Ballettmeister/Ballettmeisterin

Information on this profession can be found through various media and portals such as the information services of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Employment Agency), Ballett-Journal, CORPUSweb.net, Dance for You Magazine, Die Deutsche Bühne, Touring Artists, the Initiative for Cultural and Creative Industries, performing-arts.eu, tanztanznetz.de, Tanzspiegel, and TOI TOI TOI-Magazin.

Ballet masters and mistresses typically work in studios, rehearsal rooms, and on stages.

Core competencies fundamentally required in this profession include ballet, classical dance, dancing, dance pedagogy, and training. Additional competencies that may be significant for practicing this profession include choreography, didactics, group/team leadership, group dance, interpretation, methodology, modern dance, musical, opera, operetta, rhythmics, solo, and out-of-school instruction/training. The 'Dance' competence group represents a general skill area for this profession.

Ballet masters and mistresses train dance ensembles and individual professional dancers, supervising the implementation of step and movement sequences prescribed by choreographers. They possess dance perfection, pedagogical skill, a good memory, and knowledge of both classical and modern repertoires. Ballet masters work intensively with dancers; physical contact is unavoidable, for example, when demonstrating correct posture. They rehearse step and movement sequences until they are perfect. Patience and perseverance are therefore important qualities for ballet masters. Psychological skill is a prerequisite for motivating dancers. Ballet masters also recognize the physical condition and performance level of dancers, adjusting choreographies or reassigning roles accordingly.

Ballet masters and mistresses can become self-employed, for example, by opening their own ballet or dance school. Information on starting a business can be obtained from organizations such as the Deutscher Berufsverband für Tanzpädagogik e.V. (DBfT).

The exemplary minimum collective agreement salary (monthly) is 3,310 Euros. Salaries exceeding this amount must be freely negotiated. This information is sourced from the collective agreement collection of the Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Familie, Arbeit und Soziales (Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labor and Social Affairs). Please note: These figures are for orientation only and no claims can be derived from them.

Art, culture, museums, ballet, venues for drama and musical theater, operas and musicals, adult education and other instruction, cultural instruction (specifically ballet schools).

Employers often expect a dance pedagogy Ausbildung (vocational training) or a Studium (university degree) in dance or choreography.

Choreography (postgraduate), Dance (undergraduate), Dance (postgraduate).

Ballet masters and ballet mistresses can find employment in opera houses and theaters, with ballet groups, and at ballet schools.

Ballettmeister/in. Professional title in English: Ballet master (m/f). Professional title in French: Maître/Maîtresse de ballet.

Ballet masters and ballet mistresses instruct professional dancers and professional dance ensembles when rehearsing ballet performances.

Job and applicant exchanges: Bühnenjobs.dekulturjobs.net, Oper & Tanz, tanznetz.de, VioWorld.

Associations and organizations: Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste e.V., Deutscher Berufsverband für Tanzpädagogik e.V. (DBfT), Deutscher Bühnenverein Bundesverband der Theater und Orchester, Genossenschaft Deutscher Bühnen-Angehöriger (GDBA), Künstlervermittlung der Zentralen Auslands- und Fachvermittlung (ZAV), ver.di - Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft, Vereinigung deutscher Opernchöre und Bühnentänzer e.V. (VdO).

Working conditions: Responsibility for individuals (e.g., monitoring the physical condition of dancers, motivating them according to their performance level), frequent absence from home (e.g., during tours and guest performances), working on stages, close physical contact with people (e.g., during training with dancers), irregular working hours (supervising evening performances depending on the schedule).

Work objects/tools: Documents (e.g., schedules, notations, specialized publications on ballet, modern dance, and choreography), aids (e.g., video cameras, ballet barres).

Tasks and activities: Ballet masters coordinate the dance work of stage ensembles or instruct solo dancers. They adapt the step and movement sequences specified by choreographers to the individual performance level of the dancers. They also determine the interpretation of roles. Ballet masters lead training and contribute to the development of dance skills. They ensure that all dancers achieve their best possible form. After the performance, they evaluate the execution of the movement sequences.

Entry professions/activities: Stage dancer (Ausbildung - vocational training), dance pedagogue.

Adaptation-focused further training helps to keep professional knowledge up-to-date and to adapt to new developments (e.g., in the areas of dance direction, music, rhythm and movement, acting).

Further professional and career opportunities open up – depending on professional background – through a bachelor's (Studium) or master's degree (e.g., dance). Under certain conditions, it is also possible to study without a general higher education entrance qualification. For more information: Access to higher education in the individual Bundesländer (federal states).

To instruct solo dancers and dance ensembles and coordinate ballet performances. To guide dancers during training and rehearsals, correcting technique and execution if necessary. To adapt step and movement sequences specified by the choreography to individual performance levels. To monitor dance progress, for example, using video recordings and written notations. To define role interpretations or develop them together with the dancers. To prepare dancers for performances. To support dancers in further developing their dance skills. As evening performance director, to oversee the artistic flow, choreographic details, and technical requirements of a ballet performance, and to look after guest dancers. To assess the execution of movement sequences in performances. To discuss step errors and other specific issues with the dancers.

The following lists professions or activities that show similarities to the original profession. These professions represent a possible alternative for applicants. Furthermore, employers can consider professionals from these occupations as alternatives for filling a position in the original profession. Some alternative professions only comprise partial activities of the original profession; others require an induction period, which can vary in length in individual cases. The following immediate employment and staffing alternatives are available for the profession of Ballettmeister/in: Job and staffing alternatives for the overall activity (usually short induction): Choreographer, Dance Teacher. A list of all possible degrees of relatedness can be found here: Explanations of the individual degrees of relatedness.