What Is The Process For Becoming a Highland Dance Teacher?

How Do You Become a Highland Dance Teacher?

Whether you’re looking to become a highland dance instructor, or you’re simply looking into the qualification process for Saorsa Studio instructors, this post is for you.

At Saorsa Studio, we value professionalism and expertise in our dance instruction, which means that all of our instructors are certified with the Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance and in good standing with our governing body, ScotDance Canada.

We’ll be covering the details of how to become a certified instructor, as well as why being a highland dance instructor is so magical. Saorsa’s incredible team of instructors will be dropping tips and tricks, along the way!

Note that Saorsa Studio instructors are all certified by the SDTA, so this post will be in reference to SDTA’s certification process. Other examining branches may vary.

Who Can Become A Dance Instructor?

As soon as you turn 16, you’re eligible to take your first professional dance exam and become a certified instructor. 

"You should become a dance teacher if you like working with people to help them achieve their goals! Every dancer is different and with that comes different hopes and aspirations for what they want out of their dance journey. As dance teachers, it’s important to leverage that information to tailor a dance experience that aligns with their goals, and helping them work to achieve it"
Nicole
Instructor/Studio Owner
"You should become a highland dance teacher if you're looking for a way/reason/excuse to remain connected to highland dance! I know that when I stop competing/performing, I'll still have a passion for teaching. AKA a reason to continue to find myself in my favourite place - a dance studio!"
Kate
Instructor/Studio Manager

How Do You Become a Dance Instructor?

All highland dance instructors become qualified by taking a professional exam, and subsequently maintaining their membership with an examining body.

Professional exams are composed of an oral and practical component, testing prospective instructors’ knowledge and skill in dance.  The minimum certification is that of an Associate’s exam, and this is most often conducted testing participant’s proficiency with the Highland dances (rather than National dances, though the Associate National exam also exists). 

Taking the Associate’s exam can be nerve-wracking like any other dance exam, but it allows successful candidates to register as a member with the examining branch. In our case, that means becoming a member of the Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance (SDTA), and maintaining annual membership. 

The Associate’s exam is only the first of several professional exams out there. The Members and Fellows exams push candidates to develop even deeper understandings of dance. Then, the Judge’s exam allows dance professionals to judge highland dance competition. 

Tips For A Successful Associate's Exam

" My tip for anyone studying for their associates is similar to my judges exam tips: practice writing everything you need to know out by memory, describing it out loud by memory, and dance through every movement/step you need to know, which will draw your attention to anything you’re unsure of. Practice describing your answers in the same format every time (ie. describe feet, arms, head positions, counting, then put it all together and demonstrate). There’s no such thing as over prepared! Start early and be sure to commit the time needed to preparation."
Nicole
Instructor/Studio Owner
"Figure out what studying technique works for you! For me, this was writing out every definition I needed to know on flashcards. Writing things out by hand rather than just printing them out or reading from the book really helped me. Also don't assume you know the "easy" things. In my exam I got stumped on the definition of 5th rear because it's such an easy one, so I overlooked studying it!"
Kate
Instructor/Studio Manager
"My advice for anyone studying for their associates is to consider how you would actually teach a certain movement or step in a class. It’s great to get the technical terms down, but remember that the point of gaining an associate designation is to be able to teach effectively - most five year olds probably don’t know what “simultaneous” or “transfer of weight” really mean, so be sure to put what you’re learning into your own words as well. Also, don’t feel you need to remember every single little thing once you’ve passed your test. My dance students can attest that I very rarely answer their questions without the textbook to back me up!"
Callum
Instructor

The Life of a Dance Teacher

Why we love what we do

"I became a dance teacher because for as long as I can remember, I was waiting for the day I was old enough to teach a private lesson. Teaching someone highland dance felt like the ultimate dream! It’s simply always been something I’ve wanted to do, and I still look forward to every class I teach.

"An experience that made me love being a dance teacher was any time I’ve worked with a dancer and truly gained dance families members from not just the dancer, but their entire family. It’s the emails of gratitude or the extra long hugs from a dance mom after their dancer achieved what they set out to do. It’s those positive and supportive experiences that show you that the community & connection are what dance is really all about."
Nicole
Instructor/Studio Owner
"I love being a dance teacher because I think it's a really beautiful thing to share your passion with others. When a dancer comes to class excited to show me what they practiced at home that week, and eager to learn more, I get just as excited as they do. Dance has given me so many positive experiences, role models, memories, life skills, and friendships that have shaped my life and who I am. Seeing my students find that same passion is really special."
Kate
Instructor/Studio Manager
"I became a dance teacher because I saw the variety of goals and motivations that existed for highland dance students - from competitive ambitions to desires to connect with family history and culture to wanting to learn and develop a unique skill - and wanted to help cultivate a space where everyone felt their goals were being supported! It’s easy for studios to narrow in on competitive goals and forget there are many reasons for enjoying highland dance, so I wanted to make sure that as a teacher I encouraged all sorts of development."
Callum
Instructor
"A goal I have related to being a dance teacher, but maybe more specifically a studio owner, is to continue to expand the reach that highland dance has in our community. Highland dance offers so many opportunities, and I’m aiming for it to become that household dance style that families think of when they consider enrolling their child in dance. Beyond that, I want to continue to foster the dance family vibe at Saorsa Studio, and ensure every dancer is making meaningful connections with dancers, teachers and other families."
Nicole
Instructor/Studio Owner

Looking to Further Your Knowledge?

Nicole Odo, Saorsa Studio owner and principle instructor, has taken many professional exams, including the Judge’s exam.

Her experience preparing for and successfully taking the Judge’s exam in 2022 is chronicled on our Highland Dancer Blog. Read her Dancer Diary to get the full scoop of how far a career in dance can take you!

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Upcoming events at Saorsa

Dancing in a Winter Wonderland – 2023 holiday recital

Saturday, December 9th at 5:30pm
Theatre Bernard Poirier at the Centre Communautaire Sainte-Anne

Annual Studio Christmas party

Sunday, December 10th 3-5pm at Saorsa North

All dancers and families are welcome to join us for holiday snacks and activities hosted by the Fredericton Highland Dance Association!

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