This document provides an overview of starting a dance school, including recommendations for gaining experience, qualifications, insurance, and licenses needed. It discusses challenges like communicating with parents, paperwork, and balancing expenses with income. The document is intended as a starting point for emerging dancers and teachers considering opening their own dance school.

1. A HOLISTIC STUDY OF DANCE SCHOOL OWNERSHIP
An introduction to Dance School ownership for
dancers and dance teachers
Laura Kennedy - January 2017
1

2. MY INTENTIONS
➤ My advice in this presentation is an amalgamation
of my research as part of my BA Honours course
at Middlesex University, I am not a professional
dance teacher yet.
➤ It is intended as a starting place for emerging
dancers thinking about teaching and starting a
dance school as a future career.
➤ I hope to give some useful advice and help other
professionals

3. PRESENTATION CONTENT
➤ Introduction
➤ Research
➤ Recommendations
➤ Challenges
➤ Summary

4. INTRODUCTION
➤My dance background
I started dance aged 3 and
entered a professional performing
arts school aged 8. During my ten
years of training, I was lucky
enough to dance with the English
National Ballet for 3 productions
and had many other incredible
opportunities which fuels my love
for dance to this day. Believe it or
not, I am the one in the middle.

5. INTRODUCTION
➤ Teaching & Business
Experience
I completed my diploma in dance
in 2015. Whilst there I helped with
younger pupils and in 2016 I went
to the USA for 3 months to work
with students under 18 at a
holiday camp.
My business experience is limited
to working part time in a hotel.

6. RESEARCH
➤ I have spent the last few
months researching the steps
that I would have to take to
open a dance school.
➤ As part of my research I
attended a One Dance
seminar, used observations
and interviews as well as Web
research and discussions with
my peers.

7. RECOMMENDATIONS- BEFORE VENTURING
OUT ON YOUR OWN
➤ Gain teaching experience first
➤ Get all your teaching qualifications
➤ Study your local area for potential pupils, venues
and opportunities
➤ It is important to build up a network with other
professionals for continuing advice and guidance
➤ Speak to a business expert to create a business
plan

8. WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE STARTING YOUR DANCE SCHOOL
➤ Disclosure and Barring service (DBS) By law you
have to have this to work with children, anyone
under the age of 18
➤ Be trained in first aid- since you’ll be working with
children you need to know basic first aid and be
certified
➤ Know what insurance you’ll need when you open
your own school

9. A BREAK DOWN OF INSURANCE AND LICENSES YOU
MAY NEED
➤ Liability Insurance- If you are renting a space then you will
need this to cover you for accidents
➤ Professional Indemnity Insurance- covers legal costs and
expenses incurred in your defence
➤ Public Liability Insurance- to protect your business
against the financial risk of death, bodily injury or damage
to property suffered by any third party including members
of the general public or other business you work with
➤ Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL)- if you use
recorded music e.g. CDs, TV or Radio, you will need this

10. RECOMMENDATIONS- ONCE YOU’RE READY TO START
YOUR OWN SCHOOL
➤ Look for a Village hall or community centre to rent
for studio space initially because these often offer
inexpensive hourly charges
➤ Decide what classes you’re going to offer. Syllabus
or free work? What dance styles will you offer?
➤ Prepare your lesson plans- how many classes will
you teach?
➤ Prepare your marketing materials

11. RECOMMENDATIONS- ONCE YOU’VE STARTED
YOUR OWN SCHOOL
➤ Don’t go crazy hiring- make sure you have the funds to
support additional staff if needed
➤ Decide whether you will offer examinations
➤ Continuing professional development (CPD)- The
number of hours of CPD you have to do a year
depends on which examination board you choose to
join e.g. with RAD you have to do 20 hours a year

12. EXAMINATION BODIES TO CONSIDER
➤ Royal Academy of Dance (RAD)- a Uk based examinations
board which focuses on classical ballet
➤ Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD)-offers
exams in Classical Ballet (Cecchetti and Imperial Methods),
Modern Theatre, Tap, National Dance, Classical Greek,
Classical Indian Dance, Modern Ballroom, Latin American,
Disco Freestyle and Classical Sequence.
➤ International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA)- Offers
exams in Ballet, tap, modern jazz and theatre craft as their
core exams, but they also offer many exams in non-core
subjects
These are some exam bodies, there are others.

13. CHALLENGES YOU MAY FACE IN THIS PROFESSION
➤ Communicating with the parents- as a professional you
may be challenged by parents who are not professionals
and convincing them of your way of doing things could
be difficult
➤ Dealing with paperwork- when you first start out you
won’t have the luxury of an assistant to do your
paperwork, so you have to make sure to stay on top of
your work load and show parents that you are organised

14. CHALLENGES YOU MAY FACE IN THIS PROFESSION
➤ Your expenditure outweighs your income- For the
first couple of months or years the money going
out may be higher than the money coming in, you
have to decide whether it is worth it
➤ Coming from a professional dance background
might mean you find it hard to go back to the
basics with students who might not be as
passionate as you and are unlikely to have the
muscle memory of a seasoned dancer

15. SUMMARY
Overall, teaching has it challenges but so do lots of
professions. You have to decide whether it is something that
you are passionate about. Being secure in your profession
will help you take the next step with your own business if
that’s what you want to do.

16. THANKS
➤ I hope this powerpoint has been helpful and given you
some useful tips when considering starting a dance
school.
➤ I would like to thank every-one who has helped me with
my studies, too many to name individually but
specifically the dance teachers who allowed me to
observe their classes and pick their brains.