Building a dance resume is essential for students, whether they want to dance professionally or not. Yes, in a competitive industry where casting directors and choreographers often make hiring decisions in seconds, a well-crafted resume helps dancers secure auditions, callbacks, and jobs. But it also documents training and performances, showcases versatility and experience, and verifies skills, achievements, and certifications that transcend the studio into real-world experience.
Have you looked back at all the Lord has brought you through on the stage and in the studio? Colossians 3:23 reminds us that whatever we do, “work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” Building a dance resume can provide opportunity for personal prayer and reflection, boosting your confidence, and building positive momentum for the future. So how do you build a dance resume? And what should be on it? Let’s get started! It’s easy at Turning Pointe Dance.
1. List Your Technical Experience
This section of your dance resume includes all the styles of dance you’ve studied, the levels in which you’ve reached proficiency, and the studios, schools, and intensive programs you’ve attended—including names of key instructors. You should list specific dance techniques (e.g. pointe, broadway-style jazz or tap, Horton modern techniques, etc.), along with related skills like partnering, acrobatics, acting, or singing.
Why? A well-crafted technical resume reflects your attention to detail and professionalism, demonstrating a commitment to your craft, and seriousness to a prospective director or employer. Being able to list a variety of different skills and techniques also allows you to tailor your experience to show you are the best fit for a specific position.
How to Build It:
To say it simply… try everything! If you’ve only taken ballet, enroll in a jazz class! Is your resume full of Musical Theater classes? Add a ballet or tap class to your schedule. Diversifying your dance resume highlights versatility, proving to artistic directors and employers alike that you are adaptable, technically proficient in multiple styles, and capable of handling various types of demands.
Build it at Turning Pointe:
Summer classes are a great time to try something new. By enrolling in the six-week summer session, students can add a new style of dance to their resume without committing to long-term schedule changes or recital performances. Love your new class? Enroll for the next school-year session with six weeks of experience to your name, and know exactly what you’re getting into.
Learn more about Turning Pointe’s 2026 Summer Classes and Camps here!
● Be looking for our summer camp SALE March 1st-7th for the only chance for summer camp discounts!
2. List Your Performance Roles
In this section of your dance resume, you’ll list all performance company work, along with productions, music videos, or films you’ve been part of, including the title, director, and your role. Highlight relevant performance experience as well as notable stage roles and community productions. Prioritize featured roles and, for beginners, include workshops, showcases, and school performances.
Why? Listing these experiences showcases your range, and a background of professionalism to directors and employers. It highlights collaboration with reputable instructors, directors and choreographers, and proves your capability to handle different types of specific roles and their demands.
How to Build It:
Audition for theater seasons, holiday performances, or companies with productions rather than just year-end performances. While recitals focus on showcasing student progress as a class, a production is a large-scale, themed, or staged event involving a larger cast and more complex technical elements. Adding production experience to your dance resume proves your ability to handle such elements. It provides evidence of your ability to follow direction and work as a team, handle performance week stress and pressure, and adapt to different scripts and situations.
Build It at Turning Pointe:
Turning Pointe Dance has two performance companies: STARZ Theater, and Fidèle Youth Dance Company. Both divisions of the studio offer pre-professional training and performance experience in a Christ-centered environment that allows students to find their voice, tell their story, and shine His light on stage in full-length productions.
Bonus Builder: Training Division
Turning Pointe’s Training Division is for students ages 10 and up who have had two or more consecutive years of ballet. Studying classical ballet takes repetition, drive, and commitment. Adding experience with the classical ballet division to your resume proves your skill development in these areas. At Turning Pointe, we provide unique pre-collegiate Classical Ballet training for students, encouraging participants to train their bodies and spirits for the glory of God.
Learn more about all three companies this weekend at Turning Pointe’s Informational Meeting:
● Saturday, February 21, 2026: Training = 10-10:30 a.m.; FYDC = 10:30-11:15 a.m.; STC = 11:15 a.m.-Noon
3. List Your Accolades & Achievements
This section highlights significant industry recognition, awards, or scholarships. List any relevant affiliations, invitations to attend prestigious programs or performances, memberships, and certifications, along with any special achievements you’ve collected throughout your training and career.
Why? Honored positions, awards, and scholarships serve as recognition from industry professionals, confirming your proficiency level to potential employers. High-level awards also demonstrate that you have exceeded expectations and are committed to excellence in your craft.
How to Build It:
Apply for scholarships, interview for positions, and audition for leadership roles outside of class. Attend renowned intensives or summer training programs that offer specialized training, scholarships and training grants, or take master classes with renowned instructors and at reputable studios. Participate in opportunities like student leadership, captain positions, and student choreography showcases. All of these things demonstrate industry recognition and skills recognized outside the studio.
Build It at Turning Pointe:
Affiliations, certifications & awards: Turning Pointe is once again offering students the opportunity to participate in Cecchetti Syllabus ballet classes and exams. Students who study for these exams benefit from a strong knowledge of terminology and theory, as well as technique. The syllabus work is based on the globally recognized teachings of Maestro Enrico Cecchetti. Exams are both physical as well as oral. In groups of four, students present themselves to two examiners. They demonstrate the material they have been perfecting and receive feedback along with a pass or fail level, with the opportunity to be awarded pass plus, pass commended, pass highly commended, or pass with honors (extremely rare).
Including Cecchetti training on a dance resume highlights a strong foundation in classical technique, emphasizing precise, anatomically sound training. Listing specific exam levels passed (e.g., Cecchetti Advanced 1) demonstrates proficiency. Mentioning the Cecchetti Council of America or affiliated boards confirms rigorous, standardized training in this specific, respected methodology, and listing any passing level awards demonstrates a commitment to excellence.
For more information on The Cecchetti Council, Cecchetti classes and examinations, contact Ms. Sara at tp.sarajmurdaugh1@gmail.com.
Student Leadership: The Turning Pointe Dance Teacher’s Assistant and Internship Program exists to train future leaders to provide basic classroom assistance to teachers and studio management as they serve, observe, and are examples to younger students. Students must prepare and complete an application and interview process to determine placement in the program. If selected, student leaders participate in summer training on classroom management, team building, creating a culture of hospitality and worship, solving problems inside and outside of the classroom, building relationships, and communicating with students and teachers.
Including a Teacher’s Assistant or Intern position on your dance resume showcases initiative, teamwork, and responsibility. It proves you have developed transferable, real-world skills in communication, responsibility, and team management. For aspiring professionals, student leadership roles act as a substitute for extensive professional work history, highlighting your ability to take initiative, motivate others, and deliver results.
Learn more about the Turning Pointe TAI Program here!
Scholarships: Created in 2019 in honor of Baylee Hope Nelson, Baylee Hope Scholarships are awarded by Turning Pointe Dance to eligible graduating seniors at the studio’s annual spring recital. Each gift is intended to assist dancers as they continue their journeys beyond the studio doors to spur on a new generation of dancers who will share their love for Jesus Christ with the world.
Including scholarships like the Baylee Hope on a dance resume highlights a dancer’s recognized talent, dedication, and work ethic to potential employers, schools, or artistic directors.
Graduating seniors will be informed on the scholarship and application process at the studio’s annual senior breakfast.
Keep an eye out for upcoming events to support the Baylee Hope Scholarship Fund, or make a direct donation here.