To become a ballet teacher, you should have had some formal ballet training as well as prior dance experience. Furthermore, because ballet is taught in a variety of settings, including private dance studios and secondary schools, one should think about where they want to teach ballet before embarking on their path to becoming a ballet teacher — different venues may have different requirements. It’s also important to think about the types of ballet you want to teach — classical, contemporary, and neoclassical — as well as the different techniques — French, Italian, and Russian — though most ballet teachers are familiar with all or most styles and techniques. Finally, before embarking on this career path or hobby, you should think about the age group and level of difficulty you want to teach.
The most obvious and necessary prerequisite for becoming a ballet teacher is experience and training. Most of the teachers have spent at least ten years as ballet dancers, regularly training and performing. Performance dance is a short-lived profession, with most dancers retiring their late 30s. These young, retired dancers frequently seek to mentor aspiring dancers in order to prepare them for the competitive world of ballet.
Accreditation is generally beneficial to your success as a ballet dancer. The National Associations of Schools of Dance is an accreditation organization for ballet teachers at the collegiate level in the United States. Many colleges and universities offer accredited dance and performing arts degree programs. Courses in dance history, movement analysis, and the use of music in performance arts are typically included in this educational program.
A bachelor’s degree isn’t usually required to work as a ballet teacher, but it may improve your chances of landing a job. In addition to a Bachelor’s degree, you may need additional, local certifications if you want to teach ballet in a secondary school. Ballet teachers who have received training from competitive schools are generally sought out those hiring choreographers and private instructors.
Making the right connections can help you succeed in this field, as it can in many others. During their dance careers, many dancers meet performance producers or teachers. Additionally, developing a relationship with a mentor or teacher may be beneficial to dancers who want to teach ballet in the future.
Developing a clientele can also be beneficial. Many dance instructors put in years of effort to establish a reputation as a talented and effective dance teacher. Ballet teachers who are just starting out may have to charge a lower fee until they gain more experience, trust, attention, and clients.
If you want to work as a choreographer for a performance company, you may need to volunteer for several community projects for little or no pay. Hiring in these fields is extremely competitive, and the strength of a teacher’s portfolio and the breadth of his or her experience are usually the deciding factors. The majority of ballet instructors start out part-time and work their way up to full-time employment.
Ballet teachers should not only be talented and experienced dancers, but also be able to easily pass on this knowledge and technique to a large number of students. To put it another way, good teaching skills are a must if you want to work as a ballet instructor. Instructors should also be able to work well in groups and feel at ease in leadership positions. In order to properly demonstrate and teach complex movements, ballet teachers will need to maintain some level of training themselves.