When Choosing a dance teacher,  you would want to have an idea of the teacher"s qualifications and a good sense of his / her personality.      This article will describe the various kinds of qualifications dance teachers have and the personality factor as it applies to choosing an appropriate dance teacher.

In terms of qualifications, there are 3 types of dance teachers very broadly speaking.     Often dance teachers are some combination of these 3.     We can list them as follows:

(a)    Certified Dance Instructors
(b)    Past or Current Competitors ( Coaches )
(c)    General Dance Teachers

A Certified Dance Instructor has been examined by qualified examiners for competency and skill level both as a dancer and also as a dance professional.

Firstly, it will be established that the teacher qualifying can dance well, with good technique, movement, timing, and expression, and so on.   It will be determined that the qualifying dance teacher can demonstrate the man and lady’s steps competently in order to teach both men and ladies. 

Dance Teachers may qualify with organizations such as I.S.T.D., I.D.T.A., C.D.F., and C.D.T.A.      There are many other qualifying bodies all over the world, too.      The top teaching organizations for dance teachers qualifying tend to be based out of England, such as I.S.T.D. and I.D.T.A..      These 2 organizations are recognized all over the world.

Certified Dance Instructors have also been examined on their teaching methods, thier knowledge of dance technique and theory, their ear for the music, their understanding of music and rhythm, their communications skills, and their overall presentation and professionalism when teaching and discussing dance topics.

This being said, there is an inconsistency that can be found sometimes where certain teachers have been allowed to qualify to various levels because of political or compassionate reasons.     Unfortunately, in these cases, such teachers can be seen to have timing problems , dull undetailed dance technique, a low interest in and understanding of book technique, and a less than functional English skill level.

This situation is a source of tension and argument within the professional dance teacher organizations, as it is seen to be unfair to the good instructors and misleading to the public to allow teachers of this caliber to pass exams and certify upwardly. 

 For the most part, however,  Certified Dance Instructors have been examined fairly, professionally, and honestly.      They are qualified to levels such as Student Teacher, Associate, Licentiate, and Fellowship and are given grades such as Pass, Commended, or Highly Commended.

Normally a Certified Dance Teacher will have a very good grounding in the basics of dance, an understanding of how to teach different types of learners, a large repetoire of dance material and dance types, and a professional and patient approach,

The Past or Current Competitor ( or Coach ) is another type of dance teacher out there in the marketplace.    These individuals may or may not be certified.   Often, they have won competition titles earlier in their lives such as Ontario Champion, Canadian Champion, etc.....      Usually, this group of teachers does not believe in the certification process of teachers and instead see dancing primarily as a competitive sport for adult athletes and children.      Some members of this group feel that there is no difference between professional dance teachers and amateur dancers and that there are only athletes.

These dance teachers often refers to themselves as a coaches ( as in sports ) and have generally not been prepared to teach through a certification process.     This type of teacher tends to be at his / her best when training dance competitors, once a certain amount of experience is gained.     His / her view of dancing, focus, and approach tend to be a narrowly directed towards training students to enter into dancesport competitions.

This type of dance teacher may be a suitable teacher for you if competing is your aim.     They may not be the best choice if yours is otherwise.


The General Dance Teacher  is a name we may give to yet another group of dance teachers.     These teachers often focus on one or two of the simpler dances such as Salsa and Merengue or West Coast Swing.     Mostly, these teachers have little or no formal dance education, certification, or dance competition experience.     However, they may have developed good personalities to make you feel comfortable.      Sometimes, they have developed an original style of dancing based on their raw talents and abilities or what they learned in the streets of their native countries.     In some cases, they have built up a following of students and supporters over a number of years of experience.

On the downside, it could be said that these teachers may be a bit limited in being able to help you progress upward.      On the upside, this type of teacher can often teach you a great variety of steps and give you some tips on dancing and meeting people.      Another benefit you can find with these teachers is that their private lesson rate may sometimes be very inexpensive. 

In terms of Personality, you will be the best judge of what type of person you want to learn from and interact with.       Some students prefer to find an instructor that makes them feel good about learning to dance, while improving at a comfortable pace.     Some students prefer to have an instructor that is popular with their social group, or the group they want to be part of.      Some students ( primarily dance competitors ) prefer a dance instructor that pushes them to progress, possibly to the point of making the student feel a bit abused and beat up.

Different students will have different needs in a dance teacher.      It is good if you have assessed yours.      It will be good if your instructor listens to what you want from your dancing and tries to deliver on that.

More to come.
 

 

More to come!