| How to Become a Dance Teacher Posted: 20 Feb 2019 04:00 PM PST With the proper credentials and training, "dancing through life" doesn't have to be a pipe dream. Many people make a living doing what they love, and if dance is your passion, you can make a great career out of dance instruction. Whether you want to teach in schools, at fitness centers, or in private studios, you can do so by becoming a trained dancer, pursuing teaching credentials, and applying for jobs. EditBecoming a Trained Dancer - Enroll in dance classes. Look up dance academies in your area and explore what kind of classes are available near you. If you are in high school or college, enroll in dance classes offered at your school. Working with an instructor will help you to improve your form and learn proper foundations in various dance forms.
- Depending on what kind of dance you are interested in, opportunities will vary. Many ballet dancers begin training very young, while starting later in other dance forms (ballroom, modern, salsa) is typical.
- Some dance companies offer intense summer training programs. These are a good option to advance quickly in your training.[1]
- Make use of free and low-cost training opportunities. If you're in high school, classes offered at school are a great free option to get started with. Watching choreography videos online is totally free, and practicing these routines at home can improve your ability to remember choreography.
- Check out community centers, churches, and studios to see if they offer free classes.
- Join dance communities through your classes. Going to classes regularly at the same studio can help you to make friends who are also pursuing careers in dance or dance education. Follow the Instagram accounts of teachers and studios and try to talk to the people in your classes to stay inspired and build a support network.[2]
- To strike up a conversation with someone after class, try complimenting their performance in the class or asking how long they've been taking classes at the studio.
- The instructors at your studio could make great mentors in your journey to become a dance teacher. Try inviting your instructor out to coffee, getting to know them better, and maybe asking if they will mentor you.
- Practice dance outside of your classes. To become a dance teacher, you're going to need to commit yourself to a lot of training, in and out of class. You can use your time wisely by rehearsing outside of classes as well as in them. Find space in studios or gyms to practice in front of mirrors, and try creating your own movements and choreographing pieces to advance your skills.
EditPursuing Teaching Credentials - Get a dance teacher certification for instructing at private studios. Teacher certifications will help you understand important teaching techniques and methodologies for dance instruction.[3] Private studios will sometimes allow experienced dancers to teach without a certification, but a teaching certificate will most likely give you a leg up in the application process.[4]
- In the UK, you will most likely need a specialized qualification based on subject from the Council for Dance Education and Training.[5]
- In the US, programs vary. Some popular dance teacher certification groups are the Royal Academy of Dance, the American Ballet Theatre, the National Dance Teachers Association of America, and the American Tap Dance Foundation.[6]
- If you are unsure if a certain certification is credible, you can check with local studios to see if they accept this certification.
- Pursue a bachelor's degree to expand your job opportunities. While a college degree is not required for work in most private studios, public schools and universities will be looking for candidates with bachelor's degrees. If you are enrolled in college already, see what kinds of programs are offered at your college in education and dance.[7] If you are not, research dance education programs near you.
- Many schools offer specific dance education degrees: the University of Texas at Austin, Illinois State, and Radford, for example.[8]
- Many colleges also offer state-approved dance certifications for teaching in public schools. The National College Dance Directory is a good place to search for options within your state.[9]
- Study for a fitness certification for gym positions. If you are serious about combining fitness training with dance, a certification can improve your craft and your chance of being hired to teach dance as fitness. There are a variety of certification programs, the American Council on Exercise being one of the most common in the US.[10]
- Pursue a Master's degree or PhD to instruct higher level dancers. A Master's in Fine Arts (MFA) or a PhD in dance education can open up job opportunities at the university level or in professional studios and improve your salary. An MFA is the highest creative degree in dance, while a PhD will involve scholarly research and writing about dance education.[11]
- As you pursue a degree in higher education, it will be important to keep up with your dance training outside of scholarly work. This will help you stay in dancing shape, keep up on your form, and maintain your passion for dance instruction.
- Ask prospective employers about education requirements. If you're unsure exactly what education you're going to need for jobs you have your eye on, you can go online or call employers to learn what they are looking for in a candidate. This can help you decide if and what education programs you want to pursue.
- For instance, if the kind of job you want regularly requires bachelor's degrees, you will need to consider this path.
EditApplying for Dance Teacher Jobs - Update (or create) your resume to include recent education and teaching experience. Your resume should be around one page and will begin with your name and contact info. In the body of the resume, include relevant dance training, teacher certifications, dance or education degrees, experience as an instructor, and any relevant special skills (acrobatic training or fitness certifications, for instance).
- Search job forums and compare available dance teacher positions. Look on job sites like LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter or Indeed for dance teacher jobs. Compare job benefits and consider your values. For example, private studios may pay more money than schools or community organizations, but community organizations will allow you to work with underserved populations.
- If you want flexible hours, you may consider working part-time at a studio.
- If inspiring youth is a big reason you want to teach, you may value working with kids more than you value a higher salary.[12]
- Apply to multiple dance teacher jobs. Applying to a variety of jobs will increase your chances of finding work. Send the required materials to each job you are considering. If you intend to stay in the same place, apply to local schools or studios, but if you are willing to move, you can expand your search and application process nationally.
- Continue your dance education formally or informally. As you search for jobs or even once you are hired, it is always a good idea to keep learning and growing as an instructor. Continue taking classes at studios to grow informally, and consider pursuing further formal education (like a bachelor's or master's degree) if you wish to teach at a higher level or increase your salary.
- Many dance studios will want to hire teachers who are versed in a variety of dance forms, so the bigger your repertoire, the more competitive you will be as an applicant.[13]
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Crochet Scalloped Edges Posted: 20 Feb 2019 08:00 AM PST A scalloped border is a wavy edge that goes around the outside of an item. Scalloped borders add interest to crocheted and knit items, such as blankets, scarves, and hats. It is easy to add a scalloped border whether you are a beginner or expert knitter, so try adding one to a knit or crocheted item for a little extra flair! EditChoosing Yarn and Beginning the Border - Choose a matching or contrasting color yarn to use for a border. You can add a border onto a knit or crocheted item that is the same color as the item or that is a different color. Consider how much you want the border to stand out and what color would work best with the item.[1]
- For example, if you will be adding a border onto a baby blue blanket, then you may choose a baby blue yarn in the same shade, or opt for something that will contrast with the blanket, such as pale yellow, mint green, or white.
- Pick yarn that is the same weight as the item. For best results, make sure that the yarn is the same weight as the yarn that was used to knit or crochet the item. You can find the yarn weight listed on the package of the yarn, or just compare a strand of the yarn in your item with a strand in the yarn you'd like to use and see if they are roughly the same diameter.[2]
- For example, if the item is made from medium-weight yarn, then use a medium-weight yarn for the border.
- Select a crochet hook that will work with the type of yarn you are using. Check your yarn's label for a crochet hook size recommendation, or look it up online if you are unsure. Using the correct size hook for the yarn you have selected will help to ensure that you get the best results.[3]
- For example, if you are using a medium-weight yarn to create a scalloped border, then the recommended size may be a US size I-9 (5.5 mm).
- Slipstitch into the edge of the item. Identify where you want to work the first stitch on the border of your item. Then, make a slipknot and slide it onto your hook. Insert the end of the hook into the stitch where you want the border to begin. Then, loop the yarn over the end of the hook and pull it through both loops to anchor the yarn to your item.[4]
- If you plan to go all the way around the item, then you can start anywhere along the border.
- If you only plan to add a border to part of the item, decide where you want the border to begin and end.
EditWorking a Basic Scallop Stitch - Chain 1 to provide slack for the first stitch. Loop the yarn over the hook and pull this yarn through the loop to create 1 chain.[5] This will make it easier to work a scallop without making the item look puckered.[6]
- Repeat this before each new scallop.
- Skip 2 stitches and double crochet 5 times into the same stitch. Do not work stitches into the first 2 stitches next to where you anchored the yarn. Go to the third stitch and then loop the yarn over the end of the hook 1 time. Insert the hook into the stitch, and yarn over again. Pull through 1, and then yarn over the hook again. Pull through 2, then yarn over again and pull through the last 2.[7]
- Repeat the double crochet stitch 4 more times into the same space.[8]
- Skip 2 stitches and slipstitch into the third stitch. After you complete the fifth double crochet stitch, skip the next 2 stitches. Then, work a slipstitch into the third stitch from where you worked the 5 double crochet stitches.[9]
- Repeat the sequence to continue adding scallops. Chain 1, skip 2 stitches, and then double crochet 5 times into the third stitch. Then, skip 2 stitches and slipstitch into the third stitch. Repeat this sequence to keep adding scallops onto the edges of your project.[10]
- You can create as many scallops as you like using this sequence.
EditFinishing the Border - Finish the border with a slipstitch. Keep working until you have covered the desired section of your item. Then, work a slipstitch into the space between your first and last stitches if you are doing a full border, or after the last stitch if you are doing a partial border.[11]
- If you are doing a full border, do your best to position the last scallop and slipstitch so that the ends will be as evenly spaced as the rest of the item. However, don't worry if you are 1 or 2 stitches off. It will not be noticeable.
- Cut the yarn from the last stitch. Use a sharp pair of scissors to cut the end of the yarn at this distance. It's okay to estimate this length. It does not need to be exact. You just need enough yarn to easily pull the end through your last stitch.[12]
- Pull the end of the yarn through the loop on your crochet hook. Wrap the strand around the hook 1 time and then pull the end of the strand through the loop that is on the crochet hook. Bring the end of the strand all the way through the loop and tug the end until it is a tight knot.[13]
- This will secure the end of your border.
- Cut the loose ends from the border. You will have a tail at the beginning of your border and at the end of it. Cut each of these strands of yarn about from the last stitch. Do not cut the ends of your yarn any shorter than this or they may unravel.[14]
- Your border is complete after you cut the ends!
EditThings You'll Need - Yarn
- Crochet hook
- Scissors
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Learn to Say No Posted: 20 Feb 2019 12:00 AM PST Many people struggle with saying, "No." If someone asks you for a favor or a commitment, you may feel obligated to say "Yes." Remember, just because you can do something does not mean it is required. Work on considering the best ways to say "No." Think about things like your personal boundaries and the situation at hand. When saying "No," do so in a polite manner that makes your boundaries clear. Work on avoiding guilt after saying "No." Understand you always have a right to turn down an invitation or refuse a favor. It's okay to make yourself and your mental health a priority. EditConsidering How to Say No - Give yourself permission to say no. Many people have a knee-jerk reaction to say "Yes" when they're asked to do someone a favor. Keep in mind, you are never required to say "Yes." It's actually okay to say "No" sometimes. Accept this as you prepare to say "No" to someone. This will help you say "No" with ease.[1]
- If you never say "No," this can have negative consequences. You can enable someone who relies too much on you for favors. You can also burn out on your own end and lose focus.
- If you say "No" too often, you may miss out on things that may be good for you. If you're overcommitted doing things you don't want to do, you won't have much time left for yourself.
- Make time for the things you really enjoy rather than saying "Yes" as a knee-jerk response. If you, say, agreed to help a friend move all weekend, you may have to turn down an invitation to go on a weekend hiking trip with another group of friends.
- Establish your personal boundaries. It's always easier to say "No" if you have a reason. However, that reason does not have to be concrete. Many people think if they can do something, they should. Your reason for saying "No" can be a simple matter of your own personal boundaries. Think about what boundaries you have, and embrace the fact you're allowed to stay true to them.[2]
- Consider what you are reasonably able to do, and what you actually enjoy doing. You can say "No" to things that drain you or distract you. You can set specific boundaries regarding what you will and will not agree to do.
- For example, maybe you value solitude. You can set a boundary that you won't go out two nights each weekend. You can use this boundary as a reason for saying "No." For instance, "I would love to go out with you Saturday, but I have plans Friday. I never go out two nights in a row because I get too tired."
- You can also set boundaries in regards to personal commitments. You can, for example, have a rule that you only volunteer for two charity events per month if this is reasonable for you given your schedule.
- Be aware of potential persuasion techniques. People often won't take "No" for an answer. If you say "No" to someone, they may use persuasion techniques to try and change your mind. Be aware of potential persuasion techniques so you can establish a firm offense.[3]
- People may try to guilt you into doing something to reciprocate a favor. Remember, just because someone did you a favor does not mean you owe them. Friends do not keep score.
- People may also ask twice. If you say "No" to one thing, they may try to get you to agree to a smaller commitment or favor. Remember to be firm. Keep saying "No."
- A person may also try to get you to do something by comparing you to other people. They may say another person agreed to help. You are not another person. You do not have to do something simply because someone else did.
- Practice saying "No." It may sound silly, but you can actually practice saying "No" alone. Try standing before a mirror and looking at yourself. Practice giving a firm, "No" to someone so you get comfortable with the words. Many people are nervous about saying "No" and may say "Yes" due to anxiety. Practicing can help quell some of this anxiety.[4]
EditSaying No - Ask for more time before committing. Your knee-jerk response to being asked for a favor may be to say "Yes." Make a habit of not giving an automatic "Yes" all the time. When asked to do something, instead respond with, "I'll think about it" or "Can I get back to you on that? I'd like to, but I might have something scheduled."[5]
- Saying "I'll think about it" will usually get the person off your back. This will give you time to genuinely consider your response.
- After agreeing to think something over, you can decide later whether or not you agree. If you decide against doing something, you can give a firm "No" later.
- For example, a friend asks if you'll watch her cat over the holiday weekend. Say, "I have to look over my schedule. Let me think about it."
- Start with a compliment or gratitude. While you should be firm when saying "No," you'll also feel better if you're polite. When letting someone down, soften the blow by starting with a compliment. Express gratitude at having been asked or invited.[6]
- For example, "I'm glad you feel comfortable asking me to watch Bella. It means a lot knowing that you trust me with your cat because I know how much you care about her."
- Give a clear "No." After the initial kindness, you can say "No." Be firm here. You want to make it clear you are giving a firm "No" so the person does not press the issue or ask you again.[7]
- For example, "I just don't really have the time to run back and forth from your place this weekend. I already have a lot of plans with family."
- Thank and encourage the person. You want to leave things on a good note. You can be firm without being rude or aggressive. Thank the person for thinking of you, and wish them good luck.[8]
- For example, "Again, I'm glad to know you trust me with Bella. Good luck finding someone else to watch her."
EditAvoiding Guilt - Examine any reasons you avoid saying "No." If you need to learn to say "No," you may avoid it by habit. Think about any underlying reasons you may be uncomfortable turning someone down. This can help you identify how your inability to say "No" may be irrational.[9]
- Maybe you're a people pleaser by nature. You may not want to upset other people.
- You may also avoid confrontation. Even a small confrontation may be stressful for you.
- You may also worry about making people angry. You may irrationally feel people will not like you if you say "No."
- Keep in mind that you do not need a reason to say "No." Some people feel like they have to have a good reason to say no, but this is not the case. If you do not want to do something, then you don't have to do it. Try to remind yourself of this in situations where you can't think of a reason to say no.
- For example, if a friend invites you to see a concert with him or her and you simply don't like live music, then say so. Try saying, "No thanks. I am not a fan of live music, so I am going to sit this one out."
- Or, if someone invites you out on a night when you just don't feel like going anywhere, then try saying, "You know, I really don't feel like coming out tonight, maybe another time."
- Accept that boundaries are personal and subjective. You need to embrace your own boundaries to work on saying "No." Boundaries are personal, and usually subjective. It's okay if your boundaries are different from someone else's. Be comfortable with your own boundaries and allow yourself to stand by them.[10]
- Boundaries are a projection of who you are. Therefore, there is no inherent value in boundaries. Your boundaries are not better or worse than another person's.
- Never compare your boundaries to someone else's. You may, for example, feel guilty that a co-worker is more eager to go to noisy bars for work parties. This is simply off limits to you.
- Your co-worker may be more extroverted or less shy than you. This is okay. It's okay for you to say "No" to such events, even if others don't, as they violate your personal boundaries.
- Don't look back after giving an answer. If you tend to ruminate over decisions, this can make saying "No" more difficult. After saying "No," accept your decision and move forward.[11]
- Focus on how good you feel. If you said "No" to something potentially draining or stressful, you should feel relieved.
- Prioritize your positive feelings about saying "No." Try to push out feelings of guilt.
- Understand saying "No" can help you avoid resentment. Saying "Yes" too often could lead to resentment. If you're a people pleaser by nature, you may say "Yes" more frequently than is healthy. If you, for example, agree to help every time a friend needs a favor, you may begin to resent that friend. While you may feel temporarily guilty over saying "No," it's better to deal with momentary guilt than to risk tanking a valuable relationship.[12]
- Work on building up your self-worth. Part of the reason why some people struggle to say "no" is because they don't feel like their wants and needs are as important as other people's wants and needs. To avoid feeling guilty from saying "no," try to work on building up your self-worth. Some strategies that you might try include:[13]
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