In 2020 during COVID, I decided to take another dance form on board, and I decided to venture into the world of Acro, as this seemed like a natural progression.
I was drawn to Acro because of the flexibility and strength training. For years I have tried unsuccessfully to get my students to attend separate stretch classes, and very few did.
When I started teaching acro, I turned the word ‘stretch’ into ‘acro’, and suddenly they started attending and loving it.
I loved that they also increased their strength, especially in the upper body, as dancers are notorious for having weak upper bodies. Even their ballet improved, as their balance got better and they got more flexible.
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Become Successful Acro Teacher
What Tools Do You Need To Become A Successful Acro Teacher?
Well first of all you need to be a qualified dance teacher in a recognized dance brand or even in gymnastics. Then you can take a course through one of the many professional Acro organizations worldwide.
I have taken a few courses with different societies over the last few years, and each one has offered something unique and different. I have realized that it is quite a large learning curve, as it is very different to dance and the risks are also different. You need to be extra vigilant when training your pupils and not give them tricks they are not ready for as you could end up doing more harm than good if they get injured.
I started off with two large mats and a couple of fold out ones and some yoga blocks. The fold out mats are very useful as they can be used folded and stacked to work on many other skills and strengthening. After two years I also purchased a blow up mat which the children love, but beware they don’t become to reliant on this as they do need to learn to perform tricks on a hard floor if you want to transfer them to the stage eventually.
Once you have learned the basics, you can start your first class.
Over time, you then need to:
Master Your Craft:
This happens by training your own pupils, as well as doing as many courses as you can.
Acro, like most dance forms, is a process of lifelong learning, and you are never done learning. Write down what you are learning so you remember and reinforce it by using the techniques on your students.
Stay updated on what is new and trendy in the acro dance community, as this area is constantly evolving. It also helps if you can find a mentor you can reach out too who has more experience than you do.
Set High Standards For Your Dancers:
Make sure that they perform each trick only when they are ready for them and make sure they don’t get sloppy. How they start and end a trick is just as important as doing the trick.
Set goals for your students and help them to measure how well they are progressing. Inspire them to push beyond what they think is possible so they can see improvement over time.
If they can see you are working to high standards, it will encourage them to work harder to get better. It takes a lot of time to build the strength necessary for many of the tricks, so you need to keep things exciting so they stay inspired.
Build Trust and Report Within Your Studio:
Create a supportive learning environment in your studio and have open communication with your students.
Respond with positive or neutral corrections, and never negative ones. Remember that sarcasm is considered negative.
Listen to your students and make them feel heard. Lead by example. Inspire your students and guide them to reach their goals. If you make promises, keep them.
Showcase Your Expertise and Build A Reputation:
Showcase your students by letting them demonstrate what they have learned in public. Don’t be afraid to put it out there. Even your beginners will show the public that this is something that everyone can do and enjoy.
Develop a positive reputation and conduct yourself with integrity, professionalism and authenticity at all times. This includes what you post on Facebook.
Consistently deliver high quality education. so that you can establish yourself as a trusted authority within the Acro Dance Community.
If you work on the above points, over time you will build a wonderful new career and leave a lasting impact on your community.
If you have any more advice on how to become a successful acro teacher, please share by commenting below.
