Performing Arts (2024)

Performing Arts

Performing arts are a creative form of art performed by individuals or groups that use their voices, bodies or inanimate objects to convey artistic expression in front of a live audience. Performing arts include a range of disciplines which include theater, dance, and music.

Job Title Examples:

Actor
Dancer
Comedian
Musician
Vocal performance/singer
Costume Designer
Casting Agent
Talent Agent

Skills Needed:

Teamwork
Creativity
Flexibility
Resilience
Listening skills

Find Opportunities

Using IrishCompass, LinkedIn, and ND’s alumni association directory called myND is the best way to start on the networking front. Building relationships and networking is a key factor when it comes to finding out about opportunities in this sector. Stay in touch with ND alumni groups in whatever city you’re pursuing a career in - they will be willing to help you get connected and find potential opportunities.

Industry Timeline

As soon as you know what areas within the Performing Arts interests you, start reaching out to personal connections, alumni, and others who work in the industry to build relationships to advance your career.

Applying and Interviewing

Resumes

Your resume will often be the first impression for a potential employer. You want to make sure that your resume is concise, direct, and specific. Ensure that your resume is tailored for the position and for the industry. Highlighting relevant coursework can demonstrate your fit for a particular position. It’s important to include your transferable skills on your resume, which are skills you have acquired during any activity in your life that are transferable and applicable to what you want to do in a particular position. You can find transferable skills from your performance experience, film/TV experience, leadership experience, activities, etc. Review our guide on resumes for more information on how to construct one.

Cover Letters

A cover letter introduces you to a potential employer. Use the position description to make specific connections between your skills and experience and what the organization is looking for in a candidate. The cover letter should be concise and well-written—if a potential employer reads your cover letter and is intrigued, they will then read your resume. Your cover letter should not repeat your resume verbatim, but enhance it. Together the cover letter and resume can help land you an interview. Review our guide on cover letters for more information on how to construct one.

Interviewing

Most interviews will contain a mixture of resume based questions (questions about your past experience) and behavioral based questions (your ability to handle prospective situations at work. Most positions will begin with an interview that has a mix of these questions. Review our guide on common interview questions.

Online Resources

Explore:

Actors:

Dance:

Vocal Performance/Singer:

Theater:

Campus Resources

Meet with a career counselor
Schedule an Appointment

Student Clubs:

Employer Examples:

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater
Arts Center of the Ozarks
Erie Philharmonic (musician)
Goodman Theater, League of Chicago Theaters
Pangea World Theater
Phillips Exeter Academy (dance instructor)
Shrek the Musical at NETworks Presentations

Join Handshake:

Personalize your feed, explore your curiosities, and get updates that matter to you. Handshake is a dynamic system that works to match students with the most relevant resources and opportunities offered by our office including:

Access to personalized job recommendations – This is based on major, career interests, and profile information such as skills and experiences. When students fill out their profile, they’ll be able to see jobs and internships that match their interests and skills.

Ability to schedule one–on-one counseling appointments – Counseling appointments are able to be scheduled through Handshake and held virtually via Zoom.
Ability to Interact with employers – Students can research contact information for local and national employers. Employers can also message students with opportunities and information.
Connect with students across the country - Students can interact with their peers through messaging, get tips and advice, as well as network.
Search for and apply to open positions - On Handshake, students can see jobs and internships posted specifically for them as well as employers actively recruiting from Notre Dame.

FAQs

What are the 5 types of performing arts? ›

The different types of performing arts include music, dance, theater, circus arts, opera, and media arts. These disciplines are characterized by their specific skills and sociocultural influences.

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What is performing arts in your own words? ›

The performing arts are arts such as music, dance, and drama which are performed for an audience. They are different from the visual arts, which involve the use of paint, canvas or various materials to create physical or static art objects.

What can you say about performing arts? ›

The performing arts range from vocal and instrumental music, dance and theatre to pantomime, sung verse and beyond. They include numerous cultural expressions that reflect human creativity and that are also found, to some extent, in many other intangible cultural heritage domains.

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Is a performing arts degree worth it? ›

Performing arts programs help students prepare for their careers by providing guidance on putting together portfolios and other professional materials. Additionally, performing arts students will learn important audition skills, as well as the best way to market their skills and experience.

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What are the 64 performing arts? ›

Geet : Art of singing.
Vadya : Art of playing on musical instruments.
Nrutya : Art of dancing.
Natya : Art of theatricals.
Aalekh : Art of painting.
Vishesh Kacchedya : Art of painting the face and body with colored unguents and cosmetics.
Tandul kusumavali vikar : Art of preparing offerings from rice and flowers.

More items...

Mar 28, 2017

What skills do performers need? ›

7 skills you need to succeed in performing arts

Confidence and communication skills.
The ability to network and market yourself.
Resilience, self-discipline and stamina.
An analytical mind and creative problem solving skills.
Versatility.
Curiosity.
Global awareness.

What is one example of performing art? ›

Performing Arts are arts or skills that require a performance in front of a public audience. Examples are acting, singing, and dancing. Other forms of the Performing Arts include opera, theater, magic or illusion performances, mime, spoken word, recitation, and public speaking.

What are the disadvantages of performing arts? ›

Dancers and musicians push their bodies in unique ways. For instance, dancers and musicians can overuse muscles leading to strained tendons and permanent nerve damage, while vocalists can permanently damage their vocal chords if they overuse and push their voices too hard.

Show Me More ›

What is the job description of performing arts? ›

Career Guide. The field of performing arts focuses on using body or voice to convey artistic expression through theatre and dance, often live or on film. Positions in this field spend time studying and rehearsing roles, training, exercising, and collaborating with other performing artists.

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Which disciplines fall under performing arts? ›

The performing arts include disciplines like music, dance, and theatre that are presented live for a crowd. They are distinct from the visual forms, which include the creation of tangible or static works of art using paint, canvas, or other materials.

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What are the 6 performing arts? ›

Performing arts include the dance, music, opera, drama, magic, oratory and circus arts.

Learn More Now ›

What are the 10 performing arts? ›

The term includes widely recognised performing arts such as theatre, drama, music, dance, circus, opera, mime and musical theatre, pantomime but can also include professional wrestling, stand-up comedy, marching band, and other similar artistic activities.

Learn More Now ›

What are the 4 performing arts? ›

There are many types of performing arts, including:

Theatre.
Musical theatre.
Music.
Acting.
Dance.

Nov 3, 2023

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What are the five arts? ›

Dance, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts. Washington State learning standards define the arts as these five disciplines. Together the arts open us to new ways of understanding and participating with the world. They are a fundamental part of a well-rounded education.

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