Planit : Job Profiles : Dance Teacher Dance

Dance teachers train and educate pupils of all ages in different styles of dance. They may specialise in one style or a broader range, working in private dance studios, schools and leisure or community facilities.

The Work

Dance teachers work in a variety of styles which include:

classical ballet
contemporary dance such as jazz, street, hip-hop or freestyle
Highland dance or Scottish country dancing
ballroom and Latin American
cultural dance, such as Irish, African or Indian.

You could be:

planning lessons around a set syllabus
working out dance routines and selecting music
teaching pupils how to warm up and cool down properly, to prevent injury
demonstrating how a move or routine should be performed
monitoring pupils’ dance moves and correcting when necessary
recording the progress of pupils
preparing pupils for exams with extra training
teaching individuals or groups, adults or children
training dancers for a theatre or stage performance.

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates vary considerably depending on:

whether you are freelance or employed
the size of the company or organisation you work for
the competition for posts.

Teachers of dance can charge freelance rates of between £10.00 to £30.00 per hour or £80 to £150 a day.

Conditions

You will spend most of your time working in dance studios, halls or classrooms.
You may work in more than one venue and have to travel between them.
You must be very fit and careful to avoid injury.
You may have classes during the day, the evening and at weekends.
You may train stage and theatre dance troupes and have to attend rehearsals and performances.
Part time and self-employed freelance work is common.
You may need to travel to other parts of the UK for training and even work.

Workforce Employment Status

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Getting In

A number of colleges in Scotland run courses in dance and performing arts (including dance) at National Certificate (NC) or National Qualification (NQ) level, as well as Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) and degree level.
The Royal Academy of Dance offers a range of distance learning courses, from Certificate up to Masters degree level, in dance education and teaching.
For NC/NQ courses entry requirements vary and you do not always need formal qualifications. For HND courses you need 2 Highers or a relevant NC/NQ plus an audition. For degree courses you need 4-5 Highers or a relevant HND.
You may also need dance teaching qualifications from a dance awarding body recognised by the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT).
See the CDMT website for more information on dance awarding bodies that offer qualifications. Some of them have approved training centres in Scotland.
Only teachers registered with the relevant dance awarding body may enter students for exams.
You may require a satisfactory criminal record check from Disclosure Scotland to show that you are suitable for this type of work. Contact Disclosure Scotland for details on the type you would need.

Workforce Education Levels (UK)

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Job Outlook Scotland

Employment

Unemployment

Percentage of workforce registered as unemployed (Scotland)

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

Scotland

2019

227

0.4 %

FALL

2024

226

United Kingdom

2019

5515

2.4 %

RISE

2024

5648

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

What Does it Take?

You should have:

excellent dance skills in your chosen style
creative talent and good expressive skills
excellent communication skills
energy and stamina
patience and the ability to motivate others
an understanding of health and safety
good observation skills
the ability to manage a class of pupils.

You should also be:

passionate about dance
enthusiastic when teaching.

Training

Scottish Youth Dance offers Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses in various aspects of dance for teachers in nursery, primary and secondary education.
You may wish to complete more training and qualifications with additional dance awarding bodies.

Getting On

With experience you could move into a more senior teaching role or manage a dance studio.
You may become self-employed and have your own dance studio.
You might move into community development work, such as leading projects to make dance accessible to all.

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.

Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre (CDMT)
E-mail: info@cdmt.org.uk
Website: http://www.cdmt.org.uk/

Creative and Cultural Skills
E-mail: info@ccskills.org.uk
Website: http://www.ccskills.org.uk/
Website (2): https://ccskills.org.uk/careers
Twitter: @CCskills
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ccskills

Creative and Cultural Skills is the Sector Skills Council for advertising, crafts, cultural heritage, design, music, performing, literary and visual arts. Creative Choices is their career information website.

Creative Scotland
Tel: 0345 603 6000
E-mail: enquiries@creativescotland.com
Website: http://www.creativescotland.com/
Website (2): http://opportunities.creativescotland.com/
Twitter: @CreativeScots
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland

One Dance UK
Tel: 020 7713 0730
E-mail: info@onedanceuk.org
Website: http://www.onedanceuk.org
Twitter: @onedanceuk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onedanceuk

Royal Academy of Dance (RAD)
Tel: 020 7326 8000
E-mail: info@rad.org.uk
Website: http://www.rad.org.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalAcademyofDance

Scottish Ballet
Tel: 0141 331 2931
E-mail: feedback@scottishballet.co.uk
Website: http://www.scottishballet.co.uk
Twitter: @scottishballet
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scottishballethq/

YDance (Scottish Youth Dance)
Tel: 0141 552 7712
E-mail: info@ydance.org
Website: http://www.ydance.org
Twitter: @YDanceScotland
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YDanceScotland

YDance is the National Youth Dance Agency for Scotland.

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Planit

Dance Teacher

The Work

Pay

Conditions

Getting In

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

What Does it Take?

Training

Getting On

Contacts

Career Area

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