Dance Teacher Jobs – Critical Elements of the Job
Dance teacher jobs are not easy. But if you have the passion and skill to do it then you can work as one. There are various skills required for the job. One thing you should keep in mind as a dance instructor is you might be called to teach in numerous settings such as real classrooms, dance studios, dance clubs or in online salsa classes.
Dancing is an integral part of being human. We expressed our emotions through dancing. Celebrations will not be complete without dancing. For this reason, dance teacher jobs become essential.
The teacher brings out the potential in each student. They can provide theory and practice of any dance discipline. They often need to have years to training in order to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to teach.
Dance classes serve a number of purposes such as developing personality, socialization, enhancing skills and staying physically fit. These are the critical aspects involve with the job as a dance teacher:
Education
Educational requirements may include a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, with majors in dance. If a dance teacher instructs in a public school then a professional certificate issued by the state’s Board of Education will be necessary. Teachers must also be able to perform several dance styles.
Work Conditions
An instructor often works freelance. Some put up their own dance studios. Their income depends on the number of people in the class and the number of hours they spend teaching. If students are satisfied with the instruction, the reputation of a dance teacher grows. More and more people will enroll. An excellent dance teacher often gains a huge following. It will not be surprising if he or she earns a huge income.
Referrals and word of mouth advertisement will help the teacher a lot. A number of students might request private lessons at home. Some are repeat students who want to enroll in the teacher’s classes.
Dance teachers can also work as a choreographer for shows. They can command a higher rate per hour for this kind of gig. Maintaining good relationships with the students is an important part of the job as well as an effective marketing strategy.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of a dance instructor are not limited to teaching dancing alone. He or she should lead students in warm-up and stretching exercises that will help lessen the risks of injuries in students.
The teacher should explain clearly the movements and steps of a dance. Monitor student’s performance and give feedback. Provide students with the theories behind the dance. And finally, coming up with a dance choreography for the students.
An effective dance instructor must exhibit various skills. Excellence in their field of expertise such as salsa dancing is essential. They have to have good communication skills, maintain sincerity towards the students, network and hold the interest and attention of their students.
Experience
A dance teacher must have the necessary experience in all dance aspects from body conditioning, training, choreography and actual performance. It will be good if she or he starts as a teaching assistant before holding classes. This way, he or she will learn how the learning process should be carried out. Professional dancers often progress to dance teachers after they have acquired sufficient experience. Dance teachers can teach in schools, sports centers and dance studios.
Well-rounded dance instructors should have these required skills to be able to excel in salsa dance teacher jobs.