Dance teacher
Dance teachers train and develop their students in all types of dance.
- Typical hours30 to 37 a week
What you'll do
As a dance teacher, you would:
- plan and teach dance sessions
- design dance pieces for individuals and group productions
- keep records of students' performance and progress
- assess students for dance exams
- maintain your own dance skills and techniques
Working environment
You could work at a school, at a college, at a university, an independent training centre or in the community.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of the fine arts
- knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
- the ability to use your initiative
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to work well with others
- leadership skills
- the ability to teach pupils how to do something
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a dance teacher
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- working towards this role
University
You'll need a relevant degree in dance or performing arts. There are some degrees in dance that include teacher training. To teach in a state school you'll usually need qualified teacher status (QTS) .
As a primary teacher, you'll train to teach all subjects and could develop a subject specialism in physical education, which may include dance or creative movement.
At secondary level you could teach dance as a single subject or combine it with other subjects like physical education, drama or performing arts.
To be a lecturer in a university or conservatoire, you'll need a postgraduate qualification or a recognised profile as a professional performer, along with teaching experience.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths
- 3 A levels or equivalent
College
To teach in a further education college, or as a sessional tutor in schools or private education, you'll need a minimum of a level 3 qualification in dance.
You'll improve your chances of employment by doing a professional qualification with a recognised dance awarding organisation, such as:
- bbodance (previously British Ballet Organisation)
- Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing
- International Dance Teachers' Association (IDTA)
- Royal Academy of Dance
Entry requirements
Entry requirements for these courses vary.
Work
You could work your way into this role if you've got several years' experience in dance.
You could start as an assistant in a private dance school and do teaching qualifications with a dance organisation approved by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT).
If you're a qualified teacher but without dance subject knowledge, for example a PE teacher, you could also take a CDMT-approved course.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks as you may work with children and vulnerable adults
Career path and progression
In a school you could become a head of department or headteacher.
You might also move into:
- choreography
- dance production
- dance movement psychotherapy
- dance fitness training
As a private dance teacher you could develop your own business and run your own dance school.
Career tips
You can search for jobs in schools through the Teaching Vacancies service.
You can get advice about training to be a dance fitness instructor from EMDUK.
Professional and industry bodies
You can join One Dance UK for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
Registration
- you'll usually need qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach in a state school in England
Guides for this industry
Related roles
- Job roleDancer
- Job roleChoreographer
- Job roleDance movement psychotherapist
- Job rolePE teacher
- Job roleCommunity education co-ordinator
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