
Dancers are in demand in theaters, film industry and organization of holidays and events. They can work as teachers, find vacancies in nightclubs, private groups - there are many options for employment.
Salary
There is no exact tariff rate in this segment, because everything depends on the style in which the dancer works, personal qualities, education, reputation and experience.
Dancers can receive a fixed salary or fees for each performance, lesson.
Dancer's salary for November 2022
Salary information provided by hh.ru portal.
Russia 20000–50000 RUB
Moscow 40000–70000 RUB
Professional knowledge
- Classical choreography.
- Acting.
- Fundamentals of physical training.
- Art History.
- Foreign languages (for professionals who work abroad).
Famous dancers
- Karen Hardy.
- Ekaterina Krysanova.
- Yankovsky Vyacheslav Vyacheslavovich.
See also:
Examples of companies with vacancies as a dancer
Together we chose the best music videos with dances for 2 months (an example of one of the releases). It's time to look at the result. Clips where they dance. Clips, looking at which, you want to dance.
Pharrell Williams - Happy Farrell had many dance hits and videos, but the most danceable, of course, is the Happy track - everyone dances in it.
Jungle - The Heat
We have already devoted a whole review to this team, because the group is really unique - dance plays a major role in all their videos:
Kiesza - Hideaway 8 of our final review - a clip hero for each dancer.
Emma Banton - Maybe
The "sweetest" member of the Spice Girls group made a very bright statement by performing this hit. But for some reason it seems to us that without this dance performance, the hit might not have been such a success.
No wonder that at almost all live performances, Emma Bunton took the famous backup dancer with her. 9Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
Cheryl Cole - Parachute
A rare phenomenon for pop music - the Argentine tango - here feels quite comfortable and harmonious.
KAZAKY - Last night
Well, in general, without the Cossacks, our review would be incomplete - no one is going to argue with this, we are almost sure.
Pavel Volya - I'm dancing!
Strange choice? May be. But they are dancing!
Ciara - Like a Boy
Ciara, already known for her dancing talents, managed to combine two completely different dance styles in this video.
Beyoncé - Single Ladies
What best characterizes a successful creation? Lots of parodies. Here Beyoncé has no equal.
Lady Gaga - Bad Romance
One of the most famous in terms of choreography, the video of this singer has become at the same time the most frequently encountered as a musical accompaniment to new choreographies of dancers from all over the world.
Geri Halliwell - It's Raining Men
The cover of the famous hit itself became quite popular.
Due to the clip, including.
Jennifer Lopez - I'm Glad
That's really - find 10 differences. Both clips (this one and the one above) came out at about the same time and turned out to be like two peas in a pod.
TLC - No Scrubs
Despite the fact that the choreography in this clip is far from being the main thing, and much attention was not paid to it during filming, many of the movements of the girls at that time were copied repeatedly. And one even migrated to Beyonce's debut video - Crazy in love 10 years later. Destiny's Child - Say My Name The distant year 2000 and the choreography, which now seems very simple to us, but then had a great influence on fans and on the promotion of the Vogue style in American dance schools.
Janelle Monae - Tightrope
Janelle Monet is not so well known in Russia, but very popular in the West. And first of all, thanks to his dancing talents, which are most clearly manifested in this clip.
Janet Jackson - All Nite
The most dance video of one of the most dancing music stars.
Weapon Of Choice by Fatboy Slim
Usher - yeah
There was a time when Usher, in the absence of competitors, was called the best dancer among musicians. Simply the best, without clarifications and footnotes.
Missy Elliott - Work It
Missy dances herself and makes everyone else dance.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Take Me Home
Of course, we do not even expect that you will consider the choreography in this clip deserving of a professional assessment. But we couldn't help remembering this clip - after all, it's about dancing, and even with Sophie's due humor.
Stromae - Papaoutai
In the last release, Sia was responsible for non-standard dances in the videos, in the second part of our review we will give this honor to Stromae.
Shakira - Hips Don't Lie ft. Wyclef Jean
Ivan Dorn - stytsamen
The first and so far the only Russian-speaking participant in our review.
Kylie Minogue - Can't Get You Out Of My Head
Despite the fact that Kylie Minogue often uses the term dancing in her hits, she rarely dances in them herself. A pleasant exception is this famous clip
Sia - Chanderlier
The newest hit from the first version of the list, but certainly worthy of getting into our Top30.
