Check for how long is the teacher teaching. If it is less than 3 years, find out where they have learned belly dancing, and contact their previous teacher to get a professional opinion about their presumed skills.
Ask arround!
Approache current students and ask what they think about their instructors teaching skills. Avoid ex student, who may have a fallen out with their teacher and have nothing good to say.
Ask at reception, if this tutor is a reliable person, if always on time or a notrious late comer. How is their attendance record. Nothing worse than turning up for class and the teacher is not. And, hey we all get sick, but have the students be informed and more to the point, does the venue know?
How much is the teacher involved in community affairs. A caring person will always take part at community events in their capacirty as instructor, like giving workshops on greens, dancing for charity and involve the students in festivities like muticultural festivals and such.
Age before beauty! Mature belly dancers are more refined and have the confidance needed to be a good teacher.
Check the teachers qualification
Somebody who teaches dance of any kind must have a proper dance teachers qualification. (Any kind of dance, Latin, Ballroom, HipHop - anything will do, but it must be dance!!!)
Although there is no legal requirement for dance instructors, who are using community centres and such, venue managers are advised by the council to ensure proper qualifications.
So ask at the reception if they can provide a certificate for their instructor or ask the teacher direct. If they are genuine they'll be happy to show you their diploma or whatever they have got.
Just having a diploma in dance, does not qualify anybody to teach. Also a teachers certificate for anything else than dance does not qualify.
So make sure that you chosen belly dance teacher has the proper paper work!!!
Check also any other qualification, for example I know of a teacher who has a Psychology degree. Now that helps with people skills. So thumbs up!
