10 Gadgets A New Dance Teacher Should Own

Being a dance teacher is a mentally and physically challenging job. You need to be a well-organised multi-tasker who connects easily with students and has lots of stamina. That’s a lot required from one person. To keep your show running without interruption, you will need 10 must-have gadgets as a new dance teacher. 

Dance teachers can easily make use of hi-tech gadgets to make things a little easier for themselves. The gadgets that I am going to mention below can be used while working from home to edit music for your online dance classes or in case the dance studio does not have an appropriate set up beforehand. 

I have worked as a freelance dance teacher for over 8 years, and I have experienced different types of set-ups in schools and dance studios. Not every studio will be well equipped. You may not like the speaker quality, or a dance studio that’s in the basement may not have proper ventilation. I have also managed to work for some time at a school that was adamant on giving me a separate space for dance class. I hope you always find yourself teaching in good conditions with cooperative management. 

Disclaimer: All content in this post is for general health information only. Please consult a specialist physician before trying any new exercise, diet, or health advice. There are no affiliate links attached to this post. 

Here are the 10 must-have gadgets a new dance teacher should own for a wonderful first dance class. 

Bluetooth speaker 

Music has the power to change any rough situation into a pleasant one. It’s important for dance teachers to inquire during the interview if the dance studio has good speakers. It is also advisable to once visit the dance studio and check the speakers, not half an hour before starting the class but in fact one day before the class. If the dance studio has good speakers, that’s great; otherwise, carry your cool red or blue Bluetooth speaker, which you already know how to use. 

Pen drive and hard drive 

Saving your playlists and videos is very important for every dance teacher. You might be used to listening to music on Spotify, and you might have created your favourite playlist there. But this is how a dance teacher’s music playlist folders look like:

• Beginner’s workout music
• Ladies only funk music
• Zumba workout music 
• Contemporary choreography music
• Kids dance class music
• Class choreography music
• Competition choreography music 
• Lyrical and instrumental music for stretches 

This is just one sample of the music folders you should create as you take more dance classes. For the first dance class, just three folders of workout, stretches, and choreography music will be sufficient. Whatever music you have, including class videos, store them on a pen drive and later transfer the files to a hard drive. Don’t rely on the storage of your mobile device only because, while doing music edits, storing files and folders on your laptop will make things easier. 

Free music editing and mixer software

Besides being a mentor and an ultimate guide for flexibility, as a dance teacher, you will also become a DJ. You will have to spend time searching for the type of music that has the perfect vibe for your students. Different levels of students will require different types of music and rhythm. You will also need to update your playlist on a yearly basis. With the music industry partly relying on viral dance steps associated with their music, you will have to keep a lookout for the viral dance steps online. 

Add to all this free music editing software and a music mixer that will help you create customised class and choreography music. When you are doing choreography for a musical number, you will have to add sound effects and maybe even dialogue to go with it. Everything needs to be well coordinated, and a good music editing tool will help you a lot. 

Smartwatch or fitness tracker app

A dance friend of mine used to take ladies Zumba workout classes. He was already very thin, and his aim was to help the ladies lose weight while dancing to fun music. The ladies had time in between to stop and then continue as the teacher was instructing them, but the teacher can never  stop or pause to keep the energetic momentum going. I am not sure how much the ladies lost weight, but after a month, he definitely looked very thin. 

The moral of the story is that, as dance teachers, we need to keep our health in check. From my experience, I can tell you that it’s very easy for dance teachers to lose focus on their own health while guiding students and their parents to live a healthy life. Invest a portion of your salary in a fitness tracker or a smartwatch. Understand that with flexibility comes the responsibility to do strength training as well. Losing muscle is never healthy. There are so many dancers who have to end their dance careers because of weak bones and muscles. 

Portable blender and healthy protein snacks

Another important aspect of fitness is healthy eating and drinking habits. As a dance student, you must be very conscious of your diet, but as a dance teacher, it is necessary to maintain a healthy diet along with multi-tasking. As a dance teacher, you may not be actively dancing but spend most of the time only instructing. If you have recently opened your dance studio, then you will also be handling student records while your partner is teaching class. All this takes a toll on the body and mind. 

Therefore, keep drinking water, smoothies, and juices. Invest in a portable juicer that you can carry in your bag while travelling by metro or in a car. I know that dancers are always on the run and rarely have time to sit down and drink while travelling from one dance class to another. Keep some fruit in your bag, like a banana or an apple, that you can have after the class gets over. You should also keep a small jar of dry nuts as a healthy snack to have while checking records. 

Favourite salon’s number on speed dial 

As a new dance teacher, you might not realise when you will become so busy that it will be difficult to find time for a new haircut. Even though we know everything about stage make-up, I have never seen a dance teacher spend time in a salon on mani-pedis. We are so used to wrapping our feet with bandages. Just kidding! A new haircut from your favourite salon will give you confidence for your first dance class. You will also require the salon’s number while preparing for a stage performance. You may be doing the hair of young kids or suggesting excellent make-up tips to the parents. Your favourite salon will know that you are mostly in a hurry and will give good tips for fixing a hairdo or makeup. 

Dance studio software 

Do you know that there are apps available only for dance teachers and studio managers to make entries, track attendance, schedule classes, inform students, and manage finances? Yes, there are many apps by the name of dance studio software that make life so much easier. You will need just one dance studio software to manage most of the things on one gadgets. Some examples of good dance studio software are – Acuity Scheduling, Vagaro, Sawyer, LegitFit, DanceStudio-Pro Studio Manager (Apple), and Mindbody, etc.These apps work like a great team player with teachers as well as studio managers. You can easily coordinate things with your staff and also send promotional emails with it. 

AirPods or noise canceling headphones

While travelling by metro, you will need to keep your cool vibe going, so listening to music without interruption is a way of life for dance teachers. You never know when you will find inspiring music that gives you a new idea for a choreography. Or maybe the music will inspire you to try a new workout routine with your advanced-level students. You should always keep an AirPod or some cool-looking noise-cancelling headphones in your bag. Inspiration can strike anywhere—maybe while walking towards your dance studio. 

Sticky notes app

I am a list person. I make a lot of to-do lists. I am not happy with the already-available Notes app on my phone. I want more features, including folders and sub-folders coordinated by theme, type, and colour. And that’s why I have downloaded Sticky Notes, which is the ultimate and most reliable note-taking app. Though there are other apps where you can do more than take notes, sometimes you need to check things instantly, and that’s where the sticky notes app comes in handy. You can colour-coordinate your folders and sub-folders and keep a shortcut on the home screen of your mobile before heading off to the dance studio. 

Fast charger for mobile and laptop 

There are so many smartphones with so many amazing features. The most that dance teachers will need in a smartphone are storage and a lightning-speed charger. There is a category for game phones or game laptops but not for dancers, even though we do so much multi-tasking. Gaming phones and laptops need exceptional video quality and a faster processor. But for dancers, a quick charging device is the most important thing. With so many gadgets, you need a quick charger that works as efficiently as you do in your dance classes. 

I hope you find all these gadgets and apps helpful as you start your journey of a dance teacher. All the best!