How to Become a Dance Teacher in 2024

Those who have a passion for dance and teaching others the art may wonder how to become a dance teacher. There are a few different paths you can take to become a professional dance teacher. Similar to traditional teachers, dance teachers serve as a mentor and a guide to aspiring dancers. Because of this, there are often certain skills dance teachers should have beyond technical dance skills. 

There are also many places you can work as a dance teacher. Dance teachers can teach in studios, schools, private lessons and more. These are only some of the factors that can affect a dance teacher’s salary. On average, a dance teacher makes $52,039, according to Salary.com.

However, this figure can vary depending on location, experience, specialty and the type of dance taught, to name a few factors. Many dance teachers aren’t in it for the money but because of their passion for the art. So, if you’re looking to make dance your career, here is the low down on how to become a dance teacher.

Jump to Section

• What Skills Do You Need to Be a Dance Teacher?
• How Do You Become a Dance Trainee?
• How to Become a Dance Teacher Without a Degree
• How to Become a Dance Teacher at a Studio
• How to Become a Dance Teacher for Kids
• How to Become a Dance Teacher at a High School

What Skills Do You Need to Be a Dance Teacher?

Teaching dance requires a certain skill set to be effective. So, what skills do you need to be a dance teacher? Strong communication skills are essential for a lasting and successful career. Regardless of dance experience, dance teachers need to be able to clearly convey instructions as students learn dance techniques and steps. This also means using language that is appropriate for different ages and skill levels to understand. 

Experience with choreography is also important. Is a choreographer a dance teacher? Yes and no. A choreographer is a separate profession that teaches the steps to dance. Dance teachers often choreograph dances for their students, but also teach and develop technique in dancers, which choreographers don’t do. So, experience with choreographing dances, especially for specific age groups or genres, will be a beneficial skill.

An understanding of teaching methods and the ability to adapt them will also be essential. Because you’ll be working with students, it’s important to know how to apply a variety of teaching methods. Having the ability to adapt the methods for different students or age groups will also be a plus.

And, of course, a background in dance can also be helpful. Knowing dance stretches, steps and different genres and being able to teach them to students is one of the most important skills. Specializing in specific genres of dance can also be a benefit since there is a lot of technique that differs from genre to genre. Learning how to belly dance will be beneficial if that is the genre you want to teach, but not as much if you want to teach ballet.

Wondering how to become a dance teacher with no experience? Developing these skills is a good place to start. You can also find a studio that is willing to train you to become an instructor. There are even programs to receive dance teacher qualifications online.

How Do You Become a Dance Trainee?

A dance trainee is different from a dance teacher in that trainees are focused more on training to be a professional dancer. Many dance companies offer trainee or pre-professional programs for dancers looking to make a career. 

So, how do you become a dance trainee? First, taking dance classes that focus on developing your technique is essential. Dance classes in Chicago, dance classes in Las Vegas, dance classes in San Francisco and online dance classes are ideal to hone your skills, but it will often take multiple classes a week of intense training. If you're unsure which class they want to get, get them a Classpop! gift card so they can choose!

Then, you can audition for a program at a company. These programs often require a full-time commitment. Days are typically filled with classes with and without company members. These classes can focus on training and perfecting dance techniques and learning dances for performances.

How do you become a dance trainer? When teaching dancers at a higher level, you may be able to attain some dance teacher qualifications online, but higher education will be a benefit. Having a background in dance, extensive training with technique and even a master’s degree may be required to train professional dancers or trainees at a company.

How to Become a Dance Teacher Without a Degree

While a formal dance education will be a bonus, you don’t need a degree to be a dance teacher. You don’t need a college degree at all to be a dance teacher. If you’re wondering how to become a dance teacher without a degree, you have to find a strategy to leverage your dance experience and other skills.

Having dance skills and technique can be enough for certain dance teacher positions. Private dance studios and some organizations may be more relaxed on their degree requirements, allowing you to get a job without formal education. These places are also good to apply for if you’re looking to learn how to become a dance teacher with no experience.

Another option is to open your own dance studio. With this option, you would run your own business, which doesn’t require a degree. You can teach couples how to slow dance for their wedding or teach dancers how to salsa dance for a competition. You can market your studio based on your background in dance.

How to Become a Dance Teacher at a Studio

If you’re wondering how to become a dance teacher with no experience, working at a studio is one of the best options. Depending on the studio, you won’t need to have a degree in dance to teach dance or work there. If you have dance experience or are a previous dancer, small or local studios may be willing to hire you without prior formal training.

Having dance experience plus a degree in dance or teaching, however, will be a benefit and give you a boost when applying to be a dance teacher at a studio. While not absolutely necessary, higher degrees in both dance and teaching can help you land more prestigious jobs. So, if you’re looking to work at a competitive dance company, going to school for dance and having some knowledge of teaching will be a plus. 

Another option for how to become a dance teacher at a studio is to look for a studio that will train you to become an instructor while you work there. Studios like Arthur Murray and Fred Astaire have programs where they will train you on dance instructions while you work there. After a predetermined period, you’ll be teaching students how to swing dance, ballroom and more in no time.

The final option to be a studio dance teacher is to open your own studio. As a studio owner, you can set your own schedule and decide which classes you want to teach. However, owning your own studio is also running a business, so you should be interested in that as well.

The kind of studio will affect a dance teacher’s salary. Your background and prior experience in the dance industry can also factor in. As a creative person, there are plenty of ways to turn your passion into a career. Whether you want to know how to become a photographer, an artist or a dance teacher, exploring a variety of paths towards a professional career is the most important thing.

How to Become a Dance Teacher for Kids

Pass along your love and passion for dance to young students and learn how to become a dance teacher for kids. As a dance teacher for kids, you can work in a studio or in a school. What kind of dance you want to teach kids can determine where you should look for jobs.

In schools, you may be more likely to teach kids how to line dance or the steps to different genres. You may also help choreograph performances, but not every student will be interested in dance. Whereas in a studio setting, you’ll have more dedicated dance students. 

Regardless of where you teach, if you work with kids, you will have to have certain clearances, including background checks.

If you’re wondering how to become a dance teacher in an elementary or middle school, there may be more specific requirements depending on the school or district. When working for a school, you are also more likely to need formal education. Having at least a bachelor in dance and a certificate or license to teach will most likely be necessary. 

Once you’re ready to look for jobs, you can apply to individual schools or school districts. For public schools, most often you apply to school districts and can then be placed at schools where there are open positions. However, private, independent and charter schools tend to have their own separate application process.

How to Become a Dance Teacher at a High School

If you’re wondering how to become a dance teacher at a high school, it’s similar to being a dance teacher for kids in school. Individual schools and school districts may have different qualifications.

However, you will most likely need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in dance, choreography or education as well as a teaching license from the state you’re going to work in. Having a master’s degree is not necessary but can be beneficial to set you apart. There are similar qualification requirements if you’re looking for how to become an art teacher for a high school.

To apply, you can network with fellow dancers who may teach to know when and what positions are opening. As stated, with public schools you may have to apply to the district as a whole or to individual schools with openings. Apply to independent, private and charter schools on an individual basis.

If you want to pass your love of dance onto another generation, you may wonder how to become a dance teacher. A background in dance, developing essential skills and networking in the industry are all great ways to get started as a dance teacher. 

You can work at the studio you grew up in, teach in a school or start your own studio. No matter where you are, teaching aspiring dancers to love the art and feel confident in their abilities makes this one of the most rewarding professions. 

For even more creative ideas and inspiration, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!