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Make a difference. TEACH dance to children

Volunteer Teacher - Teaching at GWM requires a full year commitment (September - June). During the course of the year, you prepare your students for Parent Observation and Participation (POP) Week in December and the End of Year Recital in June. There are also opportunities to perform at community events. We welcome all styles of dance!
It is through the efforts of over 40 volunteer teachers who give part of themselves for the benefit and enrichment of our girls that Groove With Me is able to do what we do. It is because of their time and support that we have been able to serve over 250 girls per year and offer 42 classes a week. Hopefully we can add you to that list!  ​

Coming Soon - the Teaching Artist Certification Program

Groove With Me — Volunteer Dance Teacher Training
Groove With Me

Volunteer Dance
Teacher Training

What you'll learn, week by week
6 Weeks · 12 Hours Total
2 Hours Per Session
In-Person + Remote

This six-week training prepares you to step into a Groove With Me classroom with confidence, purpose, and the tools to make a lasting impact on the young people you teach. Each session builds on the last — combining movement, reflection, and real practice.

Week
01
□ In Person
Welcome to Groove With Me — Our Values & Your Role
  • Understand Groove With Me's mission, community roots, and what sets us apart from other dance programs
  • Distinguish between a teaching artist and a volunteer dance teacher — and why that difference matters
  • Reflect on your own identity as an educator and what you bring to the studio
Week
02
□ Remote
Youth Development — How Young People Grow
  • Apply a youth development framework to understand why kids behave, learn, and connect the way they do
  • Identify the developmental needs of students across age groups from 5 to 18
  • Recognize how dance uniquely supports social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth
Week
03
□ Remote
Social Emotional Intelligence — Teaching the Whole Child
  • Define the five core competencies of social-emotional learning (SEL) and how they show up in the dance studio
  • Use movement as a tool to build emotional regulation, empathy, and self-awareness in students
  • Recognize your own emotional triggers in the classroom and practice strategies to stay grounded
Week
04
□ Remote
Classroom Management — Structure That Sets Kids Free
  • Build proactive routines and classroom structures that prevent disruption before it starts
  • Respond to challenging behavior with curiosity and de-escalation instead of punishment
  • Design a classroom culture where every student feels safe enough to take risks and try
Week
05
□ Remote
Dance Technique Standards — Teaching Movement with Intention
  • Understand Groove With Me's age-appropriate technique expectations across dance styles and skill levels
  • Give feedback that develops technical skill without sacrificing joy, confidence, or creativity
  • Plan and sequence movement instruction from warm-up through cool-down with purpose and flow
Week
06
□ In Person
Integration & Practice — You're Ready. Let's Dance.
  • Teach a short class segment to peers and receive structured, affirming feedback
  • Connect everything — values, youth development, SEL, management, and technique — into your teaching identity
  • Leave with a personal teaching philosophy, your class toolkit, and full certification to teach
Who this is for: Volunteers with a passion for dance and young people — no formal teaching degree required. All training materials, resources, and ongoing support are provided by Groove With Me. Sessions 1 and 6 are held in person; Sessions 2–5 are held via video conference. Attendance at all six sessions is required for certification.
12
Hours to
Certification
The Young Professional Committee
​Our Mission
The Young Professionals Committee (YPC) is a collective of dynamic New York City professionals driven by a shared belief in Groove With Me, its award-winning mission and the value it creates in the lives of young girls.

Through a variety of social events, networking and volunteer opportunities, the YPC:
  1.         Increases public awareness about this impactful organization
  2.         Supports Groove With Me’s essential fundraising and friendraising efforts
  3.         Provides committee members a forum for professional development and leadership skill building
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