Credentialed Dance Educator

Working Schedule

• Credentialed Dance Educators may work full- or part-time positions, depending on the jobs they choose to take. Some work regular school hours; others might work nights, evenings, or weekends.  

Typical Duties

• Create an engaging curriculum that covers the scope of the class
• Prepare daily lessons with clear objectives
• Ensure the practice area is clean, private, and clear of hazards
• Set up audio or other equipment, as needed
• Employ different teaching methods to instruct students individually and in groups
• Instruct students on how to stand and move properly, teaching correct dance techniques to avoid injuries
• Teach students about rhythm and interpretative movement
• Adapt methods and materials to meet individual needs and interests
• Encourage student development by exposing them to different styles
• Observe and monitor performance to determine limitations and abilities and offer guidance for improvement 
• Assess and grade students as necessary; help to ensure they satisfy course or training objectives
• Prepare and administer tests, when applicable 

Additional Responsibilities

• Stay in good physical condition to demonstrate proper techniques, if applicable 
• Have all materials or gear ready in sufficient quantities 
• Choose suitable music for dance routines including ballroom dancing like American smooth, American rhythm, International Standard, or International Latin, as well as styles like modern, hip hop, jazz, tap, ballet, folk, Irish, or swing
• Research new music and dance styles or trends
• Teach good safety practices and maintain a safe learning environment
• Maintain order and discipline, ensuring students pay attention and are well-behaved within a positive environment 
• Complete and keep student records as needed by the employer
• Assist students who are facing difficulties or learning challenges
• Share curriculum ideas with school leadership and faculty

Soft Skills 

• Agility and athleticism
• Desire and aptitude to help others succeed
• Discipline
• Empathy and patience
• Enthusiasm
• Flexibility
• Keen organizational skills
• Monitoring and evaluation 
• Non-judgmental approach to teaching
• Persistence
• Physical stamina
• Sense of rhythm 
• Skills for coordinating and instructing activities
• Strong communication skills 
• The ability to monitor and assess student behavior
• Visualization

Technical Skills

• Choreography
• Familiarity with different musical genres, dance steps, and routines
• Basic knowledge of educational software designed for K-12 students
• First aid/CPR
• Knowledge of human anatomy
• Operating knowledge of sound systems and lighting 
• Stage and performance knowledge

• Charter schools
• College conservatories 
• Dance companies
• Entertainment sector
• K-12 public and private schools
• Private dance academies and studios
• Private dance studios
• Self-owned businesses    
• Youth centers

Learning to dance professionally requires years of intense training. It’s Important to be aware of the risk of injury which can result from overuse and take the necessary precautions to practice and perform safely for both themselves and their students. 

It’s only natural that dancers approaching their 40s might be ready to take up teaching. No matter how active they are in their professional dance careers, Dance Educators should always strive to live healthy lifestyles. This involves a routine of proper nutrition and exercise along with plenty of rest and recovery. So there is a lot of “behind-the-scenes” practice and training needed to be a Dance Educator, not counting the time spent preparing lessons, training, and choreographing routines. This is a profession where love of the art form and commitment to engaging students makes up for prep work and out of class rehearsals and performances.

Suffice it to say, this can be a busy job with a lot of time spent doing unpaid prep work. You might also have to commit to working nights and weekends to accommodate particular class schedules.

In 2019, 10% of dancers and 54% of choreographers served in some form of teaching capacity. Increasingly, professional dancers are turning to entrepreneurship, creating their own self-employment opportunities. Indeed, many leverage technology as a way to monetize their instruction via online virtual dance classes and tutorials. However, brick-and-mortar businesses are still alive and well, too! 
 
As of 2021, there are 56,116 dance studio businesses in the US, indicating that there’s plenty of potential for dancers to get out there and teach others. That figure doesn’t include K-12 and college teaching opportunities, which are also popular and may offer more employee benefits. 

Predictably, most Dance Educators loved music and movement when they were younger. There’s no end to the types of music they might have enjoyed; some may have loved listening to pop and dance songs while watching videos and practicing dance moves in their rooms. Others might have been enrolled in ballet at an early age, happy to dance along with classical music and give impromptu performances to friends and family. No matter what the music genre or style, most likely loved the spotlight at some point and wanted their hard efforts to be enjoyed by others. 
 
Credentialed Dance Educators are active types who relish physical endeavors. For them, working up a sweat is a way to feel alive. They might have engaged in other forms of exercise, such as sports, hiking, biking, martial arts, or swimming. Eventually, though, they kept being lured back to the addictive combination of music and dance!