How To Write a Dance Instructor Resume
To write a compelling dance instructor resume, highlight your comprehensive knowledge of various dance styles and emphasize your unique approach as an instructor. Showcase your experience planning creative choreographies and performances. Demonstrate your ability to foster personal and professional growth for your students. This guide will provide valuable insights to help you translate your career into an accomplishment-driven resume.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
Craft a concise, dynamic profile that encapsulates the strongest aspects of your experience. Start with an opening sentence that includes your job title, years of industry experience, and three to four skills that align with the dance studio you’re applying to. Highlight your ability to provide constructive feedback and identify individualized teaching methods to help students improve.
Provide deeper insights into the dance styles that best illustrate your talent and expertise as an instructor. For example, rather than simply stating your background in Latin dance instruction, emphasize your experience developing choreographies for salsa, bolero, mambo, and merengue performances.
Senior-Level Profile Example
An innovative dance instructor with over 10 years of experience teaching engaging lessons in classical, neoclassical, romantic, and contemporary ballet. A strong history of developing and implementing dynamic teaching strategies to aid students in improving form and technique. Adept at creating beginner, intermediate, and advanced recital choreographies.
Entry-Level Profile Example
A certified dance instructor with entry-level experience specializing in jazz, contemporary dance, hip hop, and tap dance. Adept at building curriculum and tailoring lesson plans according to student strengths and weaknesses to maximize growth.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
Your professional experience section serves as the foundation and core of your resume. To pique the hiring manager’s interest, craft results-oriented bullet points to illustrate your strongest career achievements. Highlight the number of performances you planned or students you instructed throughout your roles. Feature nationally recognized competitions your students participated in. Incorporate metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) such as the average duration of a student relationship or recurring revenue.
Provide specific examples from your career that show your unique approach to dance instruction. You need to motivate your students as an instructor, but finding the right balance between critiquing a performance and providing positive feedback is important. If a student feels discouraged, this can harm their growth as a dancer. At the same time, you must provide honest feedback to help your student improve their technique. Emphasize your ability to identify the ideal approach for each individual to maximize growth and enhance student engagement.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Senior Dance Instructor, Brooklyn Ballet Academy, New York, NY | May 2016 – present
- Create engaging lesson plans, define curriculum, and develop recital choreographies for a variety of ballet styles, including classical, neoclassical, and contemporary
- Deliver advanced instruction to classes of about 20 students, evaluate posture and form, provide constructive feedback and positive reinforcement according to individual needs, and prepare students for national ballet competitions
- Improve student understanding of labanotation and utilize Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) teaching techniques to tailor the pace and style of lessons to maximize student growth and performance
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Dance Instructor, Martin Dance Studios, Seattle, WA | July 2021 – present
- Plan lessons for classes of around 15 to 20 students in jazz, hip hop, and contemporary dance, develop dance choreographies, and define curriculum to drive student success
- Evaluate student performance, strengths, and weaknesses and provide recommendations and learning strategies to facilitate growth
- Incorporate a variety of dance styles and choreographies to aid students in improving technique, form, posture, and stamina
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Although a professional certification won’t always be required, it can differentiate you from the competition during your job search. That being said, obtaining the right certification according to your area of expertise is important. For a ballet dance instructor, completing a program with the Royal Academy of Dance will give you a strong foundation for your teaching career. If your specialty is Latin dance, jazz, or hip hop, you may prefer to obtain a certification from the Dance Educators of America.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) Dance
University of Washington, Seattle, WA | 2016
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
Advanced Teacher Certificate, Dance Educators of America | 2019
Associate Specialized Training Certificate, Dance Educators of America | 2016
4. List pertinent key skills
Although it’s unlikely that every dance studio will utilize Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) during the hiring process, incorporate keywords that align with the organization’s needs. This is a foundational principle for resume building. Include a range of key skills that highlight your curriculum development and lesson planning capabilities, along with the styles of dance you specialize in. Below, you’ll find a list of potential keywords that you may encounter during your job search:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Ballroom dancing | Choreography |
| Classical ballet | Contemporary ballet |
| Curriculum development | Dance instruction |
| Education | Form |
| Hip hop | Jazz |
| Neoclassical ballet | Labanotation |
| Latin dance | Lesson planning |
| Posture | Rumba |
| Salsa | Student assessment |
| Student engagement | Tap dance |
| Teaching | Technique |
How To Pick the Best Dance Instructor Resume Template
The primary function of the resume template is to convey your qualifications, experience, and achievements to the hiring manager in a clear, concise, and straightforward manner. For this reason, it’s best to avoid overly decorative fonts, flashy colors, and graphics that might distract the reader from your content. Choose an elegant, single-column template that allows you to control the flow of information and prioritize the most essential aspects of your professional career.
Dance Instructor Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Kevin Morrison
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Windermere Rd., Seattle, WA 12345
Profile
A certified Dance Instructor with entry-level experience, specializing in jazz, contemporary dance, hip hop, and tap dance. Adept at building curriculum and tailoring lesson plans according to student strengths and weaknesses to maximize growth.
Professional Experience
Dance Instructor, Martin Dance Studios, Seattle, WA
May 2021 – Present
- Plan lessons for classes of up to 15-20 students in jazz, hip hop, and contemporary dance, develop dance choreographies, and define curriculum to drive student success
- Evaluate student performance, strengths, and weaknesses and provide recommendations and learning strategies to facilitate growth
- Incorporate a variety of dance styles and choreographies to aid students in improving technique, form, posture, and stamina
Part-Time Dance Instructor, YMCA, Seattle, WA
May 2020 – May 2021
- Deliver dance instruction to groups of 30+ students across all ages in jazz and hip hop dance styles, plan engaging lessons according to student interests, and create a positive and inclusive learning environment
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) Dance
University of Washington, Seattle, WA September 2016 – May 2020
Key Skills
- Dance Instruction
- Jazz
- Hip Hop
- Contemporary Dance
- Lesson Planning
Certifications
- Associate Specialized Training Certificate, Dance Educators of America, 2021
Selena Ramirez
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Santa Maria, San Francisco, CA 12345
Profile
A certified Dance Instructor with five years of experience, specializing in Latin dance, Salsa, Mambo, Bolero, and American Rhythm. A proven track record of developing innovative lesson plans for a broad range of dance styles. Adept at balancing constructive criticism with positive reinforcement to drive personal and professional growth.
Professional Experience
Dance Instructor, Latin Arts Studio, San Francisco, CA
May 2018 – Present
- Educate dance students on cultural and historical aspects of Latin dance, develop choreographies for salsa, bolero, mambo, and merengue performances, and coordinate with students to identify ideal music selection for recitals
- Plan dance curriculum for beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes of up to 25 students, pace lessons according to skill sets, and tailor instruction to individual needs
- Provide instruction in a variety of Latin dance styles and deliver constructive criticism with patience and empathy to enhance student learning and engagement
Dance Instructor, NorCal Dance Studios, San Francisco, CA
May 2016 – May 2018
- Taught Latin dance lessons to children and adult students, developed curriculum according to competency levels, analyzed performance and student progress, and delivered feedback in a kind and professional manner
- Defined choreographies for dance recitals and supported students in preparing for performances using a variety of instructional techniques
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) Dance
University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA September 2012 – May 2016
Key Skills
- Dance Instruction
- Classical Ballet
- Latin Dance
- Contemporary Ballet
- Curriculum Development
Certifications
- Advanced Teacher Certificate, Dance Educators of America, 2019
- Associate Specialized Training Certificate, Dance Educators of America, 2016
Melissa Anderson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY, 12345
Profile
An innovative Dance Instructor with 10+ years of experience teaching engaging lessons in classical, neoclassical, romantic, and contemporary ballet. A strong history of developing and implementing dynamic teaching strategies to aid students in improving form and technique. Adept at creating beginner, intermediate, and advanced recital choreographies.
Professional Experience
Senior Dance Instructor, Brooklyn Ballet Academy, New York, NY
May 2016 – Present
- Create engaging lesson plans, define curriculum, and develop recital choreographies for a variety of ballet styles, including classical, neoclassical, and contemporary
- Deliver advanced instruction to classes of up to 20+ students, evaluate posture and form, provide constructive feedback and positive reinforcement according to individual needs, and prepare students for national ballet competitions
- Improve student understanding of labanotation and utilize RAD teaching techniques to tailor the pace and style of lessons to maximize student growth and performance
Dance Instructor, Redfield Dance Studio, New York, NY
May 2011 – May 2016
- Planned and taught lessons in contemporary ballet, jazz, ballroom dancing, and modern dance to students of various ages and backgrounds
- Coordinated with a team of five dance instructors to improve curriculum, support lesson planning, identify music selection for recitals, and plan choreographies
Education
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) Dance
Columbia University, New York, NY September 2007 – May 2011
Key Skills
- Dance Instruction
- Classical Ballet
- Latin Dance
- Contemporary Ballet
- Curriculum Development
Certifications
- Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies, Royal Academy of Dance, 2014
- Associate Specialized Training Certificate, Dance Educators of America, 2011
Frequently Asked Questions: Dance Instructor Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for dance instructor resumes?+
As a dance instructor, you may struggle to diversify your usage of action verbs as you build the professional experience section of your resume. It’s easy to find yourself falling into a pattern when writing about your teaching career. To keep your content fresh and improve the language of your document, we’ve provided a list of strong action verbs to help you frame your career achievements in a compelling manner:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Assessed |
| Coached | Collaborated |
| Communicated | Conducted |
| Coordinated | Created |
| Delivered | Developed |
| Educated | Evaluated |
| Identified | Improved |
| Led | Managed |
| Mentored | Performed |
| Planned | Provided |
| Supported | Taught |
How do you align your resume with a dance instructor job description?+
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, dance instructor jobs are expected to grow by 27% between 2021 and 2031. However, due to the industry's size, this only equates to 2,700 new openings each year. To maximize your chances of landing the interview and differentiate yourself from the competition, align your resume with the job description.
The first step is to identify aspects of your career that dance studios and schools will find compelling. Those needs will vary according to the type of studio you’re applying to. For example, if you’re pursuing a position at a ballet academy, it’s important to outline your knowledge of classical and contemporary styles. Also, research the studio and emphasize how your teaching approach and experience align with the organization’s culture.
What is the best dance instructor resume format?+
Reverse chronological is the optimal format for dance instructor resumes. This approach allows you to place your most recent and relevant experience at the forefront of your document while illustrating a clear career progression. If you lack hands-on teaching experience, you can place your skills and dance history below the summary, but provide detailed bullet points rather than only listing your knowledge of dance styles.
Expert advice: include a cover letter with your resume
Craft a matching cover letter to compliment your resume during the job search. Tailor your cover letter towards each studio you apply to. In the middle paragraphs, mention something specific about the studio’s reputation or mission statement and why this draws you to apply for the position. For more insights, visit our teacher cover letter guide.
