Start with your love for dance and get the right education and training. Here is a step-by-step guide to help to choose the dance style you enjoy most and gain real-world experience. Get certified to show your skills and boost your credibility. Learn how to market yourself, connect with other professionals, and explore teaching opportunities. Whether you want to teach at a studio, or fitness center, or start your dance studio!
How to Become a Dance Teacher?
Become a dance instructor by mastering different dance styles and improving through practice. Receive a certification for credibility and gain experience by assisting in dance classes. Develop a unique teaching style and stay updated with the latest dance trends. Use networking and social media to promote your classes and attract students. It is imperative to have in-depth knowledge of the discipline you wish to teach dance. Dance teachers should have backgrounds with several years of dance experience. It is equally important to be in good physical condition to better show demonstrations of the exercises taught in class. Knowing what age group and difficulty level you would wish to teach is an important first step on your journey to becoming a teacher.
After that decision is made you will need to know what genres of dance you would like to teach. Some dance instructors teach many different styles of dance, while others choose to focus on only one. The higher the level of difficulty of the class becomes, the more knowledgeable and advanced the teacher needs to be. This may be a deciding factor in whether or not you choose to focus on only one method of dance. Before pursuing an education in dance instructions, you should first look at the many different paths you can take in your dance instruction career. Education will set the foundation for your career choice. Having a vision in mind of where you are going before you even get started will help guide you through the journey ahead.
Discovering Your Passion for Dance
Your passion for dance is the starting point in your journey to becoming a dance instructor. This passion is the fuel that drives your dedication and commitment to the art form. Being a dance instructor requires the following:
- Being outgoing, energetic, and positive
- Managing time well and being organized
- Working well with different people
- Engaging and motivating a diverse group of students during dance sessions
- Having good communication skills
These traits are essential for a successful dance instructor.
A dance instructor significantly impacts the development of dancers. You play a vital role in shaping the future dancers by teaching dance forms, instilling discipline, fostering expressiveness, and improving physical awareness. However, remember that only around 10% of dancers who actively pursue their careers become professionals and secure employment in the performing arts. This includes private dance studios. Therefore, channeling your passion and consistently refining your skills is vital.
Formal Education and Training
Formal education and training lay a robust groundwork for a thriving teaching profession. It enables you to articulate dance principles proficiently and comprehend the requirements of your students. The prevalent academic qualifications for a dance instructor include a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in dance.
Continuous training, including gaining theoretical knowledge and practical skills such as:
- Dance history
- Anatomy
- Pedagogy
- Choreography
- Participating in dance classes, private lessons, and performances
Enhance your teaching abilities as a dance instructor through dance education, just like professional dance teachers do.
Choosing a Dance Style
Once you’ve decided to pursue a career in dance instruction, the next step is to choose a dance style. This can greatly influence your career as a dance teacher, offering avenues to maintain physical activity, impart knowledge, empower students, and enhance proficiency and enthusiasm for specific dance techniques and styles. The array of dance styles is vast, encompassing:
- Ballet
- Ballroom
- Contemporary
- Hip Hop
- Jazz
- Tap Dance
- Folk Dance
- Irish Dance
- and numerous others
The most commonly taught dance styles in educational settings are ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, tap, ballroom, swing, hip-hop, and folk dance.
Consider your preferences, physical fitness level, age, dancing goals, and peer group choices when selecting a dance style. Explore the type of music and movement you enjoy and your goals. Take trial classes, seek professional guidance, and pay attention to what feels comfortable for your body. Be open to exploring new styles and trust your instincts. Ultimately, the goal is to find a style that allows you to enjoy the process.
Dance Degree Programs
To teach dance in a K-12 setting, it is generally necessary to possess a Bachelor’s Degree and a teaching license. For teaching at the college level, a Master’s Degree and proven expertise in one or more dance styles are typically required. A dance degree program covers various disciplines, such as dance styles, movements, terminology, history, and body anatomy.
Upon earning a degree, pursuing advanced training is the next step. For instance, the collegiate-level courses the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) offers can lead to further qualifications like a bachelor’s degree in dance. This can broaden your horizons and open up opportunities for teaching at a higher level.
Workshops and Masterclasses
For dance instructors, continuous professional development is pivotal to staying updated with the evolving world of dance and teaching techniques. One way to engage in this professional development is through organizations like Dance Masters of America. This esteemed organization provides a comprehensive week-long in-person training course that covers:
- Ballet
- Jazz
- Modern
- Tap dance styles
This program includes accompanying manuals and DVDs, each priced at $25, with the overall program costing $400.
Such workshops and masterclasses offer opportunities for continuous learning and skill development, keeping you up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques in the dance world. They are a great way to meet fellow dance educators and learn from experienced professionals.
Gaining Real-World Experience
Once your education and training are complete, gaining real-world experience is the next step. This can be achieved through apprenticeships, which offer paid opportunities for experiential learning, provide flexibility in work commitments, facilitate mentorship from experienced professionals, and enable you to select ethical programs for nurturing aspiring dancers. Internships are another valuable experience that typically involves a minimum commitment of two days per week on-site, although they are often unpaid.
Another effective method of gaining teaching experience is securing a part-time job at a dance studio or volunteering at a dance program in a community center. These options can help in building one’s portfolio and teaching skills.
Performing as a dancer also gives you practical experience with the various dance styles and techniques you will teach.
Obtaining Dance Teacher Certification
Attaining certification as a dance teacher is a significant milestone in your career. It serves to:
- Validate your expertise
- Showcase your dedication to the profession
- Provide you with enhanced teaching methodologies
- Ultimately increase your marketability
The certification process encompasses:
- Coursework on dance history
- Research
- Pedagogy
- Practical assessments
- Theoretical exams to showcase proficiency in dance skills and teaching aptitude
Benefits of Dance Teacher Certification
One of the key benefits of obtaining dance teacher certification is professional recognition. It highlights your qualifications and commitment to your profession, signaling to current and prospective employers that you are devoted to enhancing your expertise and learning in the dance industry.
Obtaining a dance teacher certification offers several benefits, including:
- Access to a network of fellow dance educators
- Opportunities to establish connections with peers
- Exchange of knowledge and ideas
- Engagement in collaborative professional activities within the dance industry
These benefits can be invaluable for your career growth and professional development.
Popular Dance Teacher Certifications
Prominent certified dance instructor certifications include DEA and CiDE, which cater to various styles and teaching methodologies. Selecting an appropriate certification program that aligns with your desired style, teaching methodology, and professional objectives ensures a solid foundation for the dance level you wish to teach.
For instance, an Advanced Teacher Certificate provides comprehensive training encompassing advanced teaching methodologies, specialized dance forms, and intricate choreographic concepts. The certification process is thorough and demanding, designed to ensure educators possess the necessary skills and understanding of various teaching intricacies.
Building a Dance Teaching Career
A successful dance teaching career involves much more than simply teaching dance. It requires networking, professional development, self-marketing, and exploring various employment opportunities.
Organizations like the OfferingTree provide a comprehensive software solution for dance instructors, encompassing scheduling, payroll, and marketing tools. This integrated platform enables instructors to efficiently manage their business operations and establish connections with students and fellow professionals.
Networking and Professional Development
In addition to leveraging platforms like OfferingTree, you can join professional dance organizations such as the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), The Freelance in Dance Road Map, and Dance Informa for networking purposes to begin a dance instructor career. These organizations provide opportunities to meet fellow dance educators, learn from experienced professionals, and stay updated on the latest trends in the dance industry.
Participation in dance events can also contribute to your professional development. These events can:
- Foster creativity
- Refine dance skills
- Boost self-confidence
- Promote teamwork
- Facilitate socialization
- Instill discipline
They are a great way to connect with the dance community and showcase your skills.
Marketing Yourself as a Dance Instructor
Another key aspect of building your career is marketing yourself as a dance instructor. Establishing a robust online presence enables you to expand your reach, demonstrate your proficiency, and efficiently promote your private instruction services to prospective clients. You can demonstrate your skills and expertise online by networking with dance industry professionals, creating a dance reel, and maintaining an online portfolio highlighting your experience and abilities as a dancer.
Effective marketing channels for dance instructors include:
- Hosting open houses
- Email marketing
- Utilizing social media platforms
- Referral marketing
- Engaging the audience with video content
- Creating a marketing plan
Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube are particularly effective for marketing your services and engaging with your audience.
Where Can a Certified Dance Instructor Teach?
There are many places a certified dance instructor can teach. From teaching in public schools to universities, dance teachers with the right credentials can find an array of opportunities.
Dance Studios
Private studios will give you an open environment to be more creative with lesson plans. With over 56,000 private studios in the U.S. alone, there’s sure to be a studio in any given city.
Outside of privately-owned studios, certified teachers can find fulfilling work helping children find passion for exercise and movement in after school programs. There are more creative-leaning options such as, choreographer or even professional dancer.
Gymnastics Clubs
Gymnastics clubs are often in need of ballet teachers and choreographers for routines. A certified dance teacher can significantly add to the staff in helping the gymnasts find finesse in professional-level choreography in their floor routines.
Gyms & Fitness Clubs
Fitness clubs across the nation are offering classes like Zumba, a fast paced aerobic dance fitness class that allows students to have fun and let loose while they get a phenomenal cardio workout. Another emerging fitness class is barre. This graceful and beautiful form of exercise draws it’s movements directly from ballet.
Another path is to pursue the healing field of dance therapy. It is a fast growing field of connecting the mind and body in psychotherapeutics.
On the other hand, those in dance schools or studios generally conduct regular classes and may emphasize training students for a dance career. See our blog on how much a dance instructor makes for more information.
Starting Your Own Dance Studio
Starting your dance studio is another thrilling opportunity for a dance instructor. It allows you to combine your love for dance with entrepreneurship, enabling you to establish a dynamic environment for educating and motivating others. Here are some preliminary steps to start your dance studio:
- Formulate your vision
- Locate a suitable site
- Secure funding
- Develop a business plan
- Comply with legal obligations
- Design the studio area
- Recruit personnel
- Outline your curriculum and course options
- Implement successful marketing tactics
There are also several legal steps to consider when establishing a dance studio, such as:
- Acquiring a general business license
- Obtaining a DBA license
- Obtaining a business tax identification number
- Obtaining a sales tax license
- Depending on the location, obtaining specific state and local business permits
- Obtaining music licensing for classes
- Obtaining a certificate of occupancy for the studio space
Online marketing is instrumental in a dance studio business’s success, as it enhances the studio’s visibility, attracts new students, and establishes a brand identity in the digital space.
How to Get Certified in Dance
It is always best to do your homework on any certification you are going after, as there are many different options for getting certified. In-person learning may be something you are looking for, or maybe you prefer the flexibility of online learning. Either path you choose will present you with numerous course options. Some are basic and more broad, while others are much longer and in-depth.
For example, the national dance education organization (NDEO) has a prestigious certificate in dance education that takes 3-5 years of course work to complete. You will want to find the right fit for the style and level of dance you wish to teach. Once you find your preferred program, you will be required to complete a certain amount of course work. This course work could include history, research, introduction to new techniques, and style specific pedagogy – the method and practice of teaching.
After completing the course work, you will have to complete a final exam. Dance teacher exams are meant to ensure that the individual has successfully learned all of the material covered in the course and can apply them in the real world. Once the exams have been passed, the certificate will be provided to the student.
Do Certified Dance Instructors Need Insurance?
The need for insurance is a question dance teachers will face when starting their career. Does the studio or school’s insurance provide adequate coverage in the event of a mishap? Will you have to pay for claims out-of-pocket while you are teaching? Will you be liable to pay for a student that was hurt during class? While your studio may have it’s own insurance plan, for the best protection individual dance instructor insurance is key.
Dance insurance covers you for a wide array of different mishaps that can happen to even the most careful instructor. Thinking of the worst case scenario is never fun but being under-prepared if the worst happens is even scarier. Weighing the risk/benefit, you can buy a full-year of dance instructor insurance for just $189.
From slip and falls to student injuries, you can have peace of mind knowing you have comprehensive insurance that follows you every step of your career. Insure Fitness Group’s dance insurance also covers many different kinds of dance so that you can enjoy full coverage for a wide variety of popular dance modalities.
Getting Dance Insurance Online in a Few Minutes
Signing up for dance insurance might just be the easiest thing you do today. A quick application online through Insure Fitness is all it takes for you to find peace of mind while instructing your next dance class.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a dance mentor?
Earning a dance or performing arts degree and gaining professional experience are essential to becoming a dance mentor. Additionally, obtaining a graduate degree in dance education can open up prestigious job opportunities, such as teaching at a university or coaching professional dancers.
What is the difference between a dance teacher and a choreographer?
The main difference between a dance teacher and a choreographer is that dance teachers focus on teaching techniques and bringing out the best in students. In contrast, choreographers specifically concentrate on the creative process of choreographing dances. So, while both may include choreography, the emphasis and skill set required are distinct.
How long does it take to become a ballroom dance instructor?
Becoming a ballroom dance instructor takes two to four years, including acquiring a teaching qualification and sufficient experience.
How can I gain real-world experience as a dance instructor?
You can gain real-world experience as a dance instructor by participating in apprenticeships, securing a part-time job at a dance studio, or volunteering at a dance program in a community center. These opportunities provide valuable teaching experience.
How much does it cost to get a dance teaching certification?
Getting a dance teaching certification typically falls in the range of $5,500 to $6,200. See our blog on how much it costs to become a dance instructor for more information.
