Ballroom Dance Instructor Training
It's a myth that you need to have been dancing since before you could walk to become a dance instructor later in life. You can learn ballroom dance as an adult and successfully become an instructor. You'll need to take a course and pass an exam to earn certification as a ballroom dance instructor.
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Syllabus
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Many ballroom dance teacher training programs follow the Dance Vision International Dance Association (DVIDA) syllabus, which outlines the steps of a number of dances, from the waltz to the foxtrot, from cha-cha to swing dance.
DVIDA's syllabi are categorized as smooth and rhythm dances and are labeled either bronze or silver. Bronze is the starting level; silver is for more advanced students. When a student learns each dance, he will learn both partner's steps, so that he will be able to teach students to be either the leader or the follower.
Expectations During the Training
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Students are expected to take their training seriously. Most programs frown upon missed classes. Student who do miss classes usually need to schedule time to make up the missed lessons, which can end up costing more money.
Dance teachers in training should expect to spend at least one hour outside of class time practicing dance and reviewing the week's lesson. While schools require you to have your own shoes, they typically don't specify what shoes you need. Many students train in practice shoes, which are meant to be worn for long periods of time.
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Length of Training
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The training sessions at First Step Dance and the Ballroom Dance Teaching College last four months per syllabus. Each session meets twice a week for one and a half to two hours. After a student completes a session, she will earn a certificate from the school stating that she has successfully finished the program.
The certificate of completion from the school is not the same as being a certified professional instructor. A certificate of completion simply shows that the teacher has successfully finished a course and may look good on a resume. To become a certified professional teacher, she will need to go on to pass examinations offered by DVIDA.
Certification and Examination
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Students who wish to receive recognition as a professional dance instructor may take an examination from an institution such as DVIDA, which certifies dance instructors at a variety of levels, from junior associates to grand masters. Anyone may take the examination to become a certified instructor, whether or not he has completed a training program. Taking a course in ballroom dance teaching beforehand may give a student the tools he needs to pass the exams.
Getting certified increases a student's job prospects as an instructor and may allow her to open her own studio or serve as a judge in competitions. The examinations offered by DVIDA focus on one dance at a time. A student needs to pass the exams for a group of dances, such as smooth or rhythm to earn certification.
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American Dancesport's Ballroom Dance Teacher Training is offering a Complimentary 2-hour Introductory Training on October 22nd. Call to register.
