A dance studio is only as good as its instructors. When it's time to hire new staff members, it can feel overwhelming trying to find dance instructors that match your team's passion and dedication. Use this guide to help you find the best candidates for your dance studio. 

How to Hire Qualified Dance Instructors

1. Hire Within

Many studio owners forget about offering positions to existing and past dancers. Knowing the candidates and having already established a connection with them can make for stronger work relationships. Additionally, dancers who have come from your studio will have a clear understanding of the expectations and techniques you have built the dance practice on.  

2. Weed Out Less Qualified Candidates

If you're filtering through an overwhelming number of resumes, narrow down the candidates by removing any resumes without professional dance experience. Next, look at their references to see if you recognize any respected colleagues in the industry. It's important to have candid conversations with any dance parents, employers, or coworkers regarding their experience working with a potential instructor to decipher if they would be a good fit. 

3. Interview With Intention

Consider what answers would be most important for you to hear and craft questions around them to get a clearer idea of which applicants would bring the most value to your team. Asking about their future aspirations and plans to stay local will show you their professional trajectory and whether they would be the best candidate to spend your time on. Talking about how they would handle challenging situations like an encounter with an inappropriate parent or a misbehaving dancer exhibits their judgment, discernment, and ability to navigate an issue effectively and gracefully.  

4. Offer Guest Teaching Opportunities

Once you have a couple of candidates you feel confident about, get a more realistic idea of their teaching style by inviting them to guest teach. In this environment, you can evaluate an instructors' teaching techniques and ability to provide constructive corrections. Their chemistry and connection with the students, as well as their ability to come up with engaging routines or choreography, will illuminate what kind of dance instructor they'll be and if it aligns with your studio. 

If you have dreams of opening up your own dance studio, start your journey with More Than Just Great Dancing® in Onalaska, WI. This company offers nationwide counseling opportunities to help studio owners develop leadership and business skills that guide them to success in the dance industry. Over 10,000 students worldwide have benefited from their resources, tools, and personalized consulting services. To learn more about how to join this collaborative environment of studio owners, call (608) 790-8404 or visit them online.