Thread: So you want to teach?

Please DON'T quote this post. I'm going to edit it once we get a thread going.

What I have is an eager beaver student, who's had probably a total of MAYBE 2 years of dance classes, off and on, with 3 different teachers. Said student now wants to teach, and is apparently annoyed with me for not encouraging her. Among other things, I feel she has some problems with rhythm (ie, not always dancing to it) which she herself acknowledges. She has a decent grasp of the fundamentals, and has created one or two choreographies for herself. She thinks she would like to teach because she can make money at it. (HA!)

Since she isn't really responding to me telling her I don't think it's a good idea JUST YET, I thought I might enlist the help of Bhuzzers.

I'd like for this thread to be "Here are some things you haven't even thought about, those of you who think you're ready to teach." Don't be mean, but please use this thread as an opportunity to educate motivated students about the realities of teaching. (For example: She can't see the need to get liability insurance. I can't quite get her to understand that everybody's your friend until they sue you.)

When the thread is finished, I'm going to edit this out, leave in the part at the bottom, and email the thread link to her. (That's why I don't want you quoting this message.)

Thanks so much!!!!!
:) Amanda


Hi Ladies!
I have a student interested in teaching, and I thought you all might have some words of advice, motivations, cautions, etc. for the aspiring teacher.
Thanks!

Here are some question I prepared for aspiring teachers. I wasn't concerned so much about "right and wrong" answers, but wanted these questions to provoke the person to think deeply about the subjects. I have another list of questions I'm working on, about syllabus, styles, teaching modalities, etc.


- First and foremost, why do you want to teach? What draws you towards teaching this dance form?

- Describe what it is that makes belly dance different from other forms of dance. What makes it belly dance and not salsa, hula, or club dance?

- In your own words, what is the relationship between the dance, the dancer, and the music?

- Which do you think would be most challenging: teaching beginners or intermediate/advanced students? Why?

- Using your previous class and workshop instructors as examples, describe what you consider to be their most and least effective teaching methods. What would you do different?

- If a student asked you a question you didn’t know the answer to, where would you go to find out the answer? List web sites, books, magazine articles, personal sources, etc.

- What do you think would be the most challenging part about teaching this dance form?

- Why do you feel you are qualified to teach? Are there areas or subjects where you do not feel qualified? How would you go about becoming qualified?

- Do you have the confidence to teach this dance?

First of all, I believe that five years of performance and instruction is necessary (that's at least; I myself didn't start teaching until after I'd had seven). One of the biggest things I find important is to have an extensive historical and cultural knowledge of the dance - which after now eleven years of dancing and a degree in history and anthropology I'm still working on.

Multiple teachers, workshops, the ability to play zills, recognize rhythms, and a knowledge of the different styles of dance are all important. There is so much involved in this dance and tied into culture, history, knowledge of costuming, interpretation of music, and the like that no matter where you are in your dance path you are still learning. That is why I would recommend at least five years of continuous instruction before a student becomes a teacher, and that's the absolute earliest.

To *anyone* thinking of teaching this dance I would reccommend they read the following pages:
Dear Shira: Any Hints for Someone New to Teaching?
Preparing to Teach by Anthea for the Gilded Serpent
Aziza Sa'id's FAQ - Dance Styles
Starting to teach

They will give a clearer idea of what teaching this dance is about, and what one should be thinking about when first considering teaching.

Well, I for one think that if you plan to teach dance (or ANYTHING), you need to know the background of the dance (where did this come from? Who are some really influential people in this art form? etc...)

and also PROPER TECHNIQUE!!

I used to be worried that people in my college club would run off after college and start teaching in their home towns. My main concerns were that they didn't know enough about where the dance came from to truly represent the art form, and also that they would not teach safely.

I think for a new instructor, knowing how to safely execute movements and knowing how to *teach other people* to safely execute movements is the most important thing.

I once caught a student teaching her friend a layback thing from one of our dances and she didn't mention that she needed to use her abdominals for support...etc etc. I was terrified the poor girl would hurt her back!

...and Insurance. Because even when you teach correctly, a student can execute a move incorrectly and hurt themselves. No one wants to get sued!

Originally Posted by BreaMorgiane

...and the like that no matter where you are in your dance path you are still learning. That is why I would recommend at least five years of continuous instruction before a student becomes a teacher, and that's the absolute earliest.

Exactly! They shouldn't ever stop learning. Just because you've started teaching doesn't mean you are the know-all of the dance. It is ALWAYS beneficial to take as many workshops as possible...and especially with bellydance when new fusion styles are emerging ALL the time- I think it's important to be able to educate your students about where all of that originated.

Especially with newbies who often consider bellydance simply "egyptian" (complete with visions of harem girls dancing around pyramids and whatnot). You don't want to be teaching a tribal fusion class with all sorts of flamenco/gothic/name-your-style-here influences, and then have your students go off and show there friends how people "dance in egypt". Of course we also don't want people to further spread the idea of the "Harem dancing for men" image either.... Yeah, history and cultural context is important.

There are a lot of things to consider, so I am just going to list some off the top of my head that I look for when talking to students who want to become teachers:

• Qualifications
  • Are you qualified to teach?
    • Minimum qualifications to teach professionally include but are not limited to: Knowledge of all basic isolations, required dance styles, rhythms, stage dynamics, costuming, history, performance skills, teaching to different learning styles, layering, props, safety, anatomy
    • Preferred qualifications to teach professionally include but are not limited to: 5 or more years as a continually progressing student (bare minimum 500 in-class hours, 500 at-home practice hours), 2 or more years performing professionally, continuing education minimum 75 hours per year (seminars, workshops, private classes) in addition to teaching/performing, knowledge of more than once dance style
    • I apply these guidelines to everyone teaching a dance class. The guidelines for a belly-robics class are somewhat different.
  • Do you have liability insurance?
    • Liability insurance is required. Without liability insurance you can be sued and your personal possessions including your home may be seized to pay any penalties.
• Finances
  • Teaching costs for classes include at a minimum:
    • Paper/printing for handouts
    • Advertising
    • Studio rental
    • Gas for travel
    • Music/music rights if location does not pay for this already
    • Extra props/instruments to loan in class (veils, zills, canes, etc.)
    • Liability insurance
    • Time
    • Income Tax - you will need to report all income to your federal, state, and local authorities for taxing purposes
• Time investment
  • In addition to actual class time, you will spend:
    • Travel time
    • Bookkeeping time for attendance and finances
    • Creating lesson plans
    • Creating handouts
    • Creating ads and flyers
    • Creating choreographies
    • Creating combinations and in class exercises
• Legality
  • There are a number of administrative legalities to consider:
    • Fictitious name registration if you take money or accept checks under any name other than your own
    • Business registration: State
    • Business registration: Local
    • Sales tax: Required if you sell any physical items
    • Business license: Some localities require a separate annual business license in addition to your business registration
    • Sole proprietor/non-profit/not-for-profit/incorporated?
    • Liability Insurance - again, you may need this to operate legally in addition to for your own protection

There's a lot more, but I have to run for a bit. I will think about it and come back to edit and add some more to this.

If she can answer all of the questions thoughtfully and correctly, are you going to encourage her to go for it?
I'm wondering what the purpose if this is because I could probably answer all of those questions and yet I don't feel I'm ready to teach...

and also PROPER TECHNIQUE!!

I think for a new instructor, knowing how to safely execute movements and knowing how to *teach other people* to safely execute movements is the most important thing.

I once caught a student teaching her friend a layback thing from one of our dances and she didn't mention that she needed to use her abdominals for support...etc etc. I was terrified the poor girl would hurt her back!

...and Insurance. Because even when you teach correctly, a student can execute a move incorrectly and hurt themselves. No one wants to get sued![/QUOTE]

Many moves that people teach in bellydance can be harmful. I've seen teachers with plenty of experience doing and teaching things that can hurt people....ie. turkish drops or even a zar.

I don't think experience and knowledge necessarily makes a person a safe teacher, but certifications such as a physical therapist, chiropractor, nurse or personal trainer may help. You have to have a good knowledge of the human body to know which moves are going to hurt someone.

Classroom management: How do you handle it when a student asks you a question you don't know the answer to? How do you handle disruptive students? How do you handle "backseat teachers"?


Financial: If you are going to operate as a small business (i.e. rent studio space and run your own classes, vs. work for another as an employee), do you understand business licensing, tax laws, etc.?

Advertising...how are you going to get enough people to run a class?

Originally Posted by mrsnj20

Many moves that people teach in bellydance can be harmful. I've seen teachers with plenty of experience doing and teaching things that can hurt people....ie. turkish drops or even a zar.

I don't think experience and knowledge necessarily makes a person a safe teacher, but certifications such as a physical therapist, chiropractor, nurse or personal trainer may help. You have to have a good knowledge of the human body to know which moves are going to hurt someone.

Very true, but there are definitely things to mention when teaching certain moves. A good knowledge of the body and where in your body the movements are coming from (which obviously could be different for different people/styles/formats) and knowing anything harmful that could come from it/ways to prevent that from happening.

Originally Posted by mahsati

[*]Minimum qualifications to teach professionally include but are not limited to: Knowledge of all basic isolations, required dance styles, rhythms, stage dynamics, costuming, history, performance skills, teaching to different learning styles...

That's another good thing to think about. The best teachers I've had (for dance or otherwise) are able to explain things in many ways.

What would you do if you taught a move and there were a few people who simply didn't understand what you were doing? Could you explain it muscularly? With analogies that help them visualize it? Could you draw it out somehow? There are lots of ways to explain a move, and different methods "click" with different students.

I would think I would rather teach as an assistant with children.

I have been dancing for 8 years, but there is no way that I could teach adults. Never danced pro.

Thanks for this thread it makes you think about things.

Those first questions were just the start. I'm working up to a lot more. I really just want the potential teacher to be THINKING about some of these things, and be honest as to WHY she wants to teach.

When you think about it, teaching actually takes a LOT of time away from us as dancers. One of these days I'll calculate about how much time I spent creating a syllabus, choreographies, etc. -- and how much time I spend each week preparing classes. I think students would be surprised at how much "homework" a teacher has to do. And doing that homework takes time out of my practice time.

I have a hard time really "encouraging" a student to teach when that student has little to no performance experience, or practical dance experience. A year of classes with me gives them a lot of information, but that information takes time to sink in, solidify, and really become useful. Personally I feel that an intermediate level student should be focusing more on her own training, rather than training someone else. While I don't want to discourage anyone from teaching, I do think there's a time when the you're ready, and a time when it might actually make YOU a better dancer, rather than detracting from your own training.

Nadirah - yes, I sometimes feel dumbfounded at everything I still don't know even after all these years! I think the more experience you have, the more you realize you don't know about this dance.

It is really a lifelong study.

(in response to Aziyade...dang people type fast on here! teehee)

-sigh- too true. Teaching can be great but many time's I've found myself focusing so much on teaching OTHER people how to look good, and choreographing dances for OTHER people and then I am too worn out to do anything for myself!

I don't know how many time's I've improved a solo last minute and then been mad at myself for spending so much time perfecting group dances and not paying attention to my own stuff. Not good!

Yeah, I have spent so much time this past month trying to figure out a new choreography and blocking our old ones, that I haven't done much for ME!

BTW -- teachers, I have a new message in that group, if you all wouldn't mind heading over there and glancing at it. Sorry to hijack! Oh wait -- it's my thread! LOL

I keep seeing people mentioning "hey i posted something in the "teacher group" but where is said group???? I'm a teacher but I don't see it?

Anyone wanting to know about the Teachers Group, feel free to ask me. I'm happy to send out invitations to working teachers.

Everyone's doing such a great job with the posts here. I'll only add what I don't already see. My advice is that once you decide to teach, it's time to get some training. This can come from taking as many workshops, and watching as many videos, as humanly possible for about a year or so, looking very carefully at how those teachers are handling things that come up -- while simultaneously reading the articles linked above. And/or it can come from taking some serious training. Hadia offers a teacher training course that's probably just the ticket, but a good Group Fitness Instructor certification can at least provide you with some background in safety and anatomy.

Dancing and teaching are two different skills. Developing beyond being a good dancer into being a good teacher requires that you take dance classes with a variety of instructors (workshops count), preferably *after* you've made the decision to teach so you can be studying their methods. Teaching also requires some basic understanding of learning styles and anatomy, which can come from extensive reading, mentoring with a good instructor, or a good Group Fitness Instructor training program.

A dancer may know how to do a figure 8 or snake arms beautifully. But a good teacher needs to know several different ways to break those movements down for visual, auditory and kinesthenic learners.

A good teacher also needs to be able to recognize common issues that can lead to injury (dancing with the pelvis tipped, improper knee alignment) and how to correct those. This is *critical* and having experience with only your own body in the dance will not help you.

A good teacher should also be able to present modifications. If you have a student with bursitis, arthritis or a rotator cuff injury in one or both shoulders, how would you modify snake arms for her? How can a student with one leg shorter than the other keep her spine safe while doing figure 8s or undulations? What will you do if you have a student whose core is too weak to hold her pelvis in neutral alignment so she can safely do hipwork? These are the MOST common modifications I work with, but by no means the only ones (hip replacements, neck injuries, and scoliosis also come up regularly in my classes, for instance).

It takes either years of experience (seeing how other teachers handle these issues) or months of concentrated training to be able to to safely lead a group of bodies through a beginner dance class -- and even then the first year is trial and error.

In terms of giving accurate cultural and musical knowledge. I think anyone teaching with less than 5 years' serious training runs the risk of hurting our art form by spreading misinformation and stereotypes.

Lauren... everything you say is so well stated! (no matter what thread it's on)

I think I might have a bellydance crush on you. (haha) I totally wish I'd have been a more active bhuzzer BEFORE I kindof-sortof met you at the Aziza workshop!

I'm at a point where I'm often asked if I teach, or people assume that I must teach, but I don't. I don't think I can put myself out there as a teacher until I feel 100 percent confident that I can demonstrate movements 100 percent correctly. Sure, I know how to do a lot of movements, but I still have postural issues I'm getting under control, and I feel like I need more deep ab control. Until I can truly correctly demonstrate a wide variety of movements, I have no business teaching them.

Oh god, I didnt realize I did all these things...I'm exhausted just reading about them... it's so much, it almost makes one want to quit teaching :P lol

Originally Posted by david

Oh god, I didnt realize I did all these things...I'm exhausted just reading about them... it's so much, it almost makes one want to quit teaching :P lol

Yeah it hurts the head doesn't it? ..c::

If you think about all the training you do before you are capable of teaching (yes I think the minimum 5 years is a good basis for many, some need even more) and afterwards it adds up to a lot of time and money spent. It is not a 'job' so much as a labor of love and you teach because you want to share this art form and educate others, certainly not for any income you think you will receive from it. It is a constant education because the more you teach the more questions your students will ask and the more you will realize how much you truly don't know.

A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. Many people with little education try to teach this complicated art form because they think they know it all after just a few years of classes (some from only one instructor). Many of us are wise enough to see that the more we know the more we realize we don't know. Teaching is just as much (if not more) about learning as it is about instructing.

Originally Posted by PetiteNadirah

Lauren... everything you say is so well stated! (no matter what thread it's on)

I think I might have a bellydance crush on you. (haha) I totally wish I'd have been a more active bhuzzer BEFORE I kindof-sortof met you at the Aziza workshop!

gosh...

I'm sure we'll get another chance to really meet. The next St. Louis workshop is in mid-May, Amel Tafsout and Shahna of Little Rock, it's going to be a GREAT weekend!

Originally Posted by aziyade

What I have is an eager beaver student, who's had probably a total of MAYBE 2 years of dance classes, off and on, with 3 different teachers. Said student now wants to teach, and is apparently annoyed with me for not encouraging her. Among other things, I feel she has some problems with rhythm (ie, not always dancing to it) which she herself acknowledges. She has a decent grasp of the fundamentals, and has created one or two choreographies for herself. She thinks she would like to teach because she can make money at it. (HA!)

I'd like for this thread to be "Here are some things you haven't even thought about, those of you who think you're ready to teach." Don't be mean, but please use this thread as an opportunity to educate motivated students about the realities of teaching. (For example: She can't see the need to get liability insurance. I can't quite get her to understand that everybody's your friend until they sue you.)

THis topic has always been a hot potato for me, because I see this in a whole different way based purely upon my own experience.

I began teaching after less than a year of taking classes and workshops. I worked very hard on my technique and took a first aid certificate and got myself dance insurance. I've now been teaching for 13 years and have never had a student injured. My class structure is organic... in other words, I don't plan them. I do whatever I feel like doing in my classes depending on my mood and music, and this suits my students just fine as they find that each class feels fresh and anticipatory to them. Nothing is predictable or staid and they like this. I have teachers in my classes and workshops and I've produced teachers and professional dancers from these classes.

I thank God that there was no one to say, 'you cannot teach!' Who says I cannot teach? I've proved that I can. And without ticking off the full 'criteria' listed above. Who has the right to say this to anyone? Or to question another's capabilities or skills in this department?

The bottom line is, if someone sets up a class and they are turn out to be crap at it, then they will have no students. Simple as that. This dance is not recognised as an accredited dance form, and so anyone can teach it. And we all have to start somewhere. And you don't really learn how to teach until you start teaching. It's not your place to decide whether she can teach or not. She needs to discover this for herself. And who knows, perhaps she will prove you wrong and make a success of it. You cannot clip another's wings, no matter how well intentioned you are. She needs to discover all the pit falls for herself.

Wow, Kharis. I say you really motivated yourself to do this.

That is awesome!

Originally Posted by kharis_UK

THis topic has always been a hot potato for me, because I see this in a whole different way based purely upon my own experience.

I began teaching after less than a year of taking classes and workshops. I worked very hard on my technique and took a first aid certificate and got myself dance insurance. I've now been teaching for 13 years and have never had a student injured. My class structure is organic... in other words, I don't plan them. I do whatever I feel like doing in my classes depending on my mood and music, and this suits my students just fine as they find that each class feels fresh and anticipatory to them. Nothing is predictable or staid and they like this. I have teachers in my classes and workshops and I've produced teachers and professional dancers from these classes.

I thank God that there was no one to say, 'you cannot teach!' Who says I cannot teach? I've proved that I can. And without ticking off the full 'criteria' listed above. Who has the right to say this to anyone? Or to question another's capabilities or skills in this department?

The bottom line is, if someone sets up a class and they are turn out to be crap at it, then they will have no students. Simple as that. This dance is not recognised as an accredited dance form, and so anyone can teach it. And we all have to start somewhere. And you don't really learn how to teach until you start teaching. It's not your place to decide whether she can teach or not. She needs to discover this for herself. And who knows, perhaps she will prove you wrong and make a success of it. You cannot clip another's wings, no matter how well intentioned you are. She needs to discover all the pit falls for herself.

I agree! Sometimes it seems like everyone is trying to shoot everyone else down.
If you listen to when everyone else says you are ready to do something, you will never do anything.

these are all great responses, but I would like to add something from a slightly different angle.

Rather than trying to discourage her, why not take this as an opportunity to say, well if that is the direction you want to head in lets look at what we need to do to prepare you for teaching. Look at it from a more positive angle. You have the opportunity to train a future teacher so that she can have as much care and love for the dance and for her students as you do.

Hi Ladies,
I asked that we not quote the original message because I mentioned specific things about this particular student (rhythm issues, etc.) and I wanted to send her this link without embarassing her or singling her out.


While I understand what has been said, and I realize there are exceptions to every rule, I feel that my role as instructor is to give my students the best education I can. I simply cannot, in good conscience, embrace the concept that I should fly in the face of conventional wisdom and actively push a student to do something 99% of her peers would agree she isn't ready for, to the detriment of her OWN training.

I agree that it is not my place to decide whether or not a student is going to teach, but it IS my place (as her instructor) to give that student the best preparation for teaching that I can. If a student asks me to help them start teaching, I want them to know what they're getting into. That's why I asked everyone to post stuff on the order of: "Here are some things you haven't even thought about, those of you who think you're ready to teach."

I'm not trying to clip anyone's wings. I just want students to be armed with as much information and considerations as possible when they DO make the leap to teaching. I view it like having a business plan. You try to think of all possible contingencies BEFORE you open a business. No, I am not going to encourage a student to teach when she has massive issues with her own dancing and her own understanding of rhythm and dance basics. I wouldn't encourage a person with very little experience in the industry to open their own restaurant either, not without thinking LONG and HARD about the REALITIES of restaurant ownership, and not without some practical experience of maybe actually working at a restaurant. To me, that's not being a killjoy; it's being a responsible teacher.

But Kharis asks:

Who has the right to say this to anyone? Or to question another's capabilities or skills in this department?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't we had dozens of threads on here about how detrimental it is to our art form and our public perception when people teach or perform before they have reached the appropriate level or have the requisite knowledge?

Maybe I'm in the minority, but the "throw them to the wolves and see what happens" philosophy seems extremely irresponsible on the part of the instructor.