Related to Major
Dance
Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology
For more information, visit School for the Contemporary Arts website.
Explore Your Possibilities
“Having a career goal really helps motivate students to succeed at school.” 81% of SFU students strongly agree or agree! (2025 Brainstorm Student Interests Report)
Explore the list of career outcomes below for ideas about what you can do with your major. Some are actual roles held by SFU alumni, and others are occupations commonly associated with each major.
Remember that knowledge from your major is just one thing you have to offer an employer. As careers become less linear, changing direction ha become the norm. Don’t worry about where you’ll be in the future – just focus on your next job. Use these ideas as a starting point to make a list of possibilities you are curious about and lean into your interests, skills and values in your exploration.
Options commonly associated with the major
- Performer
- Choreographers
- Dance Teacher
- Arts Administrator
- Rehearsal/Director Assistant
- Artist Manager
- Personal Trainer
- Movement Coach
Other Possibilities
Job titles beyond the typical options
- Dance Photographer
- Front of House/Audience Relations
- Theatre Stage Manager
- Production or Tour Manager
- Talent Scout
- Community Engagement
- Pilates Teacher
- Costume Designer
Further Education
Possibilities with additional education or training
- Conditioning Instructor
- Physiotherapist
- Sports Therapist
- Chiropractor
- Youth Development Producer
- Dance Psychotherapist
- Museum Designer
- Sommelier
Fields of Work
There are myriad fields where you could find yourself following your undergraduate degree. For example:
- Arts and Culture
- Environment
- Health
- Manufacturing
- Scientific and Technical
- Telecommunications
What fields interest you? If you are uncertain, take the initiative and start exploring different fields. If your preferred fields turn out to not be what you expected, pause. Technology, climate change, automation, globalization and other factors may impact these fields and offer new or different opportunities.
The North American Industry Classification System gives you an overview of all industries and their subsectors.
WorkBC lets you browse careers, the education expectation, salary ranges, descriptions, and specific information about each job.
Core Skills (Major-Specific)
In the course of your undergraduate degree you’ll develop a wide array of skills. While many of these skills encompass essential skills and 21st-Century skills, you’ll also develop job specific skills. These are the specialized knowledge and skills you’ll gain through your courses and are unique to your discipline.
Content knowledge and technical skills vary widely between occupations and are generally only used in one line of work. The type of skills that you’ll need depend on the scope of the work.
You want to understand what skills you developed and the one’s you want to use, so when someone asks you about your discipline content knowledge and skills you can speak clearly and confidently about them.
+ MAJOR Specific Skills
- Knowledge of the theoretical approaches to a diverse contemporary and ballet practice.
- Dance improvisational skills from exploring sensory awareness, elements of movement and composition through solo, duet and small group projects.
- Understanding of body awareness, centering, and structural realignment techniques through studio courses on body conditioning and body connectedness.
- Specialized knowledge of dance history, writing, teaching methodologies and body therapy.
- Knowledge of dance aesthetics from addressing issues that pertain to critical judgement, communication, taste, high and low art and diverse approaches to the body.
- Teamwork and leadership skills developed from practical experience in managing and organizing the performing arts as well as collaborating with students in different Arts disciplines.
- Creativity skills from building new scores, analyzing, or critiquing compositions created by other people.
- Problem solving and strong attention to detail from learning the processes, tools and technology used in the production and presentation of the fine and performing art.
Foundational Skills
You’ll need these skills to perform different tasks and at varying levels of complexity in education and work environments depending on the what further education you pursue and on the nature of the work. The Government of Canada and other organizations such as the World Economic Forum report that these skills are increasing in importance and are highly valued and sought after by employers.
Through each of the different events and experiences in your life (education, work, travel, hobbies and extra-curricular activities) you have developed a diverse range of these skills, probably more than you realize.
Useful Sites
Through extensive research, the Government of Canada along with other agencies have identified and validated key literacy, essential and employability skills. These skills are used in nearly every career and throughout daily life and are instrumental in helping you enter, stay in, and progress in the world of work.
Get involved
There are plenty of opportunities and different ways to get involved in activities, programs and services outside of the classroom to learn and grow. By engaging in student leadership programs, volunteering, paid work, and student clubs and groups, you’ll develop new skills, make connections, and gain experience.
Explore a diverse range of inclusive events, services, and community outreach opportunities for students, staff, alumni and friends of SFU.
Explore on-campus opportunities like workshops and events, as well as volunteer and paid positions.
Want to gain experience and earn money while studying? Consider applying to the co-op program
Apply for on-campus volunteer and paid positions, participate in career and leadership development programs and workshops, and access your Co-Curricular Record.
Not-for-profit network by students for students. Find student unions, clubs and other resources and services.
Related Professional Associations
Professional associations are a valuable resource for occupational research, work search and building connections. They may offer career information, job boards, networking, mentorship, volunteer opportunities and additional resources.
Resources
Take your career exploration one step further by doing your own research. Here are some organizations and resources to get started.