How Much Do Professional Ballet Dancers Make in Canada?

Ballet

Professional ballet dancers in Canada have the potential to make a decent living. However, their salaries vary greatly depending on their experience and the company they dance for.

Newly trained dancers typically start out with an annual salary of around $20,000 to $30,000. As dancers gain experience and move up in the ranks, salaries can reach into the six figures. Dancers with principal roles can earn up to $100,000 per year or more.

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB), Canada’s oldest professional ballet company, pays its dancers an average of $450 per week for a 40-week season. The National Ballet of Canada pays its artists an average of $1,200 per week for a 38-week season.

Other Factors Affecting Salary

In addition to experience and the company they dance for, there are other factors that affect how much professional ballet dancers make in Canada. These include location, type of contract (permanent or temporary), and performance bonuses.

Location is important because larger cities tend to have higher salaries than smaller ones. Similarly, permanent contracts often come with higher pay than temporary contracts. Performance bonuses are also available in some companies and can significantly increase a dancer’s overall income.

Conclusion

Professional ballet dancers in Canada have the potential to make good money depending on their experience level, company they dance for, location of performance and type of contract. Those with principal roles can earn up to six figures while newly trained dancers start out around $20k – 30k annually.