One of the most important steps to take when choosing a dance instructor is to check credentials. Private dance instruction is a major investment in yourself - but can be costly if the instruction you receive is not quality instruction. If you are a new dancer, with no dance experience at all, it will be difficult to know what is quality dance instruction. Many times, dance instructors are chose by a new student's idea of 'cool' but later, as the student becomes more knowledgable, his or her idea of quality changes. By then, money has been spent on a sub-standard instructor and the student becomes disillusioned at wasting time & money, only to find that most of what they learned was of little value.

Unfortunately, there is not a licensing requirement for becoming a dance instructor, unlike other trades like plumbing, contracting, medicine or law, although it is not unheard of for a dance instructor to earn practically the same income.

There are many optional certification programs available which allow a dance instructor to prove their proficiency by acquiring a certification in a teaching program. This is, however, a choice that must be made by the instructor: To prove that they have knowledge enough to warrant the hourly rate they are commanding. These certifications are not a requirement by any governing agency; they are simply made available to conscientious instructors. Acquiring a certification is an effort that must be made by the instructor because he or she feels obligated to study and secure the knowledge it takes to realistically teach another person to dance.

Not all certifications are alike, however. The following list of certifications and links to their websites can assist your research and help you decide what certifications you may require for a dance instructor before investing money, time, and effort into your dance training - whether it be hobby, exercise, or competitive dancing.

United States Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance - A rigorous and complete set of practical and written examinations originating in London, England and recently migrated to the United States.
Arthur Murray - In-house instructor certification available only to employees and franchisees.
Dance Vision (DVIDA Pro) - Dance Vision offers practical and written examination-based certifications in International- and American-Style Ballroom.
Fred Astaire - In-house instructor certification available only to employees and franchisees.
National Dance Teachers Association - Members must have one year of dance instruction experience and pass a written exam.
National Dance Council of America - A coalition of dance organizations, including all of the above, which recognizes certifications from all areas of dance.

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