Getting Started

For starters, there are many age groups and many dance forms and this makes for tremendous work opportunities.

With right skill sets, confidence, space to conduct classes or willingness to travel, and good marketing and PR skills, you have your job cut out as a dance instructor.

• For any specialised dancing like salsa, ballroom dancing or Indian classical dance forms like Bharatnatyam or Mohiniattam, most institutes ask for a certificate course from a recognised institute.
  
  
• A strong foundation in a specialised dance is a must before you start to teach, especially if you have been recruited by a dance institute.
  
  
• For teaching classical dance forms like Bharatnatyam or Kathak, you need to have had a minimum of six to seven years of training.
  
  
• Apart from that if you plan to teach it professionally, then it is recommended that you undergo a teacher's training course, which almost all dance institutes provide.

The cost of the course would vary from institute to institute. For example, in Shiamak Davar's dance institute, the course fee for a three to four weeks training is Rs. 5000.

Also Read: How to be a Choreographer

Work Profile

Your work profile will depend upon who you want to train and for what purpose. You could teach people ranging from the age group of five to forty year olds.

Apart from the dancing skills you would require:

Good communication skills, knowledge of English or the local language and patience. You must have the ability to communicate dance steps to your students depending upon their age.

If you are teaching independently either in your home or at a rented hall, for starters begin with five to six students than getting a hoard of them. See if you can manage the initial numbers. Then based on the response increase the size of the class.

Also Read: Come On Baby, Let's Dance

However, if you have been retained by a dance institute, a class of ten to fifteen students is the norm.

Most classes are conducted in the evening. However, in professional classical dance institutes or certain personal dance sessions are held in the morning. The average working duration if pursuing it part-time is three to four times per week and three hours per day.