How to Become a Dance Teacher
Teaching children how to dance can be a very rewarding career choice. If you have a natural love of music, children and dancing, then a dance teacher just might be the right career choice for you. No secondary education is required to become a dance teacher. Although, it is a good idea to attend dance classes prior to applying to studios for a position as a dance teacher.
- Decide which style of dance you think you would be able to teach the best. Choose a style that you personally enjoy. If you enjoy what you are doing, you will be able to pass on this happiness for your students. You can choose more than one dance form if you like, as some schools will offer classes in numerous dance forms and this may open up more possibilities for you.
- Practice is the key to being a good teacher. You will need to know the dance form that you want to teach inside and out. You can learn more about your chosen dance form by reading books and watching instructional videos. Put in the time, and practice; practice makes perfect. A dance instructor will need to know how to do the moves perfectly in order to teach them to their students.
- Sign up for some dance lessons yourself. Not only will this help you to brush up on your skills, it will also give you an environment to observe. You should look at these classes as a chance to observe a dance teacher in action. Once your dance lesson is over take notes and write down any key moves or ideas that you had during this lesson.
- Volunteer your services to get your career started. Many park districts and youth programs such as the YMCA offer programs for children. Volunteer to teach one of their dance classes for free. Not only will you get the benefit of providing a service to your community, you will also be gaining experience. Experience is the key and will look good on your resume when applying for positions as a dance instructor elsewhere.
- Prepare an up-to-date resume. Include any work that you have done in the field, any dance classes that you have taken as well as the courses you volunteered your services for.
- Apply to dance studios and leave a copy of your current resume. In now time you will have your dream job as a dance instructor.