What does a Movement Coach do?
A movement coach helps performers use posture, gesture, physicality, and spatial awareness to serve a character, style, or production. Coaches may work with actors, singers, dancers, or public-facing artists in rehearsals and individual sessions, coordinating with directors, choreographers, intimacy professionals, voice specialists, and health practitioners when appropriate. The work should respect performers’ consent, access needs, and physical safety.
At a Glance
Movement coaches typically have experience in a few performing arts disciplines. Most start in dance—a discipline that focuses on movement and physicality—and progress to applying their training and knowledge to other forms of expression. More important than any educational degree is training in one or more physical movement pedagogies. Successful movement coaches may end up establishing their own schools or systems of movement that reflect their principles, or partner with prestigious dance companies and performance groups.
Most movement coaches work as independent contractors with both individual and group clients. In addition to regular clients, they may find additional work leading workshops, seminars, and master classes. Because work is generally found via word-of-mouth recommendation, networking with industry professionals and building a solid reputation and résumé are critical for movement coaches.
- Movement training (general as well as specific pedagogies)
- Anatomy
- Broad knowledge of and experience with the performing arts
- Teaching
- Verbal communication
- Networking
Patience; discipline; keen and nuanced awareness of the interplay between body and mind; passion for and familiarity with the performing arts; communication skills
As freelancers, movement coaches will typically piece together a number of distinct gigs to make a living. This means they may need to travel significant distances from job to job. Because performing artists make up the core of a movement coach's clientele, they will also often spend at least a few nights a week networking in the performing arts scene.
