Dance Teacher Resume - Do's and Don'ts for 2023
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Whether you’ve mastered the art of modern dance or can do freestyle hip-hop, how can you prove it on paper? We’re talking about showing your skills on a dance teacher resume.
If you’re pursuing a professional dance instructor career, crafting a strong dance resume should be on your priority list. Without one, your skills would reduce to nothing. Writing your dancer resume may sound simple, but you’ll notice that it’s harder than learning your first dance routine.
But just like how you can learn the dance style by following a set of rules, the same goes for resume writing. And if you want to craft a professional dancer resume, you couldn’t be in any better place. Take your hand, and we’ll show you the ropes for making a professional dance resume. Apart from that, we’ll also do a duet to explore the dos and don’ts to remember while writing your resume.
So, if you’re just starting your dance instructor career or have already given a few cases, here’s how to write a dance resume that will earn you a main job or a side gig.
More About Dance Teachers
Before we begin, what do we mean by dance teacher? Anyone can dance, but not everyone can teach. So, let’s first learn a bit more about dance teachers, specifically what they do, where they can work, and how someone can become a professional dance teacher.
What Does a Dance Teacher Do, and Where Do They Work?
As the title suggests, the dance teacher’s job is to help others express their emotions through various forms of fluid movement. They help students learn how to express themselves by using choreography routines. They train others on how to move on the beat and rhythm of the music. Furthermore, they also offer advice and consult students about different exercises to help prevent any injury during their dance routines.
Dance teachers might not be the most common job that people often go for, but it’s still a career path to choose if you have the passion to dance and teach. A professional dance instructor can work in private art schools and institutions. They also work in theaters, fine art, and community centers. Furthermore, dance instructors can also work in private dance studios, providing one-on-one lessons to those who want to learn.
How do You Become One?
If you are interested in a career in teaching dance, then surely you want to know about the requirements of a professional dance instructor. Apart from having a must-have dance teacher resume, you must possess a degree in education if you’re pursuing a dance instructor career in schools and institutions.
On the other hand, your physical skills also need to be up to par to teach others. This includes having extensive knowledge of performing various dance styles and the skills to teach others. Furthermore, dance teaching is a job that keeps you on your toes, so you’ll need a tremendous amount of stamina and excellent physical health to keep yourself up and running.
What to Include in a Dance Teacher Resume?
A professional dancer’s resume follows the same structure as any resume but with a few key differences. Let’s run the structure by you and discuss how you can write each. So, here’s how to write a dance teacher resume:
1. Header
The header is the first section of your resume. It is the first thing the hiring manager views on it. Now, this section is the most crucial in a dance resume. Why? Because it contains the name and contact information of the candidate. Through it, the hiring manager learns whose resume they are looking at.
The contact information doesn’t just include your cell phone number. Still, you should also pen down your email address, city, and state, and, if possible, links to your social media accounts, such as LinkedIn and Instagram. The information provided makes it convenient for the employer to contact you for an interview if they find you suitable for the job.
Here’s a dance resume header template that you can follow:
- [Name]
- [City and State]
- [Phone Number]
- [Email Address]
- [LinkedIn Profile] (optional)
- [Instagram Profile] (optional)
2. Resume Summary or Objective
Did you know a single job advert can get as many as 118 applications? With this many resumes, you can’t expect the recruiter to thoroughly scan each resume. So, how can you make your resume stand out in seconds? The answer is a brief resume summary or objective statement.
Think of it as a quick overview of your resume itself. It is a short passage exploring the key skills and qualifications that make you a good fit for the position. The resume summary and objective have one key difference. The summary focuses on your key achievements from past experiences, while an objective discusses your goals as the main focus. In most cases, a resume summary works well when you have years of experience under your name, while a resume objective proves useful when you’ve just started your career life.
3. Dance Education and Training
Now, you might be thinking, what does education have to do with teaching someone to dance? But the reality is that it does. Although education may not directly help with dance, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in education to be a professional dance instructor, specifically in educational institutions.
In addition, if you’ve earned relevant degrees associated with the field of dance, like Fine Arts or Music, make sure to mention them in your resume, as it can make you stand out and more suitable for the role. Here’s a template you can follow to discuss your educational background for a professional dancer resume:
Educational Background:
- [Degree Name]
- [Institution Name]
- [Graduation Year]
- [City and State of the Institution]
- [GPA] (only when it’s above 3.0)
4. Dance Teaching Experience
This section is similar to the work experience section. In the following section, you point out the relevant experience you’ve gained. It’s one of the most crucial sections in a dance teacher’s resume. Consider it your signature move in an audition that makes you stand out. Here’s how to craft it:
- Use a reverse-chronological layout for your dancer resume. Show your recent experience first while following it along with the older ones.
- For making each entry, make sure to mention the employer's name, the employment dates, the city, and the state.
- In each entry, focus on your achievements rather than your responsibilities. If you previously worked as a dance teacher in a private school, rather than discuss what you taught, discuss what you achieved like you oversaw 200+ performances and created a teaching program to train students to perform at a State music festival.
5. Skills
Now, if you want to teach, you must have the skills. The following section is just what you need to prove them. Here, you’ll list down your hard and soft skills. Now, rather than listing down random skills, you need to showcase those skills that the position is looking for
to make this section effective.
That’s why you must extensively research the employer before discussing the skill. Take a look at their job posting and website. Analyze them to learn what skills they are looking for. For instance, if the employer is seeking a dance instructor to train high school students, then they should possess interpersonal skills to train students. If you have strong interpersonal communication skills, then be sure to list them down under the skills section.
Do’s and Don’ts in a Dance Teacher Resume
Now that you know how to write one, let’s explore some dos and don’ts of writing a dance teacher resume:
1. Do Keep It Around a Single Page
Did you know recruiters only give 6—8 seconds to review the resume? With such a short time span in place, you need to carefully craft your resume to make an impact in that respective time. So, how can you do that? Simply keep your resume as brief as possible.
Go for a single page for your professional dancer resume. Yes, you read that right, a Single page! Not the front and back of the single page, but just one side of the page. So, before writing, ensure you only pen down what you want to show the recruiter.
2. Don’t Go for Ridiculous Fonts
Apart from page length, the font style in which it’s written also matters. As you’re making the resume, you should remember that recruiters give only a few seconds to each resume. And, for that short time, your resume should be simple to read and easy to navigate.
Although design matters, if it makes it hard for the recruiters to read, they may avoid even giving your resume a look. This includes font styles like Algerian, Comic Sans, and Wingdings. Instead, use a simple, formal font style throughout your resume. Sans Serif fonts and Serif fonts will work well.
3. Do Keep a Reasonable Font Size
In addition to font style, its size also matters. You must manage the font size as you work with a single page. Although a large font size would mean better readability, remember that the larger the text, the less space you’ll be working with.
So, you must find the sweet spot where your resume is readable while not sacrificing your page space. We recommend keeping your dance teacher’s resume font size around 11-12 pts.
4. Don’t Focus Only On Design
Your resume needs to look good, but going overboard with your design would only cause problems rather than making your resume more effective. Recruiters often don’t care much about design; instead, they look for the candidate’s relevant skills and experience. So, instead of a ridiculously designed resume, go for a simple and formal resume design.
Ensure you have a single font size and style throughout the resume. Line up your bullet points, and ensure everything in the resume looks consistent from start to end.
5. Do Make Sure to Use Heading in your Resume
Before writing the resume, try putting yourself in the recruiter’s shoes. Now, think about the things that they would expect from your resume. These would probably be your name, contact info, skills, and experience, right? So, you must ensure that these things come first on your resume.
Your resume should follow a logical structure. Ensure you put your name and contact info on top of your dance resume while following it along with your resume summary, work experience, education, and skills. If you have any certifications or references, then these are additional that you can put at the page bottom.
6. Don’t Go for a One-Size-Fits-All Solution
Dance has various forms, and we know that you aren’t a master of it all. Employers also know this, so they always describe their requirements in the job description. As each job requirement is different, your resume must also be.
Never go for a one-size-fits-all solution. This will reduce the likelihood of standing out from the competition. Instead, tailor your professional dance resume according to the positions you’re applying for. For instance, if they’re looking for an expert in modern dance to teach college students, your resume should showcase your skills and experience in modern dance. If they require a ballet instructor to teach young girls, your resume should showcase you as an expert dancer. The point is always to go for research before crafting a dance resume.
7. Do Proofread and Double Check your Contact Info
Once you’re done creating your professional dancer resume, before submitting it, read it carefully to ensure no spelling or grammatical errors are present. These mistakes can offset your resume. Ensure that everything is clear and free from mistakes. Double-check your name and contact information to ensure it’s correct. Also, don’t use emails like dancemaster64@gmail.com. Always put a formal email address that you keep separate for work.
Summing it Up
Let’s provide a quick overview of what we learned as we’ve reached the end. The dance teacher’s resume is the document that proves your skills as a dance instructor to the recruiter. The resume header, summary, dance teaching experience, education, and skills are the main components of your dance resume. Ensure your dance resume is no longer than a single page and has a reasonable font style and size. Seheading to make your resume, and always research the job you’re applying for before crafting a resume. With these points in mind, you’ll be able to craft the perfect resume that is sure to make a positive impression on the recruiter.
Quick Questions
Here’s how to write a dance teacher resume:
- Take the time to extensively research the job requirements and the employer.
- After research, think of the skills and qualifications they’re looking for.
- Think about your skills and qualifications and learn what matches the job requirements.
- Write the header first, and follow it with a resume summary, dance teaching experience, education, and skill.
- Ensure everything is on a single page with a singular formal font style and size.
- Proofread it once you’re done.
Here’s how you should format your dance teacher resume:
- Your resume should follow a reverse chronological order.
- Keep the resume length to a single page.
- Use a formal font style like Sans Serif or Serif font.
- Keep the font size up to 11-12 pts.
- Use headings and whitespace to divide the content on your resume.
A typical resume should be no longer than a single page.
Dance teacher should ensure they highlight their relevant skills, qualifications, and work experience in their resume. To do it, they should include the following sections:
- Resume header
- Resume Summary
- Dance Teaching Experience
- Education
- Skills
