So, you’ve been belly dancing for a few years and you feel called to share its essence with others. But there are obstacles – the costs of getting Your Own belly dancing school off the ground can be high, and besides, you’re nervous about teaching belly dance. What if you spend all that money, then find you’re no good at teaching?

That nervousness is easily dispelled by taking a belly dance certification course. With a prescribed syllabus and training in how to engage with students, you’ll have a solid foundation which will give you confidence.

 Armed with your certificate to prove your credentials, you are more likely to be accepted by local community centers or adult education colleges, teaching belly dance classes in their program. It’s a much cheaper way to get started as a belly dance instructor, so there are less risks if you fail or change your mind.

When submitting your proposal to these venues, give some thought to marketing your program in ways that will appeal to a wider audience. You may have discovered belly dancing because of its spiritual benefits – but don’t forget that others may have different motivations, and you can take advantage of that: tailor your hobby to suit the likely abilities of the members of that institution.

If you are teaching at a women’s centre, for instance, you can emphasise the Earth Mother and healing aspects of belly dance. For the elderly, you are more likely to focus on helping them keep their joints and muscles active.  You can teach the younger crowd to tighten and tone specific muscles in their bodies, or you can teach classes emphasising the cardio benefits of this amazing unique dancing style. The possibilities are endless, just get going and lay the foundations with proper belly dance certification!