Pet & Animal: How to Become a Dance Teacher

With the proper credentials and training, “dancing through life” doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. Many people make a living doing what they love, and if dance is your passion, you can make a great career out of dance instruction. Whether you want to teach in schools, at fitness centers, or in private studios, you can do so by becoming a trained dancer, pursuing teaching credentials, and applying for jobs.

EditSteps

EditBecoming a Trained Dancer

Enroll in dance classes. Look up dance academies in your area and explore what kind of classes are available near you. If you are in high school or college, enroll in dance classes offered at your school. Working with an instructor will help you to improve your form and learn proper foundations in various dance forms.
- Depending on what kind of dance you are interested in, opportunities will vary. Many ballet dancers begin training very young, while starting later in other dance forms (ballroom, modern, salsa) is typical.
- Some dance companies offer intense summer training programs. These are a good option to advance quickly in your training.^[1]
Make use of free and low-cost training opportunities. If you’re in high school, classes offered at school are a great free option to get started with. Watching choreography videos online is totally free, and practicing these routines at home can improve your ability to remember choreography.
- Check out community centers, churches, and studios to see if they offer free classes.
Join dance communities through your classes. Going to classes regularly at the same studio can help you to make friends who are also pursuing careers in dance or dance education. Follow the Instagram accounts of teachers and studios and try to talk to the people in your classes to stay inspired and build a support network.^[2]
- To strike up a conversation with someone after class, try complimenting their performance in the class or asking how long they’ve been taking classes at the studio.
- The instructors at your studio could make great mentors in your journey to become a dance teacher. Try inviting your instructor out to coffee, getting to know them better, and maybe asking if they will mentor you.
Practice dance outside of your classes. To become a dance teacher, you’re going to need to commit yourself to a lot of training, in and out of class. You can use your time wisely by rehearsing outside of classes as well as in them. Find space in studios or gyms to practice in front of mirrors, and try creating your own movements and choreographing pieces to advance your skills.

EditPursuing Teaching Credentials

Get a dance teacher certification for instructing at private studios. Teacher certifications will help you understand important teaching techniques and methodologies for dance instruction.^[3] Private studios will sometimes allow experienced dancers to teach without a certification, but a teaching certificate will most likely give you a leg up in the application process.^[4]
- In the UK, you will most likely need a specialized qualification based on subject from the Council for Dance Education and Training.^[5]
- In the US, programs vary. Some popular dance teacher certification groups are the Royal Academy of Dance, the American Ballet Theatre, the National Dance Teachers Association of America, and the American Tap Dance Foundation.^[6]
- If you are unsure if a certain certification is credible, you can check with local studios to see if they accept this certification.
Pursue a bachelor’s degree to expand your job opportunities. While a college degree is not required for work in most private studios, public schools and universities will be looking for candidates with bachelor’s degrees. If you are enrolled in college already, see what kinds of programs are offered at your college in education and dance.^[7] If you are not, research dance education programs near you.
- Many schools offer specific dance education degrees: the University of Texas at Austin, Illinois State, and Radford, for example.^[8]
- Many colleges also offer state-approved dance certifications for teaching in public schools. The National College Dance Directory is a good place to search for options within your state.^[9]
Study for a fitness certification for gym positions. If you are serious about combining fitness training with dance, a certification can improve your craft and your chance of being hired to teach dance as fitness. There are a variety of certification programs, the American Council on Exercise being one of the most common in the US.^[10]
Pursue a Master’s degree or PhD to instruct higher level dancers. A Master’s in Fine Arts (MFA) or a PhD in dance education can open up job opportunities at the university level or in professional studios and improve your salary. An MFA is the highest creative degree in dance, while a PhD will involve scholarly research and writing about dance education.^[11]
- As you pursue a degree in higher education, it will be important to keep up with your dance training outside of scholarly work. This will help you stay in dancing shape, keep up on your form, and maintain your passion for dance instruction.
Ask prospective employers about education requirements. If you’re unsure exactly what education you’re going to need for jobs you have your eye on, you can go online or call employers to learn what they are looking for in a candidate. This can help you decide if and what education programs you want to pursue.
- For instance, if the kind of job you want regularly requires bachelor’s degrees, you will need to consider this path.

EditApplying for Dance Teacher Jobs

Update (or create) your resume to include recent education and teaching experience. Your resume should be around one page and will begin with your name and contact info. In the body of the resume, include relevant dance training, teacher certifications, dance or education degrees, experience as an instructor, and any relevant special skills (acrobatic training or fitness certifications, for instance).
Search job forums and compare available dance teacher positions. Look on job sites like LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter or Indeed for dance teacher jobs. Compare job benefits and consider your values. For example, private studios may pay more money than schools or community organizations, but community organizations will allow you to work with underserved populations.
- If you want flexible hours, you may consider working part-time at a studio.
- If inspiring youth is a big reason you want to teach, you may value working with kids more than you value a higher salary.^[12]
Apply to multiple dance teacher jobs. Applying to a variety of jobs will increase your chances of finding work. Send the required materials to each job you are considering. If you intend to stay in the same place, apply to local schools or studios, but if you are willing to move, you can expand your search and application process nationally.
Continue your dance education formally or informally. As you search for jobs or even once you are hired, it is always a good idea to keep learning and growing as an instructor. Continue taking classes at studios to grow informally, and consider pursuing further formal education (like a bachelor’s or master’s degree) if you wish to teach at a higher level or increase your salary.
- Many dance studios will want to hire teachers who are versed in a variety of dance forms, so the bigger your repertoire, the more competitive you will be as an applicant.^[13]