What is a Dance Captain and How Did I Become One?

By Kelsey Jordan Ward

Cinderella -Lyric Stage Dallas

A “dance captain” is someone in the cast of a show (typically in the ensemble) who is tasked with assisting with the choreography of a show. The dance captain is in charge of maintaining the choreography after the director and choreographer of the show leaves and the show opens, but they can also have other jobs as assigned by the creative team. 

My name is Kelsey Jordan Ward and I am currently the Dance Captain for Twas The Night Before Christmas at Casa Mañana. This is my second time being a dance captain for this particular theater, but I have been a dance captain both educationally and regionally for multiple years. Let’s talk about how I got here and what I do as the dance captain. 

How did I start out?

Beauty and the Beast - Casa Manana

My first time being a dance captain was in 2017, my junior year of college at Baylor University. In addition to being the dance captain, I was also the assistant choreographer for our fall musical, Crazy For You. I definitely fell into being a dance captain through choreography. I was a strong dancer coming into Baylor and had done choreography for my high school show choir, but I wanted to start choreographing professionally. I was lucky that I was working under a great choreographer that I was able to learn and grow from. I also learned a lot from her about how to support a choreographer as a dance captain. 

Professionally, I started off in the ensemble for multiple theaters in the Dallas/Fort Worth area before I was given my first dance captain role in a production of Elf at The Firehouse Theater in Farmers Branch, TX. I had only ever worked with the music director prior to the show. Based on her recommendation and my performance in the dance call, I was cast as the dance captain for the show. I ended up being the dance captain for another show for that same choreographer later down the road as well. 

The first time I was placed in this role at Casa Mañana was last fall for the show Beauty and the Beast Jr. I wasn’t originally contracted to be the dance captain, but was asked 2 days into rehearsal due to what the choreographer, Monica Kapoor, referred to as my “wide lens brain”. This was the first time I had heard this terminology, but I have since adopted it and use it frequently when I talk about the skills needed to be a good dance captain. 

The most important skill you need

Beauty and the Beast - Casa Manana

You might be asking, “Well Kelsey, what is a wide lens and why is it important to have one as a dance captain?” When I view my track within a show I tend to view the stage as a whole. I know where everyone is onstage and how I relate to them within the space. This is what I typically refer to as a “wide lens” because I view the stage as a whole entity rather than just my track. Someone with a narrow lens tends to know what area of the stage they’re in and the people in their direct periphery, but they are mostly focused on their specific track. Having a wide lens allows me as a dance captain to stay aware of the stage as a whole and to keep up with the vision of the show so I can assist with the overall picture. 

Depending on the show needs and the choreographer I am working with, my job looks a little different and it’s my job to adjust to the needs of that specific choreographer. Some choreographers want a ton of input from their dance captain and some just want them to be around to be helpful. Here are a couple duties I have currently or have had previously as a dance captain. 

1. Teaching and placing people who were not there when we learned the choreography initially. 

2. Reversing choreography to demonstrate while learning. 

3. Giving notes if the choreographer is absent from rehearsal or if I am leading a separate rehearsal. 

4. Running lift and fight call prior to each run of the show. 

5. Leading a group stretch/warm up for people who want one before each run of the show. 

6. Maintaining the choreography cleanliness after the show opens, primarily if there are any safety concerns. 

How do I stay organized as dance captain?

As a dance captain I have utilized multiple different tools and apps over the years to help me stay on top of the organization of a show. Formation apps like ArrangeUs and Formi help to keep all of the formations of the show straight in my head so I know how to adjust if someone is out or so I know what side of the stage someone is on when asking questions. As far as notating, I will typically try to write down choreography as I can (especially if that choreography doesn’t affect me directly in my track). I tend to use apps like GoodNotes or ForScore on my iPad so I can take notes easily and quickly, as well as erase choreography if it changes. Something I love about ForScore is the ability to add different layers so I can keep my personal track and my choreography notes separate. 

How do I become a dance captain?

Start building up relationships with choreographers you want to work with. Maybe you start going to their class if they teach or start showing up at auditions for shows they are on the creative team for. It’s likely you won’t be a dance captain for them right off the bat, but maybe they place you in the ensemble where you can showcase your skills. The more quality work you do, the more likely you are to be seen for leadership positions in the future. 

Being a dance captain is hard work that more than often goes unrecognized by the audience. The time and effort put into the show by dance captains is what helps keep shows clean and engaging. However, I enjoy the work I do as a dance captain and I wouldn’t change my career for the world. Hopefully this gave you some insight into the world of a dance captain and all the work they do!