If you have always dreamed of starting a dance school, there’s never an early enough time to do so. If you have trained in dance for many years and are passionate about teaching younger students the skills you have learned, why not consider getting your business head-on and becoming a self-employed dance teacher?
With that said, there are many obstacles that need to be faced to get your business set up and running accordingly, and it isn’t as easy as you may expect. Take a look at some of the factors below on what you need to be aware of:
Qualifications
First and foremost, it’s crucial to acquire the relevant qualifications to run a dance school. There are many unqualified dance teachers that have their own schools, but this certainly has an impact on their reputation and, of course, the number of students who choose to attend.
When paying for any service, customers want to ensure that the business is professional and delivers expectations – and qualifications are a critical part of showing that your dance school can meet what people expect.
If you’re serious about starting a dance school, it’s worth undertaking a variety of qualifications, including those to polish your skills and theoretical knowledge, as well as health and safety certifications to reassure the public that you can keep students safe while at your venue.
Insurance
Any business should have the relevant insurance, including public liability, employee liability, and music licenses. Failing to do so could mean you face a lawsuit if there was ever an issue, so always ensure that the legalities of your business are undertaken to prevent any legal matters from unfolding.
Location
The location of your dance school will have a knock-on effect on its success. It would be best to research local areas to determine the type of dance classes that are already up and running, whether they are popular and if there is a gap in the market for your class.
Success is typically based on finding your niche in a crowded market, as well as determining the best location for parents to travel to with their children.
Sourcing dance costumes
If you’re planning on students being involved in showcases, you’ll need to consider hiring an external company to create dance costumes for the various performances.
An independent sportswear manufacturer has the expertise and functionality to create your costumes from scratch and tailor them to your exact specifications, which makes the entire process much more personalized and efficient.
Prepare for the roles you’ll take on
If you plan on running your dance school single-handedly, you’ll be more than just a dance teacher. You’ll have an abundance of other roles to take on, including:
- Entrepreneur: Undertaking the day-to-day running of the business, including finances, marketing, scheduling, customer service, events coordination, etc.
- An authoritative figure: You may be training students of all ages and all backgrounds. While they are in your company, you have full responsibility for those students, ensuring their safety and needs are taken care of.
- Manager: When you have reached the stage where you’re ready to hire staff members, you’ll have the duty of ensuring they have been fully trained and are regularly given goals and feedback to improve their efforts and abilities.
