Learning to Become a Ballet Instructor

Learning to Become a Ballet Instructor Share your Passion through Teaching Ballet! ChaptersFormal Training in Dance EducationBallet teaching, a Rewarding and Diverse ProfessionGiving Classical Dance Lessons in the UK“I don't want people who want to dance, I want people who have to dance.” George BalanchineWith its pointe positions, immaculate costumes and seemingly effortless movements, ballet is a joy to watch. Considered the essence of Western dance, ballet embodies dance at its highest form. Ballerinas will testify of the gruelling training and the live, eat, sleep ballet lifestyle, but the sheer satisfaction of acquiring such grace is unequalled.Many classical dancers begin very young and spend a good amount of their childhood and teenage years training to acquire the proper technique. In recent decades, popular culture has helped democratise this once privileged dance style. Today ballet has never had as many fans. Whether at a professional level or for leisure, it has grown into a sought-after hobby that offers endless job opportunities in teaching.A danc e teacher’s income can vary anywhere between £22,000 and £24,000 per year at starting level while a seasoned dance teacher with years of experience can earn up to £50,000. Of course, working hours vary greatly according to the type of ballet training you wish to impart, it can range from a few classes a week at a local creative arts centre to full-time work with students wishing to forge a career path.So what type of dance training does one need to acquire to become a ballet instructor? The rigorous nature of this codified dance style means intensive rehearsing and accurate technique. Have you been looking for the right path to share your passion? Now’s the time to explore the different ways you can become a ballet teacher.See more about pricing for classes here.BA (Hons) Dance at Kingston UniversityDance, Performance and Teaching, BA (Hons) at University of LancashireBA (Hons) Dance Education at Canterbury Christ Church UniversityFor those already in possession of a relevant undergraduate degree, you can explore the option of postgraduate diplomas like the Dance Science Education (MSc PdDip) at the University of Edinburgh.The instruction does not only limit itself to physical training, you can also teach ballet theory, terminology, and dance history for complementary courses for students looking for an in-depth apprenticeship.To sum up here are few useful things to look for when becoming a ballet teacher :Undergraduate or postgraduate studiesIndustry experience dancing for a professional companyIntensive courses in ballet training for those with solid dance trainingIn addition to hard knowledge, classical dance instruction also requires the following soft skills :A natural talent for communicationA good amount of patience with learnersThe physical resistanceAn eagerness help othersEven though a degree in dance education will give you the necessary knowledge to master the art of dance and push its boundaries, you mustn’t forget to maintain your crea tivity. Forge a highly creative environment through regular choreographies and recital preparations, include your students as soon as their level permits, from costume to performance.Ballet teaching, a Rewarding and Diverse ProfessionAs a ballet teacher, you will set an example for many aspiring dancers. This is your chance to inspire and change lives through your teaching. From training young performers towards becoming professional dancers to helping students acquire a better understanding of the art, education is a rich and rewarding life mission.The knowledge that you will impart to your classes on a daily basis includes the following :Safe and effective warm-up routinesFundamentals of ballet moves and positions (feet and arms)Improving technique and fostering progressFeedback sessionsPreparing and taking part in dance examsPerformance and choreographyAdditional instruction extends to :Dance PedagogyHealthy habits for ballet dancers including nutritionCareer managementPhysical c oaching and conditioningStress management and relaxationPerformance planning and choreographyOne size does not fit all, choose your Ballet Teaching MethodSince its inception in the 15th century, this pillar of Western dance has evolved and branched out into several schools of ballet technique.The French school, led by the iconic Rudolf Nureyev developed rapidly in the 17th century giving ballet the many French sounding terms it still uses today.The Bournonville method is an adaptation of the French school with a strong contrast between graceful upper body and rapid and swift footwork, a lowered eye-line and high attention to arm movement. All this showing very little effort, a quality required today in most professional dancers. Light as a feather as they say!On the Russian side, Agrippian Vaganova developed her eponymous teaching approach in the late 19th Century. Telltale features of this method include: expressiveness in the arms, flexibility pushed to its extremes and special at tention to the lower back. This training gets rid of stiffness to profit a strong and pure style.Italian ballet master Enrico Cecchetti consolidated his method around internalising the art of dance instead of replicating a routine. Allowing for more emotivity in the performance means adding finishing touches once the basic movements are mastered. Versatile dancers often hold this ballet style as their basic training.The English school centres around the Royal Academy of Dance’s pedagogy but extends internationally. This English method merges all of the above styles with a strong attention to detail. It offers two programs: the Graded Examination Syllabus and the more demanding Vocational Graded Syllabus.The famed Balanchine technique is the most recent and widely used in the United States. It tends towards a neoclassical style with higher speed, deeper movements, strong attention to body lines making for an athletic ballet style.As a teacher of ballet, you may also branch out in o ther related disciplines :FitballetFloor barre or barre workoutsBallet body sculpting or toningBallet fusion“Being in ballet class, I feel, is like this meditation for me every morning.” Misty CopelandHelp people reveal their inner ballerina through a ballet class. (Source: Unsplash).Think about what equipment you may need for the various types of classes.Giving Classical Dance Lessons in the UKOnce your dance education diploma or a ballet teaching accreditation in hand you will be looking for opportunities for instruction. Rest assured, a myriad of options is available to you across the United Kingdom, from classic schooling, activity centres to specific dance academies.Schools to teach Ballet to Dancers of LeisureDue to a combination of dance and fitness crazes, dance studios have popped up everywhere in major UK’s cities. Here students take drop-in dance classes to stay fit and connect mind and body. Many dancers here make a habit of attending a class or two a week so you w ill probably develop a group of regular students. There is no pressure to perform or examinations to rehearse so the class program is more relaxed. This style of instruction offers a good amount of creativity and friendly contact with students, without the strict rules of a full-fledged ballet school.The following dance studios offer ballet classes for all levels:Pineapple Studios in London and nationwideBallet for You, LondonDancexchange in BirminghamDancebase in EdinburghTrinity Laban in Greenwich, LondonDance City, Newcastle Upon TyneArabesque School of Dance, West MidlandsTeaching Ballet to the UnderprivilegedBring classical dance to those who don’t have the means to attend regular dance classes. How rewarding to give people from all walks of life a chance to discover the graceful movements of a ballet! You may find this teaching very rewarding and make a difference in someone life while sharing your passion.There are several organisations you can contact to explore opportunit ies to get involved :People Dancing is a British foundation for a community dance.Rambert in London’s South Bank offers reduced rates for local residents.Bodysurf Scotland offers workshops for children, teenagers and adults.Danceaid offers dance classes to orphaned, underprivileged and disabled children in the UK and abroad.Ballet Teaching to Aspiring Professional DancersIf you are looking to join a faculty of dance teachers with a set curriculum, then a good number of years of experience and a diploma in dance education will be necessary. A number of professional ballerinas go on to become teachers at renowned institutions once they can no longer perform to dance company standards.These institutions will each subscribe to a ballet style like the Cecchetti or the English methods. More strict they employ highly qualified teachers as well as professional pianists to play during classes. Their aim is to develop capable and competent dancers from a young age so many classes are child or teen-focused. You may be asked to teach everything from fundamentals of ballet to four-year-olds to entrance audition training to aspiring ballerinas.The cream de la cream obviously being London’s Royal Ballet School here are a few additional schools dedicated to classical dance :The English National Ballet School (London)The Elmhurst School for Dance (Birmingham)The Northern Ballet School (Manchester)Highgate Ballet School (North London)The London Russian Ballet School (London)Become a Ballet Tutor with SuperprofDo you love teaching the basics of ballet to people around ? Have you been recognised at the dancer in the family but a professional career in dance was never for you. Then this is your chance to share your passion for pliés, arabesques and entre-chats with your peers.Superprof offers anyone a chance to pick up a new hobby or strengthen their skills through a network of trusted tutors. The platform rests upon knowledge-sharing, curiosity and total confidence in teache r-student relationships. The platform is now present across seventeen countries with classes taught in seven different languages.Enroll now and become a mentor and trainer via this platform and build yourself a trusted group of regular students. In 2017 alone the UK had over a million users looking to learn anything from academic subjects to artistic disciplines, including ballet.With all of these options, you will be sure to find the right kind of instruction for you. One cannot live a dispassionate life. We can’t think of a better way to make a living than by encouraging others to pursue their passion. Wishing you a lot of leaps and pirouettes with your newly found students!You can find students through Superprof, the specialist in jobs for  ex teachers!