Dancers and choreographers use dance performances to express ideas and stories. Dancers rehearse and perform on stage, in film and video and at events, and choreographers create and teach the routines. AI tools can help with editing video and promoting work. The performance itself is a live human body on a stage or set.
The short answer: demand for performing arts matters more than AI on current figures. The ILO's 2025 index rates dancers and choreographers as not exposed, with a score of 0.19. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 2 percent growth for dancers and choreographers from 2025 to 2035, slower than average, with about 2,200 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed dancers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Dancers and Choreographers | Not exposed | 0.19 |
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Dancers and choreographers | Grow 2% | About 2,200 |
The BLS says growth in these small occupations is closely tied to demand for performing arts, and that social media, which lets dancers and choreographers reach a larger and more diverse audience, is expected to generate some interest in dance performances. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Editing rehearsal and performance video.
- Drafting grant applications, bios and posts.
- Scheduling rehearsals and planning tours.
What stays with dancers and choreographers
- Performance: training, technique and presence in front of an audience.
- Choreography: creating movement and teaching it to a company.
- Collaboration: working with directors, musicians and other dancers.
- Checking AI help: generated text and facts can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Social media gives dancers a bigger audience, and AI tools speed up the editing and promotion that come with it. Rights in recorded performances and creative work matter more as AI spreads. See AI-generated work and copyright. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace actors?, will AI replace musicians? and will AI replace fitness trainers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish an annual median wage for dancers and choreographers. The BLS says the education needed to enter varies; its profile explains the routes in. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace dancers?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 2 percent growth for dancers and choreographers from 2025 to 2035.
How exposed are dancers to AI?
The ILO rates dancers and choreographers as not exposed, with a score of 0.19.
How many openings are expected?
About 2,200 a year on average over the decade, according to the BLS, mostly to replace workers who leave.
What drives demand for dancers?
The BLS ties it to demand for performing arts, and expects social media to generate some interest in dance performances.