Expert: Jennifer - 4/1/2007

Question
    After I wrote to you I finally did find some of the info I wanted via other sites, and I guess almost onyone can call themselves a dance teacher.  Eeek!  (And I don't think I was clear that I was referring to formal teaching credentials in lieu of performance experience.)  What I'd like to do is teach recreational dance only.  I just want to make sure I'm legal, ethical, honest, safe....advice?

Answer
Hello, sorry I hadn't responded to your first question yet, but I wanted to do a little research before I got back to you.

You're right, you don't technically need any special training or credentials to become a ballet teacher... basically all you need is a studio and a tuition scale. :)

But I do definitely respect your desire to do it ethically and honestly. A lot of friends that I've made in the dance community have strong opinions as to what it takes to be a good teacher. They recommend professional experience, simply because for one, you can pass on knowledge to your students about what it is like to perform to prepare them, if a professional career is their goal, and for another, making it to the professional level is an excellent testament to your technique. Of course, these friends are speaking of teachers who intend to train their students for the professional level.

You, of course, aren't aiming for this level of teaching. You just want to teach people to have fun with dance, and I think I can give you a few places you can start toward that goal.

The first thing that I would do is discuss your aspiration with your ballet teacher(s). You will want your teacher to be more tough on your technique... you really need to understand the technique completely on your own body before you can help others begin developing their own technique. While you're talking with your teacher, you can discuss options about how to learn to teach -- could you apprentice with her? Could you act as a "teachers assistant" for her young children? Does she know if any other studios that would need an assistant? The best way to learn how to teach a craft is to have a mentor that you can go to with questions. You could even volunteer to substitute teach classes in her absense.

Another thing that you will need to learn if you want to open your own studio is choreography. In order to create a fun experience for your students, you will definately need to choreograph for them! See if you can choreograph a combination for class every so often, or if you can assist with choreography for your studio's recital, if you have one.

Outside of your studio, I would recommend taking a class in anatomy & physiology and/or kinesiology, if there is a college or community college near you. This will give you a much deeper understanding of whats happening in your body that allows you to dance. Also, read up on styles of ballet teaching... there are several different major styles of teaching, and it helps to get different perspectives on how the art form is taught. Also, it is extremely important that you know the terms of ballet like the back of your hand. Know your passes from your retires, your en dehors from your end dedans, your pas de basques from your saut de basques.

Finally, it is very imporant that when you do have students, you can tell which ones have real talent for dance and let them know their options for schools that are designed for pre-professionals, if they want to go that route. You need to know the type of school that you are running, and make sure that your students who have a shot at a professional career have all the opportunity possible to go that route. Don't hold your students back for competitiveness or pride... you see that a lot in small, private studios, and unless you really think that you can see them through to a professional career, the only thing you are doing is hurting your students.

I hope this gives you an idea of where you can start toward your goal... good luck!