This just in: Being a Dance Teacher is hard work! You love to teach. You love your students (yes, I know there are a few who can be annoying and you maybe could live withoutbut by and large you love your students). You love your studio. Yet there are days when you just feel like youve been put through the ringer. Being a dance teacher is hard work, especially in a private dance school setting where the hours are long and classes can be six or even seven days a week. I bet there are times, have been times or will be times when your students go home unhappy, too, because of some perceived wrongdoing, and the person getting blamed will be you! Relax. It happens. Move on, dont beat yourself up and try not to take it personally Yeah, right!
These are some of the toughest times to be a dance teacher, but there are ways to make yourself more bulletproof. Weve created the following set of guidelines that will help you keep your sanity and, when you do experience sensory overload, make the bounce back quicker and easier. These dance teacher guidelines will also increase your value to your employer or, if you own your studio, your value to your clients.
Be friendly. Friendly people are like a magnet. People gravitate toward them and when there is an issue, they will usually get the benefit of the doubt. When you are friendly, your students will like and trust you more. Then, when it is time to be more demanding, they will respond in a more positive manner because of the trust that you have built. I recommend smiling after a correction; it will go a long, long way. A smile to your class also says to them that you like being there, you like them and you are happy to be teaching them. A word of caution: no fake smiling! There is nothing more transparent. If you dont feel like smiling, then find a way to get happy quickly!
Dress for success. We have all heard that saying, yet I have known dance teachers who think it is acceptable to wear ripped tights and tattered leotards and in general just look messy. Everything from your hair to your shoes is an indication to others of who you are, fair or not. Your image creates a first and lasting impression. Remember we want our students and their parents to know that dance teachers are professionals. Find the right look and style for your personality, but make sure that you do not look like the students. Always be well groomed and maintained. Its the first step to gaining the respect of your students, parents and employer!
Make eye contact. This also projects an image of confidence, concern and care. It tells students that you respect them as well. Corrections will have a more lasting impact with eye contact. If you have given the same one over and over again, the right look can be the trigger that helps the student finally get it. Praise will also have more impact with the right eye contact.
Say my name, say my name! You may have heard the song their name should be on the shirt that each student wears into class. The sweetest sound to any students ears is the sound of their name being said, especially from an authority figure such as their dance teacher. We remind our faculty about this regularly. Find some way to say the names of your students on a regular basis.
Have a great attitude. Everyone knows that a positive attitude is important. After all, we cant expect our students to have one if we do not. The problem is, few people realize how important a role it plays in the way you communicate and the way you are perceived. Without a positive attitude your words can be heard as cynical and fall on deaf ears. No one really cares about your issues, problems or mood swings. Leave them at the door before you walk into the building. A positive attitude and good disposition need to be present at all times. Hey, its showbiz, baby!
Take a genuine interest in your students. This is really where the rubber meets the road. If you are doing it purely for the paycheck, I can assure you, you will not last long. If you are teaching just to pacify your desire to choreograph or as a creative outlet, I recommend you get a job as a choreographer because your days are numbered as a teacher. To really enjoy teaching and to be a good one, you must take an interest in the students, and not just the good oneseach and every one of them! Find out what makes each student tick and you will not only gain a greater knowledge of who they are, but you will also learn more about who you are and how you can grow as a dance teacher. I still learn all the time from my students; thats one of the elements of teaching that I really enjoy.
Keep growing and learning. Expand your knowledge. The fact that you are reading this proof that you know the importance of this. But no one knows it all! The best dance teachers have mentors, coaches and support groups and are part of organizations that help them in their quest to gain greater knowledge. Read dance books, watch videos, log on to Dance Teacher Web regularly and go to seminars and conferencesany place where you can work with and learn from people you respect. When your knowledge is broadened and your creativity, imagination and desire are ignited, your students will reap the benefits. If you make yourself valuable and memorable, students will want you to be their dance teacher forever! And keep this in mind Dance Teachers are some of the greatest people on the planet. Pass it on!
