Taking that first step into dance class can be a wonderful experience. By being selective about whom you hire as your instructor, you can avoid problems that can develop later by weeding out potential issues right from the start. So, what factors should you consider when choosing a teacher? It will depend on your goals.

            If you are concerned about health and fitness, you will want a teacher who has some training in proper body alignment and muscle movement. This can mean that the teacher has a degree in the health, physiology, dance or other related fields. It could mean that she has some sort of certification. But don't rule out the instructor who has experience. If a teacher is one who attends workshops, keeps up on industry news, and remains active in the field, chances are, this is an area where she has knowledge too.

            A teacher who has this knowledge will include a proper warm-up and cool down in her class. She will not allow you to do bouncing movements to stretch. She will not stretch cold muscles. She will include your whole body in the warm-up, including the extremities. She will keep up with new research on health and fitness and incorporate this into your work-out.

            If you are concerned about technical proficiency, you will want a teacher who has a broad knowledge of techniques. Many belly dance teachers start off with only a basic dance vocabulary, then say they will only teach beginners- meaning, they will teach to their level of proficiency. I realize that in many areas, the choices for a teacher are slim and this may be better than nothing, but if you have other options, I would explore them. Learning from someone who is limited will limit how far you can go.

            Years of experience can be a good indicator of technical proficiency, but only if the instructor was growing for all or most of those years. I've seen dancers with only a few years of experience who were more proficient than long time dancers because the time spent during a few years for the younger student was more productive than the many years of the more experienced dancer.

            If your goals are to become a performer, you will want a teacher who has been (or is) a performer and who is interested in producing performers. A teacher who has never been a performer will have a more difficult time helping you to get into a position to get gigs. She may not know performance etiquette. Not having been in front of an audience, it is hard to tell someone else how to handle that experience or what to anticipate.

            Some instructors are not interested in producing performers. There may be ego reasons such as the teacher feeling insecure about being surpassed by her students. There may be religious or cultural reasons. Whatever the reasons are, if the teacher does support your decision to be a performer, chances are, she's not going to give her heart and soul into developing you as one.

            If your interest is in having a social activity or a spiritually enlightening experience, find someone who shares your interests. "Serious" teachers may be put off by your less- than- serious attitude, while teachers who are more into feeling good will fall short of a "serious" dancer's expectations. So match your goals and expectations with the goals and expectations of the teacher. Find out if the teacher offers more than one type of class. She may have a recreational class and a professional student class. The better fit you find, the more likely you will be to stick with it.

            No matter what your interests are, it is a good idea to find someone who is involved in the larger community and is willing to share information with you. There are all sorts of performing opportunities, workshops, contests, and other events that dancers can use as entertainment and growth. The more your teacher is aware of these things, the more she will have to share with you.

            Finally, it is wise to consider personality since you will be spending a regular slot of time with this person. Trust your gut. Choose a teacher that makes you comfortable. Choose someone you can talk to, who respects you, and whom you respect. Ask for references. Ask past students and employers (meaning those who hired her for a dance job) what they thought of her. You wouldn't hire a carpenter without references, so why not get some references for your dance teacher?

            Finding the right dance teacher could mean stepping into a fulfilling hobby, or even a new profession. Save yourself some time by asking questions and interviewing the prospective teacher. It's an investment in your future, so why not treat it as one?