Ballroom Dance Teacher Training

Our teacher training program is designed for people with little to no dance experience and also benefits seasoned professionals who desire more formal training. The only thing you need is the desire to teach dance, a dedication to learn, and the perseverance to succeed.

That said, our training course will be a bit easier if you have at least one year of social dance experience.

A good rule of thumb is to allocate at least one hour of study time for each hour in class. An added benefit of enrollment in our Teacher Training is you receive practice opportunities at our group classes and dance parties with no extra fees 🙂

Because this is a teaching class, there is a strong emphasis on presentation skills. You’ll be expected to present material to the class on a regular basis. You’ll be asked to demonstrate figures, count the class in to music, and to present a brief history of specific dances.

As a dance teacher, you need to be able to demonstrate and explain both the leader’s and follower’s roles. We spend equal time in class working on both parts, and every student is expected to dance with every other student as both leader and follower, regardless of gender. This is standard practice for professional dance instruction.

Finally participants are expected to behave to the highest standards of professionalism while participating in the program, acting with integrity and contributing to our happy dance community in a positive way.

To secure your spot in the class, we recommend submitting the $100.00 non-refundable deposit at least 30 days prior to the start of class.

Register online

All the courses cover the American Style dances (Smooth, Rhythm, and Nightclub dances).

The best way to see if our program is right for you is to enroll and try it. Only by experiencing our class for yourself can you determine if it’s the best fit for your needs. If have questions or concerns, feel free to call us anytime at 843-338-2870 and we’d love to discuss our Teacher Training program with you.

Just start.

Enroll in our Revolution Ballroom Teachers University and in just 16 months, you have completed comprehensive training and have a strong foundation to thrive as a dance professional. From there we’ll help you schedule your professional certifications, and then you’ll be ready to teach!

16 months seems like a long time, particularly if you’re quite eager to begin your professional dance career. But if you start today, you’ll be teaching ballroom dance as a professional before you know it!

We don’t guarantee job placement after graduation, however ballroom dance teachers are in high demand and your training and education from our Revolution Ballroom Dance Teachers University makes you an excellent candidate for any position you seek.

Ballroom Dance Instructors work at independent studios, large national franchise studios, or as independent teachers.  In addition, dance instructors are in demand to teach at community centers, at school and after-school enrichment programs, on cruises, at resorts, many places that might surprise you!

A Revolution Ballroom graduate always warrants a much higher salary then someone else who has not been formally trained. The salary that staff members make at dances studios varies by studio, experience of the teacher, and location.

However, both the salary of an independent contractor and staff member is based on the value of their lesson and student retention, which is directly related to their training and experience. Graduates of the Revolution Ballroom teacher training program are far ahead of the game because they have already received specialized training.

Not at all. Students enroll in our teacher training program for many reasons and a teaching career is only one of them. Perhaps you’d like to volunteer and teach dance at a nursing home, school, or community center. Maybe you’d like to teach part-time or maybe you simply enjoy the challenge of this professional course. The choice is yours!

When you complete the Teacher Training you will receive a Diploma from Revolution Ballroom. This is a valuable accomplishment, and it will serve as a wonderful credential for your dance resume. However, a Diploma is different than professional certification. Professional certification is an additional credential you may receive after taking follow-on exams at the completion of your coursework with us.  An analogy is that the Diploma is like a college degree and the Professional Certification is equivalent additional exams such as the Bar exam for lawyers or the Boards for Cosmotology, Nursing, Teaching, etc.

Our curriculum is based on an accredited syllabus. Our training and and exams provides thorough training for your follow-on professional exams. We will assist you in arranging to take the exam.

No. The entire curriculum consists of four separate courses and each course takes 4 months to complete. You will receive a certificate upon completion of the required components for each course. If you do finish the entire 16-month curriculum, you will receive four course completion certificates and a Revolution Ballroom Teachers College Diploma!

A Revolution Ballroom Teacher Training certification recognizes you have successfully completed the vocational teacher training programs and can teach all 17 ballroom dances while the DVIDA® certification recognizes your masterly knowledge of the dances you are certified in at the national level.

Yes, we offer a fast track option to complete the entire teaching training course in just 4 months. You can complete the entire curriculum in just 4 months by taking one group session and 8-12 additional private lessons per week; this option works best if you have some prior dance experience.

When you enroll at our Ballroom Teachers University you are committing to a 4-month session.

Your $100 non-refundable deposit will be applied to cover the cost of your program binder and course materials. We offer a 10-day trial period during the first month of your first session where you may withdraw from the program and receive a refund of your first month’s tuition and no further payments will be due.  Please note that no refunds will be issued for your $100 non-refundable deposit.

After the 10-day trial we do not offer refunds on our teacher training program and you will be charged for the remaining payments of your 4-month session.

Yes, please contact us so we can help make your dancing dreams come true! Call Marcia at 843.338.2870 or email dance@RevolutionBallroom.com

*Each course is its own program, and not a prerequisite for any other. Tuition is charged monthly for each course. You will receive a certificate acknowledging your achievement when you complete each course.  At the completion of all four courses you will earn your Revolution Ballroom Diploma!

Classes meet nights and weekends at Revolution Ballroom. Please call us at 843-338-2870 for our current class schedule.

The Teacher Training program provides a professional level of instruction, and we cover a lot of material at a fairly fast pace. Please try to minimize absences, as you can easily fall behind. If you do have to miss a class, you may arrange to work with another students to help you catch up. You may also schedule private lessons (for an additional private lesson fee) to make up class material.

In order to teach partner dancing, you need to be able to explain and demonstrate both the Leader’s and Follower’s part. We spend equal time in class working on both parts, and every trainee is expected to dance with every other trainee as both Leader and Follower, regardless of gender. This is standard practice for professional dance instruction.

Because this is a teaching class, there is a strong emphasis on presentation. You will be expected to present material to the class on a regular basis. For example, you may be asked to demonstrate a figure or to present a brief history of a specific dance. We want to polish your speaking and presentation skills so you’ll feel confident and ready to teach dance classes when you graduate.

Don’t worry, we hand out assignments in advance, so you will have plenty of time to prepare!

There are four exams per session. The purpose of the exams is to strengthen your familiarity with the syllabus, to increase your comfort speaking the figure’s technical information (which will be necessary when you teach), and to give you an opportunity to showcase your ability to dance the figures together in a routine to music.

Scheduled during regular class times, each exam has two components: a dance demonstration and an oral presentation of technical information. No need to stress—we pre-assign both the dance demonstration and the oral questions you will be asked, so you will be able to practice and prepare.

There is also one take-home written test for each dance taught during the quarter. The purpose of these tests is to help you solidify what you have learned and to think like a dance teacher. You may research answers from your class notes, other course materials, online, or any other resource you’d like!

Becoming a dance teacher takes dedication and practice. Each program meets a total of 4 hours a week.  Most students spend quite a bit of time every week studying the material, memorizing the theory elements, and practicing what they have learned. Though the amount of outside time varies greatly from student to student, expect to commit at least 1 hour of study time for every hour you spend in class.

As a teacher trainee you are expected to dress professionally.

Please dress nicely for class, and dress up for exams. Your attire should be clean, professional, and allow you to dance properly. Practice dancewear is ideal for this purpose, but you don’t need to buy special clothing for this course. Please do not wear jeans, t-shirts, shorts, fitness attire, or sloppy clothing.

Required Materials

• Program Binder
• Dance manual for the dances taught
• Teach Like a Pro: The Ultimate Guide for Ballroom Dance Instructor by Diane Jarmolow.
• Move Like a Champion by Diane Jarmolow & Kasia Kozak

Recommended Materials

• Syllabus app

All students will be expected to have proper dance shoes by the second class meeting. To teach dance, you need the “right tool for the job,” and proper dance shoes are literally the foundation for your dancing!

There are different styles of dance shoes for different styles of dancing, but most Revolution Ballroom teacher trainees wear a basic “practice shoe,” a practical and durable suede-soled dancing shoe that is made to be comfortable and wearable for long periods. Some students wear flashier shoes or high-heeled dance shoes, but this is a matter of personal preference.

You can purchase dance shoes directly from our studio any from dance shoe retailer.