dance instructor

performing arts coordinator

dancer

dance coach

dance studio manager

Fred Astaire Dance Studios

I've never lived the same day twice while working at Fred Astaire Dance Studio, and I mean this in all the best ways. If you take advantage of all the opportunities there are to learn from the FADS training materials, curriculums, various Zoom training, time to practice your dancing, learning from various coaches that are brought in, and ask help from your team.

If you love variety, and an encouraging work environment, I can say at least at my current studio in West Springfield, MA, that this career is for you. It feels great to help bring new students in and show them how to dance from the ground up. My students are my favorite part of the day.

It is definitely important to learn how to have a work/life balance with this job, but it can be a struggle sometimes. You want to practice your dancing every day, and for those who want to be very successful in this job, you must be a quick learner, inquisitive, and good at promoting yourself. It will become more of a lifestyle, so you need to fully develop the personal life that you desire alongside your career.

Most importantly, you must be good at working in a team environment. It is essential, as we are all supportive of each other as instructors, and no one likes someone who isn't a team player. It can be good sales/business training as well as dance training. 

* The typical day began with calling and confirming all of the days lessons followed by the weeks schedule.  The beginning of the day involved checking studio emails as well as voice mails prior to dusting the maple floor.  
* What I learned with this company is that there are many things that all of us people search for to fill a void in our lives; ballroom dancing is a cure to many motives.
* The management can be great depending upon its variables.
* My co-workers consisted of a mixed breed.
* The hardest part of the job was when the day was filled with an empty schedule and the job turned into telemarketing.
* The most enjoyable part of the job was seeing the many wondrous emotions spark from the wide range of clients; everywhere from re-sparking marriages, to wedding dances, to the "ah-ha moments."

Happiest, friendliest place on earth... Adult Disney Land! I love teaching my clients the most popular ballroom and social dances. Organization and flexibility are the keys to success. We have clients of different ages and at different points of their lives. We could work with a high schooler getting ready for prom. We could be working with a CEO getting ready for his company's Charity Gala. We could have a retired couple looking to reconnect in their twilight years. We could have young lovers preparing for their wedding day. As instructors, we must be social chameleons. Ready and willing to change the lives of people seeking enrichment through dance.

Mon-Fri you generally work noon to 9 pm (some studios are 1 pm - 10 pm) ... which can be fun sometimes, but your social schedule is very impacted. 

You are on your feet most of the time and if you are a woman, many studio owners expect you to wear the 2-3 inch dance heels for your lessons, not practice shoes. 

Overall I'd say it just really depends on which studio you get into. Ask around, ask the staff privately before you accept a job offer somewhere. The owners make ALL the difference. 

Otherwise, the literal job itself is fun and there is opportunity to make a lot of money. 

My only advice is dig a little on the owners and how they treat their staff, and *follow* *the* *FADS* *system* ... their sales training, their lesson plans, their sales models - it WORKS. My coworkers and other studios only had a hard time when they didn't do what they were supposed to.

While the Fred Astaire Dance Company in St. Charles offers quality instruction, I found the environment to be less than welcoming. The atmosphere felt somewhat tense and unwelcoming, which detracted from my overall experience. Additionally, there was a requirement to attend all work events without compensation, which felt unfair. Moreover, it's disheartening to learn that despite the hefty fees charged to clients, the workers are underpaid. It's essential for the studio to address this disparity and ensure fair compensation for its employees, reflecting the value they bring to the company. Efforts should be made to create a more positive and inclusive atmosphere for all participants, while also prioritizing fair treatment and compensation for the staff

I started as an instructor in 2009, great environment, encouraging team, a lot of business and dance training.  A lot of opportunity for growth to new positions (the benefits of the franchise) after year 1 i became a dance director, year 2 a manager.  As an instructor i was making 40k the first year (have in mind it takes a while to build your students that the owner brings in) as a manager i was making about 130k/year. 

Lots of fun traveling, for fun trips, competitions etc. I stopped now to move and retire back to my country! But i couldn't have done it without FADS. 

it helps that i had dance experience, but i see a lot of non dancers starting and going through the training and eventually they become studio owners or amazing dancers. #NonExpirienced future instructors there is a lot for you to be part of! It's great opportunity! 

This job is not terrible. The compensation is abysmal, but if you are into sales, and you like the business aspect of it, you can make it work for you in a way that you make more money than even your managers, easily.

But if you are looking to dance, and advance yourself as an artist, this is not the place to do it. No studio is, not that I've found anyway, and I've worked at a few of the big ones. Studios want dance teachers, not dancers. If you want to be a dancer, you're better off getting a different job and just getting lessons for yourself on the side, like the students you're probably already teaching.

I was having an amazing time at Fred Astaire Madison west as the Office Manager until the recent management turnover. I used to feel like I was an important member of this team and that management appreciated me and everything I do here. Unfortunately recently we've been under new ownership and I feel extremely taken for granted. All of the fun parts of my job have also been given to the studio manager, leaving me with all of the stressful and boring stuff. Basically the job got a lot less fun, a lot more stressful, and neither my compensation nor level of respect here reflect that. I used to absolutely love this job but it got so bad over the last month that I just can't take it anymore.

- A typical day at work begins with practice in the morning and after hours at night with teaching during the afternoon and evening.  There is opportunity to travel and perform as well.

-  I learned the ins and outs of the dance studio business, how to teach and dance, relate to students and management, coordinate events, sales, travel experience, understand movement.

- The management was supportive, encouraging and took time to train their staff regularly.

- Co-workers were generally team oriented and enthusiastic

- The hardest part of the job was a lack of professionalism which created a very casual atmosphere.

- The most enjoyable part of the job was teaching, dancing and travel.

Your day begins with you arriving half an hour before studio opens and you have to clean EVERYTHING. Top to bottom. Mopping included. 
Then Mondays, Wednesday's, and Fridays. You go into your meeting where you're told about students needing to buy more lessons to get more clients. And making sure people buy more things. (Competitions, lessons etc,)
Culture in the workplace is fun and exciting. However loud and chaotic. As Front office manager you aren't allowed to take any group classes, one-on-one classes, or anything. 
Hardest part is sometimes guest teachers come in last minute and you're scrambling to get things done. 
Most enjoyable is the dancing. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Dance instructor 174 salaries reported	$63,063 per year
Performing arts coordinator 36 salaries reported	$65,028 per year
Dancer 22 salaries reported	$63,727 per year
Dance coach 28 salaries reported	$65,000 per year
Dance studio manager 11 salaries reported	$50,455 per year

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