High School students are selecting courses just now and with that comes discussions about career paths and what they want to do with their life. Maybe someone is planning a career in Dance Education?
There are a lot of different ways to get there. Miss Julia, one of our teachers, and a member of our Office team has put together a summary of the different paths you can take to become a dance teacher. There are several options.
Option 1: University
There are a variety of Universities in Ontario that offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Through this program you would study dance and all the many layers of the art. There would be various opportunities in dance and students would experience auditions, rehearsals, performances, history, and theory work.
Bachelor of Fine Arts tends to lean more to the performance side but certainly those skills can be transferred to a role of educator. The more you experience yourself, the more you can pass along to your future students.
Universities in Ontario with a Fine Arts program can be found here:
Option 2: College
Like the Universities, there are many Ontario colleges that have a dance program. These are also more performance based so would give students experience in auditions, rehearsals, and performances.
A diploma in dance or theatre arts is another great way to gain knowledge of dance and the industry to pass along to future students.
Colleges in Ontario with a Dance Program can be found here:
Option 3: Work Placement
This one takes a bit of explaining. A lot of dance teachers started as passionate students who got involved at the studio – and no, I don’t mean they have to be competitive. Miss Laura did one competition as a young dancer and never stepped foot into the competitive dance world again till she started teaching at GRAD, so you don’t have to be the best or the most awarded dancer to become a teacher at your studio.
Here is a list of the things a director would look for in a teacher
- Show up to class each week
- Ask questions
- Show a willingness to learn
- Ask about volunteer, assistant teaching opportunities
- Show an ability in dance that let’s your director know you understand what is being asked of you and can execute it.
- Be a respectful and responsible member of your studio community.
- Represent your studio in the community in a positive and respectful manner
The most important thing you can do if this is the path you choose is to build relationships no only with the studio director, but your teachers, and your classmates.
If this is the path you choose, there are many organizations you can join that have teacher training programs. There are conventions and master classes that you can take. Some organizations have examinations you can take to become a teacher in that discipline. Just because you don’t choose a post-secondary establishment, there are many opportunities for continuing education.
If you would like to pursue a career in dance education! Talk to us.