Finding a dance instructor school

[Boynextdoor]

I live in Southern California. Most of the schools I've found are either in a different state, or too far north for me to go to.

Anyone have any ideas? I'm still a newby to this fantastic world, so go easy.

My friend recently got a job working as an instructor, but she was trained by the owner of the studio, so she didn't go to any type of school. I told her that if they ever want to do the same with someone else that'd I'd be sooo interested, but that doesn't really seem that likely.

Is that a bad route? To not get trainer's training? Do many dance studios do that? There are no really amazing dance studios out here, so it's not like they have competition level people just hanging around that would be all catty.

Help?

 

[sunderi]

Well, I got my instructor training (and am STILL getting training, and probably will forever) through the franchise studio I currently work at. The training was free (time consuming and difficult, but free).

You might look into working at a franchise studio. My experience is with AM (Arthur Murray) but I assume FADS (Fred Astaire Dance Studios) would work the same way.

 

[dTas]

most studios that i know of have some sort of teacher training program, unless they're totally independant.

it all depends on whether or not they need new instructors.

 

[Egoist]

Well, I got my instructor training (and am STILL getting training, and probably will forever) through the franchise studio I currently work at. The training was free (time consuming and difficult, but free).

There is no such thing as a free lunch!

You don't pay for your training because you sign a contract which basically makes you an indentured servant. In the future, you may find yourself having, by contract, to work for that studio for much less than you are worth.

If that's what you want, go get it.

 

[pygmalion]

I'm not sure I understand. Do you mean non-compete agreements? 8)

 

[sunderi]

I'm not sure I understand. Do you mean non-compete agreements?

No, it is true that when you start working for the studio that trained you (for free) you usually start out at a very low rate. You also usually typically have to sign a contract saying that if you terminate your employment in the first year (sometimes two years) that you have to pay back some portion of the costs incurred in training you.

This is a pretty standard agreement, though. In my day job, I do software engineering. We have the same deal with our company -- if you get training that is paid for by the company, and leave within the year, you are responsible for reimbursing the company for the expense to train you.

It's just a protection to keep someone from getting their training for free and then moving on to greener pastures.

 

[pygmalion]

Okay. I understand. That's pretty typical in my world too. If I quit my job within a certain period of time, I have to repay relocation expenses. That makes sense to me, now. Thanks, sunderi. 8)

 

[sunderi]

Okay. I understand. That's pretty typical in my world too. If I quit my job within a certain period of time, I have to repay relocation expenses. That makes sense to me, now. Thanks, sunderi. 8)

Yep! Exactly the same idea.

You're welcome.

 

[chachachacat]

Hello and welcome, Boynextdoor.
Southern California is a mecca for partner dancing! There are lots of studios in LA and Orange Counties.
I was trained at AM, and it was a great start. Very thorough, 10 dances.

 

[Boynextdoor]

sorry it took so long to get back...

I forgot all about it! Anyhoo.

Unfortunately, we don't have any franchises near by. I'm still somewhat new with driving, and we only have a stickshift... Me and freeways are still not on speaking terms.

So, some smaller places train their own instructors?

 

[Chris Stratton]

Okay. I understand. That's pretty typical in my world too. If I quit my job within a certain period of time, I have to repay relocation expenses. That makes sense to me, now. Thanks, sunderi. 8)

Yeah, but you know if you are getting your money's worth for the relocation expenses since you control what the actual expenditures are. With a training contract, you have no way to know if the services will be worth the alleged cost, and no way to prove they weren't.

To answer the original question, yes, there are teachers who specialize in training teachers. Relocating for a few months to work with one might not be a bad idea, but you might want to start with really good competition student oriented training first, just to make sure the activity is really for you. Be open with that teacher about your plans and goals. Also in terms of breaking in to the business, you have two choices - you can be someone's underpaid junior instructor, or you can earn a reputation as an championship amateur competitor and then turn pro and hope to get serious students at fair rates from the start. Either way, expect it to take some years before life is good, if ever.

 

[DancingJools]

Give the kid a break. New to driving (and dancing, obviously), stick shift, can't handle the highways, and you're suggesting he finds his way into teaching by becoming a championship amateur dancer first? Got any idea how much that costs, and the personal difficulties it involves?
Son, get yerself to a franchise studio (Arthur Murray or Fred Astaire -- look in the yellow pages); if you're half decent looking with a nice personality, they'll want to hire you; get the training, work for it a couple of years, and decide if it's something you want to pursue. At that point, and depending on how hard you have worked and how good you are, you'll be able to move to a better studio, if that is what you decide you want. Don't expect to make a lot of money right at first, but you will be able to make a decent living, if you're smart, hardworking and lucky
I know more than one successful competitor/teacher who started out exactly that way.
As always, when you're looking for employment (or education, or both), it's a good idea to find out from others who have had dealings with that place what kind of reputation it has, whether the people who work there are nice, honest, competent, etc.
The downside of working at a franchise is that you also need to be good at sales, and they will train you for that. You may like it, or you may not. If you detest sales, then look further and you may be able to find a non-franchise studio (i.e. an independent studio) which needs teachers and is willing to take a chance on training you. You may need to look a bit for that.
And if it's less than a perfect environment, well, we all have to pay our dues in this world to get to where we want to be.
Good luck.

 

[Chris Stratton]

Give the kid a break. New to driving (and dancing, obviously), stick shift, can't handle the highways, and you're suggesting he finds his way into teaching by becoming a championship amateur dancer first?
Got any idea how much that costs, and the personal difficulties it involves?

I'm suggesting not making a commitment to teaching as a serious career unless you are up for this sort of thing, yes. Trying total-intensity dance as a student/amateur is a bit safer than signing a contract to be trained. No, it's not cheap... see the evidence of that everyday for both myself and from friends who are even more in the thick of that life. And that's when the money is spent efficiently with some of the best teachers in the country.

Son, get yerself to a franchise studio (Arthur Murray or Fred Astaire -- look in the yellow pages); if you're half decent looking with a nice personality, they'll want to hire you; get the training, work for it a couple of years, and decide if it's something you want to pursue.

But only if you can do it without signing anything. You probably can't, because they need you to do the work no one else wants.

At that point, and depending on how hard you have worked and how good you are, you'll be able to move to a better studio, if that is what you decide you want. Don't expect to make a lot of money right at first, but you will be able to make a decent living, if you're smart, hardworking and lucky
I know more than one successful competitor/teacher who started out exactly that way.

In previous generations, even five years ago, yes. But today with training from youth the norm, that path probably no longer leads to the good jobs - an adult beginner would need to be much more focused on core skills much faster to ever really make it.

If you want to teach some dancing on the side, you can take the scenic route, but if you want to be a dance teacher you need to focus on developing real skills and experience and not deviate from that. And you also need to get out and see the real dance world beyond the studio doors and understand the place you have a prospect of finding in it.

 

[DancingJools]

But there are sooooo many other avenues for dancers and dance teachers besides high-level competition. Sometimes amateurs on this site kind of forget that. There is a huge industry, and ways to make a living, teaching social dancing. It's really the bigger part of the industry. And wedding couples, and franchise comps (Fred Astaire's and Arthur Murray's have their own comps). You may not approve of the pedigree of these events, but obviously many people participate in them.
Anyway, I really wasn't trying to turn this topic into commercial hacks vs. pristine competitors. The truth is, the high-level competitive circuit is a minute segment of the industry, and a labor of love for most of those who take part in it. Few can afford that luxury. Dance teaching is a job, and can be a very pleasant one even for those who do not master the art, and I think that's what this poster was trying to get into.

 

[standardgirl]

Yes, DancingJools, mostly people confuse professional teacher with professional competitor. It helps to remember that studios hire people to Teach average pre-bronze Joe and Janes and lots of wedding couples... they do not hire people to "compete".

Very well said! :notworth: