Dance teacher to drama teacher
A dance teacher already meets 54% of what the drama teacher role asks for. The move turns on 12 required skills not yet in the profile.
57.5/ 100
1 How much of what a drama teacher is expected to do is already part of a dance teacher’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the drama teacher role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A drama teacher role treats 18 of its required skills as things a dance teacher already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- adapt teaching to student's capabilities
- apply teaching strategies
- assess students
- assist students in their learning
- bring out performers’ artistic potential
- consult students on learning content
What stands in the way is 12 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 30 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A drama teacher role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a dance teacher background worth leading with.
- already held bring out performers’ artistic potential management skills
- already held prepare performance training session communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held stimulate performers' imagination management skills
- already held develop the physical language communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held create a work environment where performers can develop their potential management skills
- already held understand the emotional dimension of a performance communication, collaboration and creativity
All 30 carried skills, including the 18 the drama teacher role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 31 missing skills fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn analyse a script required
- still to learn conduct background research for plays required
- still to learn define artistic performance concepts required
- still to learn define creative components required
- still to learn develop drama production process required
- still to learn identify performers' needs required
- optional, not held adapt a script optional
- optional, not held analyse theatre texts optional
- optional, not held coordinate with creative departments optional
- optional, not held create script for artistic production optional
- optional, not held draw up reference documents for performance optional
- optional, not held ensure visual quality of the set optional
- optional, not held interpret performance concepts in the creative process optional
- optional, not held perform exercises for artistic performance optional
- optional, not held play musical instruments optional
- optional, not held practice dance moves optional
- optional, not held perform improvisation optional
- optional, not held practise singing optional
- still to learn assemble an artistic team required
- still to learn organise rehearsals required
- still to learn lead cast and crew required
- still to learn stimulate creativity in the team required
- optional, not held carry out auditions optional
- optional, not held manage budgets optional
- still to learn acting techniques required
- still to learn vocal techniques required
- optional, not held breathing techniques optional
- optional, not held pronunciation techniques optional
- optional, not held deal with public optional
- optional, not held curriculum objectives optional
- optional, not held study play productions optional
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a drama teacher role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 analyse a script practise this
- 02 assemble an artistic team practise this
- 03 conduct background research for plays practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 30 skills that carry over
- already held adapt teaching to student's capabilities skill
- already held apply teaching strategies skill
- already held assess students skill
- already held assist students in their learning skill
- already held bring out performers’ artistic potential skill
- already held consult students on learning content skill
- already held create a work environment where performers can develop their potential skill
- already held demonstrate when teaching skill
- already held develop a coaching style skill
- already held encourage students to acknowledge their achievements skill
- already held give constructive feedback skill
- already held guarantee students' safety skill
- already held maintain safe working conditions in performing arts skill
- already held manage student relationships skill
- already held perform classroom management skill
- already held prepare lesson content skill
- already held stimulate performers' imagination skill
- already held understand the emotional dimension of a performance skill
- already held assessment processes knowledge
- already held assist students with equipment skill
- already held develop artistic educational activities skill
- already held develop learning curriculum skill
- already held develop proposed choreographic language skill
- already held develop the physical language skill
- already held facilitate teamwork between students skill
- already held keep personal administration skill
- already held manage resources for educational purposes skill
- already held movement techniques knowledge
- already held prepare performance training session skill
- already held provide lesson materials skill
19 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held adapt a script optional
- optional, not held analyse theatre texts optional
- optional, not held carry out auditions optional
- optional, not held coordinate with creative departments optional
- optional, not held create script for artistic production optional
- optional, not held deal with public optional
- optional, not held draw up reference documents for performance optional
- optional, not held ensure visual quality of the set optional
- optional, not held interpret performance concepts in the creative process optional
- optional, not held perform exercises for artistic performance optional
- optional, not held play musical instruments optional
- optional, not held practice dance moves optional
- optional, not held study play productions optional
- optional, not held breathing techniques optional
- optional, not held curriculum objectives optional
- optional, not held manage budgets optional
- optional, not held perform improvisation optional
- optional, not held practise singing optional
- optional, not held pronunciation techniques optional
36 held skills the drama teacher role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role adopt a person-centred approach to community arts skill
- not needed by the target role analyse your fight discipline expertise skill
- not needed by the target role balance participants' personal needs with group needs skill
- not needed by the target role be a role model in community arts skill
- not needed by the target role contextualise artistic work skill
- not needed by the target role contribute to the choreographer's process of reflection skill
- not needed by the target role coordinate artistic production skill
- not needed by the target role create choreographic material skill
- not needed by the target role define artistic approach skill
- not needed by the target role demonstrate technical expertise of your dance style skill
- not needed by the target role develop a rehabilitation programme skill
- not needed by the target role develop artistic project budgets skill
- not needed by the target role develop codified movements skill
- not needed by the target role develop methods for choreographic integration skill
- not needed by the target role devise choreography skill
- not needed by the target role direct movement experiences skill
- not needed by the target role evolution in delivery practices in practiced dance tradition knowledge
- not needed by the target role express yourself physically skill
- not needed by the target role help performers internalise choreographic material skill
- not needed by the target role history of dance style knowledge
- not needed by the target role inspire dance participants to improve skill
- not needed by the target role inspire enthusiasm for dance skill
- not needed by the target role instructional strategies knowledge
- not needed by the target role keep up to date on professional dance practice skill
- not needed by the target role learning difficulties knowledge
- not needed by the target role link between dance and music style knowledge
- not needed by the target role maintain dance training skill
- not needed by the target role manage artistic career skill
- not needed by the target role match needs of target community with your skills skill
- not needed by the target role present exhibition skill
- not needed by the target role read dance scores skill
- not needed by the target role record lessons learnt from your sessions skill
- not needed by the target role subject of music coaching knowledge
- not needed by the target role teach dance skill
- not needed by the target role teamwork principles knowledge
- not needed by the target role understand the architecture of a live performance skill
5 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn acting techniques required
- still to learn vocal techniques required
- optional, not held breathing techniques optional
- optional, not held curriculum objectives optional
- optional, not held pronunciation techniques optional
Common questions about this move
Can a dance teacher become a drama teacher?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A dance teacher already covers 54% of what a drama teacher is expected to do: 30 skills carry over, 18 of which the drama teacher role treats as required.
What skills does a dance teacher need to become a drama teacher?
12 required skills are missing, plus 19 optional ones. They fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is analyse a script.
How hard is the move from dance teacher to drama teacher?
Its learning distance is 57.5 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.