Qualifications to aim for

[Katymac]

Sorry I was thinking either Early Years teaching or Junior (like what I do ) rather than PA/dance teaching - but I do get your point

[riverdancefan]

I live in between two major colleges that offer BTEcs in performing arts , musical performance etc
I have seen performances by both sets of students and also had a son on one of the musical performance BTEcs ( now left as he has a full time Job in something unrelated)
I also know a few of the students personally an have seen them dancing from a young age.
Frankly there is no way as it stands I would allow or encourage I should say, my DS to apply to either of these colleges! . The bulk of the students are in no way capable or skilled enough to make their way in the professional world. The teaching varies, but what can you do with students who
Simply don't have the ability or skills to gain a high standard of achievement . I will not risk DS being held back or not pushed hard enough.
In no way am I saying this is true for all , I can only speak for the local colleges and the performances I have endured.
That leaves A levels ( a likely choice) or attending something like Urdang or Italia Conti with resulting fees although he is good enough for scholarships.
It does give me food for thought . Although ou never know what's around the corner. !

[Welsh Mum]

Another good qualification to get for a dancer is as a Zumba instructor. if you are a dancer the course is easy, takes a week end, costs about £250 I think. But there are loads of gyms etc looking for Zumba teachers, its something that they could do part time/in between jobs. The zumba class i go to is in a community centre, £4 a lesson, usually 35-40 there, hall costs £15. Good profit margin My Dd is going to do it next year.

[paulears]

A dancer friend tells me (and I tend to trust her) tells me there is talk the Zumba bubble may be about to burst. A little like the sudden interest in Ballroom that came with Strictly - and many of these classes have fizzled out now. At the moment rumba is mega popular, but for how long?

[2dancersmum]

From the dancing side of things, many seem to do the level 2 Btec along side GCSEs (often as an extra and often in 1 year). Level 3 is the equivalent of 3 Alevels and is usually offered by a college instead of A levels. BOA (Birmingham Ormiston Academy) does let you take A levels aswell however. But from the dance point of view you need to bear in mind that grades 6-8 and the vocational grades in ballet etc are considered the equivalent of A levels and indeed count as UCAS points for uni. At 15 my DD was already working at advanced and we were advised that the level 3 Btec would be a backwards step in her training as it would be easier and less advanced than what she was already doing. Just something to bear in mind if your focus is more dance/musical theatre than drama. Incidentally, never looked at it myself Katymac but Preston College has been recommended to me in the past for dance and dance teacher training.

[Welsh Mum]

A dancer friend tells me (and I tend to trust her) tells me there is talk the Zumba bubble may be about to burst. A little like the sudden interest in Ballroom that came with Strictly - and many of these classes have fizzled out now. At the moment rumba is mega popular, but for how long?

Well all exercise classes go in cycles, but certainly round here it is very popular. I still think it an easy qualification to get for a dancer, my DD was just going to have it as a fall back for some extra cash. Many places need "cover" zumba teachers for holidays etc and i know someone who makes quite a bit extra this way when she is still in uni. In fact, a lot of the personal trainer type courses are good to do for this reason, though most cost more than the zumba ones. Personal training is very lucrative compared to,say, waitressing (and not as anti-social !!) and dancers esp would be good for this.

[Kitschqueen]

They were Zumbaing on Daybreak this morning too!!