Choreographer/Dance Instructor

Haley Pelzer and Rachel Johnson are choreographers/dance instructors and own Villa Dance Company. They teach and choreograph routines for children ages three to 18. As choreographers, they create and direct routines to songs. They also teach students dance technique and dramatic skills as dance instructors.

According to Pelzer and Johnson, being in this career takes evening hours, good organization, creativity, musicality and money management skills. Instructors make anywhere from $20,000 to $63,000 per year, and the demand is expected to grow four percent from 2016-2026.

Pelzer said, “There are hundreds of dance studios in Iowa,” and it’s important to “take your mind out of Atlantic” when being a choreographer in order to keep improving yourself.