Teachers for Hire, Compensation Required

Recently, I responded to a job posting seeking a dance teacher/choreographer. The director invited me to visit the school and asked me to present a two-day workshop for which he was going to charge the students a fee to attend. He did not intend to compensate me for my work.

Because it was economically unfeasible to book two full days without pay, I responded with: “If you would like to book me for a workshop or master class, my rates will apply whether you are observing me for a future position or not. I have found that this is standard practice.” The director not only declined, he told me my request was outrageous.

As a result of this exchange I talked to several colleagues, including studio directors and teachers, and most agreed that teachers should be paid to teach unless a previous agreement has been made. The incident also brought up discussion about related situations: dance educators who were asked to attend meetings, rehearsals, performances, competitions and conventions—without additional pay.

“In the event of snow closings, my director wanted me to call students by 7:30 am from my home. I was not offered admin pay or reimbursement for phone expenses,” said one instructor. “I was also taking a loss since the school does not pay teachers in the event of cancelled classes.” Curious about this, I asked several employers about such policies. They responded that the additional time commitments were considered covered by hourly teaching rates.

These are not the practices of reputable organizations with integrity for the arts. I believe the standards in our industry will never be raised as long as there are individuals who accept positions where attitudes such as the one I encountered exist.

“We all know the realities of budgets, salaries and funding in the arts,” says Devon Porter, owner of The Dance Factory in Chester County, PA. “We can, however, choose to make it better for ourselves, our employees and our colleagues by giving and asking for what’s reasonable. The respect that we show each other will help build a respect for the arts and in turn benefit our students, our audiences and the future of our careers.”

There are many professionals devoting their time, resources and expertise to educate the educators. I think we should take advantage of the numerous conferences and alliance groups to network, both locally and nationally. By opening communication and taking responsibility for a professional approach to dance education, those of us working in the field can help maintain and preserve the art. DT


Debra Danese is a Registered Dance Educator and director of Kdance Productions, creating customized dance shows for resorts and corporate events.