Besides a sunny disposition?

1. Dancers are teachable

They have to be. Otherwise they won’t be able to learn and master their craft.

Dancers are reliant on their teachers to school them on correct technique, alignment, etiquette, musicality and everything else that goes with dance in general.

Being teachable requires dancers to listen hard, to hone their focus, to recognize the flaws in what they’re doing and to adjust their positioning and movement to the best of their ability.

Dancers are used to taking instruction from someone of superior skill and better at their craft than what they are. Even the very best professional dancers still get corrections from their teachers.

2. Dancers are flexible

An obvious choice. Dancers need to be flexible in mind and not just body.

That’s because there’s an awful lot of rules and structure that goes on in dance. It’s part of what makes it look so beautiful when it’s executed properly.

But within these rules, large chunks of flexibility is required as well.

Dancers are used to dealing with constant change. Choreographers are constantly revising their choreography and dancers need to be flexible enough to cope with these changes. Dancers live with having their superiors constantly making changes and then having to adjust accordingly.

3. Dancers are fast learners

Part of the skill of being a proficient dancer centers around how quickly you are able to pick up the steps, techniques and other choreography.

Dancers are used to being given verbal and visual instructions and quickly translating them into action.

An ability to learn quickly demands an excellent memory, superior listening skills, exceptional concentration and a strong mind-body connection.

4. Dancers are always prepared

Dancers of all people understand the importance of good preparation.

They know that how you set up a pirouette is vital for its final execution. The most complex dance sequences like pirouettes, jumps and other turns simply cannot be executed without the right preparation.

Also, dancers know all the work and preparation is done behind the scenes—by spending large chunks of class time doing repetitive and routine exercises. Preparation is key for what the audience sees and enjoys on stage.

5. Dancers work hard

It doesn’t matter whether one dances as a hobby or as a professional, the reality is the same for everyone. Dance demanding and hard.

Dancers turn up to class, rehearsals or performances ready and willing to buckle down. They are energetic in mind and body and they expect to work hard.

This makes dancers incredibly dedicated to their craft. They are full of passion and love of the art form. Otherwise they wouldn’t do it.

6. Dancers are team players

This sounds silly when ballet looks so much like a solo event. But it’s not.

Dance is a collective. Dancers feed off the energy of those around them. They are used to working in small groups and are reliant on their peers for support, feedback and advice.

Dancers look to other dancers for a sense of community and fun.

In summary, dancers are teachable, flexible, fast learners, prepared, hard-working and team players.

The point I am trying to make here is that these attributes are vital for success in dance but they are also vital for good work ethics.

If you find yourself in a situation where you could hire someone with dance training, you should consider whether these kinds of attributes would make for an awesome partner to work with or for you.