Measured steps

As a professional dancer, 24-year-old Kitty loves what she does, but worries about lack of job security. Could she find more secure work in the public or voluntary sectors? Debbie Andalo offers advice

Kitty is a 24-year-old professional dancer working short-term contracts for contemporary dance companies, and earning £16,000 a year. She is fed up with the unpredictable employment, and wonders if the public or voluntary sector could offer more job security.

1 If Kitty finds it easy to get on with young people, particularly those who are socially excluded, she might become a dance development worker for a local authority, earning between £18,000 and £19,000. She would join an arts development team using dance to help persuade youths aged 12-17 off the streets and into a creative environment. She might also be involved in developing a dance programme for the wider community, which could include Saturday workshops and summer schools.

2 Without an arts management degree or a dance degree that includes arts business, Kitty might find it difficult to break into public sector arts management, unless she is prepared to start at the bottom as an arts administrator, earning £15,000 a year. It would probably take about three years to work her way up to a management post. However, she might be able to negotiate a four-day week, and then supplement her income by teaching dance on the remaining day of the week and at weekends.

3 Working as a freelance dance teacher, offering workshops or group lessons at a council-funded arts centre, is another possibility. Kitty would be on a day rate of around £150 to £175, or an hourly rate of £20-£40. She might get involved in dance summer schools for children, tap dance classes for older people, or teaching hip-hop and street dance to teenagers. Kitty could manage teaching alongside professional performance, and she may feel more secure if she has another source of income.

4 Becoming a project manager for Dance City - one of the 10 regional dance agencies in England funded by the Arts Council - is a possibility. Skills for the job, which involves managing dance projects as well as some fundraising responsibilities, are tenacity, ability to ask questions and team working. Dance City has a policy of encouraging staff to continue working creatively, so Kitty would be able to perform professionally. The salary starts at £15,000, but increases to a maximum £40,000 with experience.

5 If Kitty is keen to carry on performing, she might join a dance and education company as a dancer-in-residence promoting dance. She would work with young people in day centres, schools or youth clubs in a variety of ways, including live performance and workshops. The salary is around £18,000.