Why Our Hiring Process Matters So Much

Building a trusted team to support our dancers—and your peace of mind.

This summer, I’ve spent many hours interviewing, observing, and evaluating potential instructors. And I wanted to share a little about why we take that process so seriously—and why it matters to you.

As many of you know, I currently teach over 30 classes each week, on top of handling all the behind-the-scenes responsibilities of co-owning a dance studio. I love teaching and would happily teach even more—but as a business owner, it simply isn’t sustainable. That’s why I’m in the process of finding new team members who can carry forward the standard of excellence and care our students deserve.

The dance world, especially in the U.S., is largely unregulated. That can be both a blessing and a challenge. On one hand, it gives creative teachers the freedom to shape their programs and develop new ideas. On the other hand, that lack of oversight means that there are no universal requirements for who can call themselves a dance teacher or open a dance studio—not in terms of training, safety, or even background checks.

That’s why our hiring process is so extensive. We’ve built a multi-step system that includes:

• A detailed application and written questionnaire

• Multiple interviews

• Reference checks

• A background check

• A demonstration of abilities

That may seem like a lot for what’s often viewed as a “part-time job,” but we see it very differently. Dance teachers spend hours with your children each week. They're responsible not just for their growth as dancers, but also for their emotional and physical safety. We take that responsibility seriously—because we know how hard it is to entrust your child to someone else.

This commitment to safety and professionalism doesn’t stop with kids. Our adult students also deserve teachers who are thoughtful, well-trained, and safety-conscious. We don’t believe that the responsibility for safe movement should fall solely on the student—regardless of age. It’s the teacher’s job to offer modifications, recognize potential risks, and create a welcoming space where every body can learn safely.

And we don’t just talk the talk—we walk it. Alyssa and I even background-checked ourselves as part of our Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (Y.P.A.D.) certification. We knew we’d pass, of course—but it was important to us that we hold ourselves to the same standard we expect of our team. And we’ll continue to renew those checks regularly.

The reality is, there’s no way to guarantee perfection. But what we can guarantee is that we’re doing everything in our power to make Garden State Dance Arts a safe, enriching, and joyful place to learn.

Thank you for trusting us. We take that trust to heart, and we’ll never stop working to earn it.