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.
“Dance instructor resumes should reflect choreography, technique, and teaching style. Show how you inspire and guide students.”
— Carolyn Kleiman, Resume and Career Advisor
Most Popular Dance Instructor Resumes
Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume clearly outlines a progression from assistant to lead instructor, showing growth and commitment to the role. It includes specific teaching styles, performance planning, and private coaching, demonstrating versatility and initiative. To improve even further, consider quantifying student improvements or class sizes. To learn more about showcasing your impact effectively, visit How To Make a Resume.
Assistant Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume shows a solid foundation for someone early in their career. It highlights increasing responsibilities, teamwork with lead instructors, and logistical support. The candidate clearly understands how to contribute behind the scenes. Learn how to craft a compelling entry-level resume with Resume Summary Examples.
Ballroom Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
The resume clearly shows both instructional and competitive coaching experience. Including dance styles and levels taught helps show breadth. Adding competitive achievements could strengthen it further. Learn how to build on strong sections with Best Resume Formats.
Children’s Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume is tailored specifically to working with young learners. It blends dance and child development experience, making it ideal for early childhood roles. To ensure every section aligns with your target role, read What To Put on a Resume.
Dance Fitness Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume combines dance, fitness, and coaching. It demonstrates an ability to motivate and lead large classes while showcasing technical fitness knowledge. Learn how to balance physical instruction and teaching on your resume with Resume Skills.
Entry-Level Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This entry-level resume does a great job pulling in academic experience and early teaching opportunities. It proves value even before formal employment begins. Learn how to make academic work shine with Resume Objective Examples.
Hip Hop Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume captures style-specific expertise, performance achievements, and competitive experience. Highlighting results from competitions adds credibility. Find more tips for highlighting achievements in the Resume Skills guide.
Pole Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume focuses on a niche dance discipline with sensitivity and professionalism. It highlights inclusivity, physical training, and student safety. For more help listing specialized training, read How To List Certifications on a Resume.
Volunteer Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume proves that volunteer experience can be as impactful as paid work. It emphasizes leadership, community service, and values-driven teaching. Learn how to showcase unpaid work with How To Put Volunteer Work on a Resume.
Dance Competition Coach Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
The resume clearly shows high-stakes experience and results-oriented coaching. Including technical responsibilities like music and prop coordination gives it a professional edge. For more help highlighting complex roles, visit Resume Outline Examples.
Dance Program Director Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume emphasizes leadership and administrative skills alongside dance expertise. It's ideal for candidates managing entire programs or studios. Learn what to include for leadership roles with What To Put on a Resume.
Contemporary Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
It effectively focuses on artistry and student development. Using terms like "emotional expression" and "structured exploration" shows depth. To better highlight your creativity, explore Resume Summary Examples.
Tap Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
It focuses on technical expertise and performance preparation in a specific genre. Rhythm-based terminology makes this resume stand out. Discover how wording shapes perception with Best Font for Resume.
Dance Educator Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume blends academic and creative experience, showing the candidate’s qualifications for school or university teaching. For more guidance on combining education and experience, check out How To List Your Education on a Resume.
Musical Theater Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume speaks directly to stage-specific training and instruction. It also includes coaching and acting support, making it well-rounded. To explore more role-specific resume tips, visit How To Make a Resume.
Lyrical Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume shows how lyrical instructors merge movement and emotion. It highlights how emotional depth is taught and supported. For more on presenting specialized dance skills, visit Resume Skills.
Jazz Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
The resume provides clear evidence of technical and creative jazz skills. It’s focused, vibrant, and includes performance-oriented experience. For more on standing out with strong technical content, read Technical Skills for a Resume.
Private Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
It demonstrates independence and adaptability as a private instructor. The candidate effectively highlights their ability to customize training for individual goals. Learn how to showcase freelance work with CV vs. Resume.
Dance Recital Coordinator Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume excels in showcasing project coordination and leadership within performance settings. It highlights operational skills that many studios value. To explore resume structure tips, visit Resume Outline Examples.
Dance Curriculum Designer Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume demonstrates deep expertise in educational planning. It clearly emphasizes the ability to align dance training with learning goals. To better tailor your experience to teaching, read the Resume Interests Section.
High School Dance Teacher Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume clearly meets state school system needs by highlighting academic and dance expertise. It also shows strong collaboration and performance direction. For more on showcasing teaching credentials, visit How To List Certifications on a Resume.
Ballet Technique Coach Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
It’s specialized and technical, perfect for professional ballet settings. Methodology, student level, and coaching goals are all clear. Explore more resume content ideas with Best Resume Formats.
Preschool Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
It’s aligned to child development and communication, not just movement. The resume shows a nurturing, age-appropriate teaching approach. For more on resume tone and structure, see Soft Skills for a Resume.
Dance Improvisation Coach Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume is strong because it emphasizes a nontraditional yet increasingly relevant area of dance. It balances technical understanding with artistic freedom. For tips on communicating creative work clearly, check out Resume Language Skills.
Adaptive Dance Instructor Resume
Why This Resume Is a Great Example
This resume stands out for its focus on accessibility and empathy. It reflects a commitment to meeting students where they are, which is invaluable in education-focused roles. Learn more about aligning your resume with service-oriented roles by reading How To List Relevant Coursework on a Resume.
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Dance Instructor Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How To Write a Dance Instructor Resume
1. Write a brief summary of your dance instructor 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 a compelling section featuring your dance instructor experience
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. Add dance instructor 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 key skills and proficiencies for dance instructors
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.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dance Instructor Resume Examples and Advice
What makes a Dance Instructor CV stand out to recruiters?-
A Dance Instructor CV stands out by clearly demonstrating your expertise and achievements in the field. Be sure to use measurable outcomes and include quantifiable results wherever possible. Show how your contributions directly impacted the company, whether it’s through cost savings, operational efficiency, or revenue growth. Keep the layout clean and easy to navigate, focusing on relevant experience.
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.
How many pages should my dance instructor resume be?-
Generally, a dance instructor resume should be one page for candidates with fewer than 10 years of experience. A two-page resume is acceptable if you’re a seasoned professional with extensive accomplishments—but only if it provides meaningful details that strengthen your application. Tailor your content to the job, focusing on your most relevant qualifications.
Work history should typically cover the last 10 to 15 years. Older positions can be excluded or briefly summarized unless they’re highly relevant. A concise, focused resume demonstrates your ability to prioritize and communicate effectively.
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