For Dance Teachers: How To Resign From A Dance Studio Without Burning Bridges

Establishing a good reputation as a dance teacher is super-important to growing in your career, gaining new teaching opportunities, and maintaining great relationships with your employers, past and present. It can be quite uncomfortable when you’re ready to move on from a particular dance studio, for whatever reason, and it’s important to handle this situation properly, so that you don’t damage the relationship between your employer, students, and their parents.

Here are some specific tips to help you resign from a job at a dance studio with class, and not burn any bridges.

1) Do it at the right time. The peak of recital or competition season, is not the right time to resign from a dance teaching job. A week before classes start, also, not the right time. Ideally, you should complete the entire season/school year, before resigning. If not, resigning, in November or December, and giving at least 2 weeks notice is your second best option.

2) Have one or two specific reasons why you’re leaving, that have absolutely nothing to do with the dance studio you’re teaching at. Make it about you, not about them. Focus on it being a personal choice, and not you leaving the studio because you don’t want to teach there anymore. Share some of the things that you liked about working there, and express how sad you are to leave.

3) Don’t Be Impersonal. Sending an e-mail is just not the way to go in a situation like this. If you can tell the studio owner or director in person, that is ideal. If you can’t for some reason, you need to call them, and speak with them over the phone, to let them know what’s going on.

4) Let them know that they are welcome to contact you anytime. Inform them that you’re happy to sub if they need assistance and you’re available, and that you plan to keep in touch with them.

5) Have Recommendations For Your Replacement. Or, help them find a replacement for you. One of the hardest parts of losing a dance teacher is having to find a replacement for them. If you can help out with this process, and possibly recommend a few of your peers who you know are great teachers, it will help tremendously with maintaining a great relationship.

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