How to Find a Great Dance Teacher for Your Child

Finding the right kind of dance teacher is one of the most important decisions a parent can make.

The best way to grow is by learning from a great teacher! Oftentimes, dancers will seek out teachers and coaches with a track record of winning. However, their methods may not give the successful feeling that a student strives for.

So, how do you find a great teacher? You find one that you can have an emotional connection to. It has been found that the best method for achieving lifelong learning benefits is to have an emotional connection to the experience. Those lasting memories that affect us most, often have a very high level of joy associated. So teachers using a well crafted lesson plan or providing constructive feedback alone is not enough to have the lifelong lasting impact. You want to look for a teacher who has:

1. The ability to develop a positive relationship

A great dance teacher is able to build a trusting relationship in order to create a safe, positive, and productive learning environment. The teacher encourages their students to express themselves and is willing to listen to them when there is a problem.

2. A patient, caring, and kind personality

You want to seek a teacher with personality characteristics related to being a compassionate person and having a sensitivity to student differences, particularly with learners. The teacher's disposition strongly relates to the success of a student's learning and development.

3. Knowledge of learners

A great dance teacher has the knowledge of the cognitive, social and emotional development of their students. This includes an understanding of how students learn at a given developmental level; how to teach in learning progressions; awareness that dancers have individual needs and abilities; and an understanding that their instruction should be adjusted to meet each dancer's needs. Look for the continued ability to understand the pace and capacity of each of their students.

4. Dedication to teaching

Dedication refers to a love of teaching and a passion for the work and time commitment to achieve success for their students. An outstanding dance teacher is very willing to help and give time to their students.

5. Encourages and elevates their student's self esteem

A great teacher elevates their student's belief in themself. When a teacher gives lots of encouragement towards a student's good choices, it raises their own expectations.

You want a teacher who recognizes the uniqueness and strengths of each student. Then they learn to celebrate their individuality and feel proud of their special place in our world. And look for a teacher who teaches that their students can learn from failure just as much as learning from success. Their students will learn to not be afraid to try new things and will reach new heights.

6. Engaging students in learning

You want to look for a dance teacher who knows how to engage and motivate students to learn. That type of teacher knows how to make the content they're learning interesting and fun. A strong teacher has the ability to motivate students to learn, especially the challenging stuff. And a great teacher motivates their students to succeed in and out of the dance studio.

Exceptional teachers develop strong bonds with students, and use them to help students learn. All of our teachers and coaches are continuously trained to teach this way at South Coast Conservatory. If you're seeking the best teacher or coach for your child that will make a life-long impression and elevate your child, we have over 30 great teachers that we want you to meet!