‘It's a big responsibility being a Dance Captain. You have to really look after the creativity of the show - the way it's created, the original vision of the director and the choreographer. You have to stick as closely to that as you can.'

Steve Hughes, Dance Captain

Dance Captain

Role

A Dance Captain is a member of the company responsible for overseeing and maintaining the artistic standards of all choreography and musical staging within a production. They work closely with the Associate Director and/or the Stage Manager to communicate and preserve the artistic vision of the Creative Team.

Key Skills

Peak physical fitness.
Good muscle memory to learn all choreography and musical staging.
Excellent communication in conveying the artistic vision of the Creative Team, including people skills.
Calmness, particularly when working under pressure.
Organisation, efficiency and good record-keeping.

Dance Courses

BA (Hons) Dance – University of Derby Click Here
BA (Hons) Dance and Performance – The Arden School of Acting Click Here
BA (Hons) Musical Theatre – ArtsEducational Schools London Click Here
BA Modern Ballet – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Click Here

Other courses are available. Those above represent a sample from various colleges, drama schools and universities.

Responsibilities

Learn all choreography and musical staging.
Assist auditions for new company members.
Teach choreography.
Lead dance rehearsals with understudies/swings.
Review all choreography, give notes and schedule additional rehearsals in liaison with the Stage Manager.
Assist in the assignment of understudies and swings to cover choreography in the event of company absences, updating the whole company.
Rehearse replacement company members with partners, especially when staging requires rehearsal to ensure safety – e.g. lifts.
Re-space musical staging if there are absences, ensuring positions are covered with minimal gaps.
If the Dance Captain is also a swing, they may need to replace a company member who’s absent or injured, sometimes at very short notice.
Keep record of all changes, informing the Stage Manager of additional duties so company members’ pay is calculated accurately.

Training