How to Become a Dance and Drill Team Instructor

Dance instructors can teach a variety of dance styles.

Since dance and drill team classes are popular forms of exercise, aspiring instructors have many workplace options from which to choose. Whether you want to teach at an elementary school or a private academy, you must have a passion for teaching students. Teaching dance is hard on the body, presents injury risks and demands long working hours. It is also a career that presents you with many opportunities.

Instructions

1. Study dance and choreography. Formal education at colleges includes courses on choreography and various dance styles, such as improvisational dance and tap dancing. You can take these classes in bachelor’s or master’s degree programs. Some colleges, such as Virginia Commonwealth University, give dance students the opportunity to perform in dance festivals and other school events. Dance studios teach the same skills, but don’t offer non-dance classes and don’t award degrees.

2. Attend dance and drill team events, practices and workshops to gain an awareness of what is involved in these activities. Take dance classes to learn new dances, techniques and ideas from experienced instructors. Classes range in duration from a few days to a few weeks. Drill team classes teach skills such as dancing with flags and other props.

3. Volunteer to teach dance or get an entry-level job. Research which schools or studios need instructors. The American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance recommends volunteering at a high school or dance studio to make a good impression on the management and get experience. Since dance and drill teams are part of many physical education programs, you may be more likely to find work at a school than at a studio.

References

• ITT Tech: Careers in Dance
• U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics: Occupational Outlook for Dancers and Choreographers; 2010-11
• Virginia Commonwealth University: Undergraduate Dance Major
• SheLor School of Dance: Dance Drill Team
• American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance: Fields of Study -- Dance

Resources

• University of California, Riverside: B.A. in Dance
• Dance Teacher Summit NYC: Seminars
• Marymount Manhattan College: Teaching Dance Arts