How To Become A Dance Instructor: What It Is and Career Path

What is a dance instructor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Molly Faulkner Ph.D.

Dance instructors teach students/trainees how to dance and this includes technique, performance, and choreography. A dance instructor should be able to teach using various dance styles and methodologies from beginner to advanced level, develop dance curriculums, and prepare lesson plans. They have the ability to communicate with a diverse group of students, engage, encourage, and motivate them to reach their goals, evaluate their performance, and make recommendations for improvement. They choreograph routines to select music for recitals and concerts, conduct group and private lessons as required, and provide a fun and creative environment.

A dance instructor should have excellent communication skills, be energetic, driven, creative and dependable, and have patience and leadership skills. Some dance instructors have a college degree, though it is possible to become one with a high school diploma or GED.

A dance instructor earns an average salary of $39,198 per year or $18.85 per hour. The career is described as growing faster than normal at 11% as defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Between 2018 and 2028, it is projected to grow 155,000 new jobs across the US.

What general advice would you give to a dance instructor?

Molly Faulkner Ph.D.

Professor of Dance, Palomar College

Take a marketing class — your job is to sell yourself. Audition for everything even if you know you aren’t suited. I’ve gotten several jobs because I applied, and the director, knowing I wasn’t right for their needs, referred me to someone else. And don’t be afraid of failure — it leads to better things.

ScoreDance InstructorUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $34,931

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

4.9

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.4

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.53%

Asian 6.02%

Black or African American 11.11%

Hispanic or Latino 15.46%

Unknown 5.71%

White 61.17%

Gender

female 81.03%

male 18.97%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress level

4.9

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

5.9

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a dance instructor

Explore dance instructor education requirements

Most common dance instructor degrees

Bachelor's

65.1 %

Associate

13.7 %

High School Diploma

12.0 %

Start to develop specific dance instructor skills

Skills	Percentages
Dance Classes	15.71%
Role Model	8.80%
Hip Hop Dance	8.31%
Dance Program	6.61%
Fine Arts	5.29%

Complete relevant dance instructor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New dance instructors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a dance instructor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real dance instructor resumes.

Research dance instructor duties and responsibilities

Promote for demonstrate leadership skills and competence in managing students.
Choreograph beginner, intermediate and advance dance repertoire in the areas of ballet, pointe and modern dance.
Teach classical ballet, contemporary dance, and Pointe work to children, teens, and adults.
Dance instruction include skills such as Zumba workouts, ballet, tap, jazz, and Hawaiian dance.

Prepare your dance instructor resume

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