Hi I saw a post asking how you became an assistant. It's too old to reply to now. I really want to assist so I would love to hear your stories!

I was very lucky.

"Hi glitterfairy. Want to come early to rehearsal next week? I'm starting a new tap class and thought it might be a good opportunity to be an assistant teacher."

I now own my own studio, but I first became an assistant 12 years ago. I was in the eighth grade and was chosen based on the number of years I had taken with my studio and how dedicated I was.

As an SO I chose my assistants based on the same things...the most being dedication, talent, ability to work with children and overall attitude and behavior. I personally don't like it when students ask me if they can be an assistant...I'd rather chose on my own since it's my business.

My SO took over my old SO's studio, when I found out that she would be taking over I just asked her if she needed any help with assisting, and she said sure, now i'm one of her two instructors.

Tiffany

My SO often used slightly older students (as young as 10) in her creative dance classes for 3-6 year olds. They did not have any teaching duties but helped out in the class and usually danced with the kids on stage (for example, playing mama bird to a bunch of baby birds or The White Rabbit to some bunnies, etc). Depending on the number of preschoolers, there could be one to three of these assistants.

I began helping out in a similar way with a younger ballet class when I was in 5th grade. Again, my duties involved no teaching whatsoever but it was a great opportunity to observe a teacher at work while lending a hand. Then, in about 8th grade my SO started a teacher's asst. program and we were paired with a teacher for one or two classes/wk. We also met as a class from time to time for mini workshops on how to prepare, teach skills, handle problems, etc. I did this for two years and then as a sophomore began teaching 2 classes of my own for kids that were about K-2 in school. My classes were usually on Saturday mornings and I did this until I graduated from high school. I was in class and other activities the rest of the week.

When I was in 6th grade I went to my first class. You could not keep me away. So I just started showing up for every class. Our studio had a policy that if you took one class a week you were welcome to take any class you wanted . I never left I was there from the time they opened till they closed assisting for years. ( then I was given my lessons free.)
I then became a student teacher, then the owners associate teacher until I then opened my own school. ahh memories!

In June at our recital, the owner of our studio (Ms. Kathy, which I also had for ballet 2) asked me if after summer, when the fall started up, if I'd assist for 2 of the classes she was leaving, (she retired, but is still very involved with the studio) ballet 1, 7-10 year olds, and ballet 1-b. I was thrilled! I have never assisted before, but August 18th, 2 weeks ago, our fall 2008/2009 classes started, and I love assisting! Its such a blast be with all the little girls, and their teacher is my ballet teacher, so I've gotten to know her a lot better also. I'm so happy with my ballet classes, and assisting classes.

I needed to volunteer for something for my religion classes, and I asked my SO if I could assist in a class.
I'm going on my 3rd year now, and I love it!

Ive been dancing at my studio for 12 years. I helped out with the little kids for about two classes but I cant help out anymore because it was too early to have to go in and I have stuff to do afterschool.

So my time teaching and helping out for two lessons was okay.

Well the ballet teacher at my studio's assistant used to be her daughter, but then she went away to college last year, so she needed a new assistant. I was one of the few students very close to this teacher, at my studio most of the people that take ballet dont take it because they want to but because it is required for competition & I am like one of the only 4 or 5 people that take pointe at the studio. So she said she needed an assistant for her classes and asked the SO, so now I am an assistant. This year I assist 4 ballet classes a week ages 7-adult and one 4 year old tap & ballet class with a different teacher.

My teacher just asked me when I was 13ish, because she said I was a good dancer, was really good with kids (I always looked after all the cute wee ones during their rehearsals), was energetic and confident, and she believed I would make a good teacher.
here where I live, we have to do a teaching course thing and it takes like 2-3 years and you have to do different modules and sit exams etc. I am doing this now.
I love it
xxx

I wanted to be a dance teacher since age 9. At age 11 my dance teacher needed an assistant for my younger sisters acrobatics class- mostly to demonstrate and I happened to be there.
After that I assisted for 5 more years then have been teaching for the past 14!

When our dance teachers get sick, they select the oldest, most dedicated girls from any of the dance teams to substitute teach for them. They usually expect these girls to have some experience handling a class. So, at our studio, if you want to be considered for substituting, you must be an assistant for one or more younger classes. This is how I got started, and I am now a teacher myself. Of course, I only teach a few, smaller classes since I am new to the whole teaching thing.