About Teach.Dance
For teachers, by teachers.
Teach.Dance is an online learning platform for dance teachers in the UK. It was started by Jackie Sanderson and her daughter, Jess Porter, who have spent their working lives teaching dance, running dance schools and mentoring other teachers.
years of experience between Jackie and Jess, in teaching, running dance schools and mentoring dance teachers.
Our story
Why Jackie and Jess started Teach.Dance
For years, Jackie and Jess have trained dance teachers in person for their qualifications, and helped teachers develop and grow their own schools. Seeing those teachers do well has always been the best part of the job, and it’s what led them to start Teach.Dance.
Teach.Dance takes that experience online, so more people who teach in dance schools can use it. It’s built on something they’ve always believed: teachers learn a lot from each other, and do their best work with a supportive community around them.
What we stand for
Our mission and values
Our mission is to support dance teachers in the UK with an online place to learn and a community to learn with. We want to help you keep developing as a teacher, with resources, tools and information that are up to date and relevant to teaching dance.
Inclusivity and diversity
We welcome all dance teachers, whatever their background or experience.
Fun
Teaching should be enjoyable, and we work to keep our community positive and encouraging.
Lifelong learning
Learning never stops, so we keep adding resources and opportunities to help you develop as a teacher.
Collaboration and community
By working together and sharing what we know and what we’ve learned, we can build a stronger and more supportive community.
Empowerment
Every dance teacher can do great work, and we’re here with the tools and resources to help you reach your potential.
Creativity
Creativity is at the heart of great teaching, so we want Teach.Dance to be a place that encourages it.
The team
Meet Jackie and Jess
Teach.Dance was founded by Jackie Sanderson and her daughter, Jess Porter. Here’s a little more about each of them.
Jackie Sanderson
Co-founder
Jackie has 49 years in dance and fitness. She founded three dance studios, where she leads a team of more than 40 staff, and she has written five dance technique books.
She is a former president of the UKA Dance Teachers Association. She coaches, examines and adjudicates internationally, has trained many British champions, including her four children, and her awards include the Carl Alan award.
Jess Porter
Co-founder
Jess grew up in her family’s dance school and became a British Champion at 11. She has been teaching for nearly twenty years and has guided many students through their dance training.
She also promotes high-profile dance events, and puts a lot of her energy into supporting UK dance teachers with practical resources and guidance.
What we offer
Three ways to learn with Teach.Dance
Start with whichever suits your week. All three are made by people who teach.
Courses
Video courses for dance teachers, covering early years, ballroom and Latin, exam training, safeguarding and the business side of running a school. Learn at your own pace and go back to any lesson whenever you need it.
The blog
A free library of practical guides on the things that come up in real studios, from safeguarding and music licences to exams and running your school, plus a round-up of dance teaching news every Friday.
The app
Your courses, the blog and the community on your phone. The Teach.Dance app is free to download for iPhone, iPad and Android.
Our partner
Working with BDSA
BDSA (British DanceSport Association) is a Teach.Dance partner, a great source of support for dance teachers and a DBS route for dance teachers.
BDSA’s online course, Introduction to Safeguarding in Dance, is powered by Teach.Dance and free for Teach.Dance members. Read about the course.
Questions
Common questions
What is Teach.Dance?
An online learning platform for dance teachers in the UK. It brings together video courses, a free blog of practical guides and the Teach.Dance app.
Who is it for?
Anyone who teaches dance or helps to run a dance school, whether you’re just starting out or have been teaching for years.
Does it cost anything?
Creating an account is free, and so is the blog. Each course shows its price on the course page, and some, like Introduction to Safeguarding in Dance, are free for Teach.Dance members.
Are the courses accredited?
Our courses are not regulated qualifications. Introduction to Safeguarding in Dance (Level 1) is a BDSA course, accredited by The CPD Standards Office. Our other courses are Teach.Dance training and are not externally accredited at the moment; we’ll only say otherwise once it’s confirmed in writing.
Can I use Teach.Dance on my phone?
Yes. The website works on your phone, and the free Teach.Dance app is on the App Store and Google Play.
How do I get in touch?
Email us at [email protected] and we’ll get back to you.
Find your next course
Browse the courses, or create your free account and have a look round first.
