Start a meaningful and authentic dance class that helps you stay active and creative, while getting paid to teach others. I’ll help you develop your unique style of dancing and facilitating (even if you feel totally rusty or not experienced enough) and turn it into an offering you can share and sell.
NOT required: getting an MFA or keeping up with the latest TikTok trends - unless you want to ;)
how good it would feel to begin or end your days in the dance studio moving and creating, but yet you haven’t gotten it together to start something up. Life seems to get in the way, you end up prioritizing other things or convincing yourself that you don’t really have what it takes, and therefore your dance dreams stay on the backburner.
but you're exhausted by the grind of it and feeling bored with trying to fit into the mold of that discipline. You might also feel done with working for other people. You’re craving something more authentic, more creative, and more YOU, but don’t quite know how to transition to it.
You get overwhelmed with knowing where to start, or knowing how to effectively market and build community. You still have questions about how to lead classes and a business effectively, and how to put your unique signature on it. You also dread posting about your class on Instagram, as the worst thing in the world would be receiving 1 like (from your bestie) and zero sign ups.
You want that fulfillment of feeling like a dancer from the inside out, and feeling like you’re making the most of your life. You want to consciously leave behind any negative programming that past dance experiences might’ve given you, and instead actively create your dance path - and do something really cool with it!
Once upon a time, teaching dance was only for professionals and former professionals. Whether it was teaching dance to other professional adults, or to kids in training, there weren’t many other options.
Outside of the professional dance world, the majority of dance offerings out there have been geared towards children.
…That is, until dance fitness entered the scene!
The rise of fitness-based dance classes like Jazzercise and Zumba helped everyday adults get into dance and even start teaching it. It helped dance become more accessible to more people!
But wait - a new problem emerged: the prominence of fitness-based dance only.
Yes, dance became more available to more adults, but it was hidden within the confines of FITNESS and exercise. Dance classes became a thing that helped you “get in shape” and get in your cardio time.
While those goals are great to have, they don’t leave us with the same satisfaction that the artistry and expression of dance can bring. There are so many humans out there (including me!) who want more from a dance class than just a high impact workout.
They want a 5, 6, 7, 8! They want a space that allows them to tap into their own expression through movement. They want to feel like a real dancer again. They want to feel welcomed and part of a community - rather than intimidated or scared to step foot in the studio. And they want to feel like they can safely pace themselves - especially if they have a history of injuries or just feel very rusty!
Dance Again helps you create that kind of dance life and that kind of dance gig for yourself. Fitness is a lovely side bonus, but the emphasis is on creativity, authenticity, self-expression, and community.
Dance Again Teacher Training has three goals:
No matter if you have a ton of dance experience or very little, the truth is, there’s a unique way that you move and approach movement, and there’s a unique way that this movement can be shared with others. You’ll be guided to embrace your flairs and [perceived] flaws and turn them into a class or other movement offering that works. With a guide to class outlines, a library of dance prompts you can use freely, and tutorials like our Choreography Lab, your creativity will be flowing and you’ll know exactly how to piece together what you do into something people will LOVE.
There’ll be no starving artists here! You’ll be guided through how to nail what you offer, how you package it, and how you strategically get it in front of the right people so that you can be changing lives with dance AND boosting your bank account. The best part is, you don’t have to rely on things like social media or paid advertising if you don’t want to. We’re going to give you the tools to start locally, with the resources and community that are accessible to you.
Business and other people aside, imagine how good it will feel for YOU to be actively dancing on a regular basis and to be naturally making real human connections through that movement. No more wishing you were dancing more, or had more dance friends, you’ll be living that reality! And in addition to the class community you create, you’ll be part of our Dance Again community and “Facilitator’s Circle” to help you feel less alone and guide you every step of the way.
…That’s one of the things I hear so often from graduates and current members of the Dance Again Teacher Training.
Among others:
“I feel like me again”
“I know exactly what step to take next”
“Students are signing up for my classes and it feels AMAZING to lead them!”
Before Dance Again Teacher Training, students feel disconnected from themselves and separate from their creative dreams and visions. They are not feeling fulfilled because they aren’t dancing and creating regularly, and can’t seem to get out of their heads and into action. They are letting insecurities get the best of them - “I don’t feel qualified enough!” “Why would anyone want to work with me?”
Afterward, however, it’s like they’re entirely different humans:
They are making up choreography in their kitchen. They are putting themselves out there and reclaiming the identity of “dancer,” but in their own unique way. They have a space to go when they have questions or when their inner critic tries to stop them. They are glowing and filled up because of the amazing feedback they are getting on their own classes.
This is why Dance Again Teacher Training exists.
To make it fun and accessible for you to dance again, and for you to create spaces for others to dance again.
To feel confident embracing your unique dance history and how it impacts your work today.
And, to gain the skills and confidence to keep showing up and keep creating - with whatever it is you might want next! (Because the foundation you’ll learn on a personal, creative, and business level will give you tools and skills for many other creative ventures beyond dance.)
Inside of the Dance Again Teacher Training, there are 12 comprehensive training seminars designed to be done in order so you can build your dance business all the way from start to finish: from ideation all the way through execution.
If you aren’t sure yet what kind of dance classes you would create and share, no worries! The training walks - or rather, dances - you through plenty of different ideas and helps you make a plan based on your past experiences and future goals. There are even opportunities to become certified as a Dance Again instructor!
Begin the process of redefining dance with the anchor of your personal clarity, confidence, and unique experience. This will be the foundation of your content and the reason why people want to work with you specifically. I’ll help you identify exactly what makes you stand out and how to communicate it.
Identify and own your unique “dance voice,” using a 3-part process of bringing clarity to who you are as a dancer/mover/leader, no matter how much experience you have.
Identify and move through the patterns and habits that hold you back from dancing and leading with confidence. You’ll be guided in carefully moving beyond your blocks, while also gaining tools to help your students move through theirs.
Set yourself up with a sustainable personal dance practice that works for your schedule and life. Before you create offerings for others, create consistency with yourself to “dance your dance” and make yourself a better leader.
Learn from our guest teacher Alionka Polanco on how to use the tools of your unique Human Design to create dance work that’s in alignment and flow with who you are.
Set up your class outlines with confidence, using my 4 part guide. Based on a decade of real life teaching experience and coaching facilitation, you’ll learn how to set up a class process that feels authentic to you while it supports your students.
Clarify your ideal audience member or student and take action steps right away to start connecting with them organically.
Let’s zoom out and look at how you are structuring and planning your classes. Be led to create the right kind of structure for you and your unique lifestyle to set your dance life up for success. Learn tools for integrating structure and focus so that you can dance freely within it!
Develop your facilitation skills and learn how to avoid the biggest mistakes most facilitators make in person and online. Develop confidence through practice and getting constructive feedback.
Never run out of creative ideas! Get our full list of creative movement prompts to use in your classes, plus a variety of sample playlists to use or adapt.
Learn the best practices for teaching on Zoom so that you can bring your classes online.
Learn an introduction to the Danceability method from Master Teacher Michaela Knox, designed to be fully inclusive of ALL people including those with disabilities.
Be led through a process of inner exploration with certified Creative Arts Therapist and Expressive Movement Facilitator, Taryn Smith. Clear your personal energy field so that you can show up better, and learn tools for responsibly holding space for others in their dance process.
Choose the best money model for you, decide what to charge, and get your dance income flowing! Move through money blocks and learn embodiment practices to ritualize more abundance, and let go of starving artist patterns that might be keeping you stuck.
Demystify “marketing” and create a clear action plan of how to reach your audience, based on exactly where you are now. Create a plan and a simple way to execute it, regardless of how big your social media following or email list is.
Create your clear, compelling class description, usable for websites, social media bios, proposals to studios, event pages, and more. You’ll be guided through the process with adaptable templates and guidelines, plus personal edits and feedback from Jess.
Put it all together and share your dance gifts with the world!
Be guided in exactly how to set up your tech systems so that your students can find you online, book, and pay for your services with ease - all on a shoestring budget!
For those just starting out, learn 3 simple ways to get your website presence going, without having to spend thousands on a designer or tech person!
Suggestions and best practices for insurance and legal protection as a dance facilitator.
Dance Again Teacher Training is taught in an online classroom where you’ll learn “The R.E.A.L. Dance Method” and set up your dance business from start to finish. 🪄
All materials are taught via asynchronous learning: you can log in and access video seminars and learn on your own schedule, making it convenient for you wherever you are in the world.
If you have any questions for your instructor, Jess Grippo, or would like to participate in the comments with other learners, you may do so underneath each seminar. Jess (and our resident teacher training experts) will respond to questions several times per week—you’re in good hands! You’ll also be able to review other questions past learners have had, and their responses, helping you cement each concept and know exactly how to move forward.
By this time next year, you could be:
Dance Again Teacher Training will get you there.
Join us now.
“This training has helped me beyond dance teacher training, it’s helped me to reclaim my confidence and who I am as a person, and to stand in my truth. It’s shown me I can incorporate being myself into my dance practice and the offerings I’ll provide for my students.”
“It was a gift to learn how to take my ideas and manifest them into a program that is aligned with my beliefs as a dance educator. Thanks to the training, I created and launched Camp Create: Be Your Own Hero, a summer dance program for children.”
“It’s such a short amount of time to make huge discoveries and shifts in thinking and behavior. It’s been amazing. I feel so much more confident in my abilities and experience as a teacher. ”
“I now have all the tools ready to use for my movement-based programs. Also, my creativity has gotten moving again and I'm starting to see that flow in my life and career!”
“As a non-trained dancer, I've been hesitant to move forward on my own, but...I’m so glad that I reached out to Jess! She helped me redefine dance for myself to create a movement program that’s inclusive to all movers - trained or not!”
“It’s far exceeded my expectations. I discovered a lot about myself through it, and I loved the community!”
“Through this training with Jess, I created a group that meets every few weeks, where men and women can gather in person or virtually to express their souls through free movement dance. I loved the fact that I was able to meld my interests in spirituality with my love of dance. I never thought that would be possible for me, and yet it became so.”
“For years, I had hired other people/companies to help me with social media and business development but none of them worked. Jess, on the other hand, captured the essence of my offerings and packaged them in ways that are in alignment with my vision and moral compass. She is a strategist with soul. She has a genuine love for helping others succeed. And she does all this with directness, playfulness and lots of grounded "YES!" energy.”
As the founder and director of Dance Again, I have been running our classes and programs consistently since 2015. I'm also a TEDx speaker, the author of Dance With This Book, a creative coach, copywriter, former holistic health coach, and dancer/performing artist. (shout out to my fellow multi-passionate creatives!)
I was a holistic health coach with a thriving practice and thought that was my calling, until something in my soul told me otherwise. What started out as a creative hobby - making homemade dance videos alone in my room - has grown into a career and a community over the last 10+ years. From starting tiny workshops in a Brooklyn studio to speaking on a TEDx stage to performing in front of hundreds to seeing my homemade dance video screened at Lincoln Center, I’ve been on a mission to make dance more accessible, with an emphasis on creativity and self-expression.
I’ve produced over a dozen showcases for my students in NYC and I’m the creator of the annual Dance-a-Day in May challenge, which continues to spread each year.
I’ve also published a book, maintained my own blog since 2012, and have been coaching since 2007 in the fields of women’s health, creativity, copywriting, and business. Over that time I've supported 85+ entrepreneurs and businesses on their content, marketing strategy, and messaging, as well as 60+ individuals into successful creative paths.
My Dance Again programs and videos have helped hundreds of people in NYC and beyond to reclaim their sense of self through dance, feel at home in their bodies, and revive their creative expression.
In our changing times, I felt called to take this mission to more places and reach more communities, and so I started this teacher training, which helps you to create your own dance movement, based on YOUR unique dance story and experience.
Please reach us at jess@jessgrippo.com if you cannot find an answer to your question!
Yes, it’s all delivered online! The core training modules are videos and other digital resources located inside the network that you can access on a web browser or through our Dance Again mobile app. Our digital studio where we host the training is interactive and allows you to comment, ask questions, and get feedback as you go through it.
The course is self-paced, so it starts whenever you want it to! You'll get access to the training after registering and can begin anytime.
Each module takes 20-40 minutes to get through. If you are pacing yourself to watch them weekly, I would account for 1 hour of time each week so that you have extra time to implement.
Pacing the modules weekly, it's designed to be completed in 3 months, but we encourage people to go at their own pace. You'll have the training for life!
In short, it will help you bring your dance ideas to life, to launch a side business with your dance teaching, and/or to enhance what you're already doing with dance and movement.
The training covers 3 main areas:
You'll be guided to set up a foundation of clarity and confidence in who you are, which will allow you to successfully create and launch your unique dance offerings. It guides you step by step on both the creative stuff and the nitty gritty technical stuff required to get things up and running.
We’ve had both trained and untrained dancers go through this training successfully. If you don’t have much or any dance training, you’ll be creating the kind of class that’s specifically for people who also don’t have much dance training, so it all works out! ;)
There are plenty of options with freeform movement and guided prompts, to get people moving without specific technique involved. That being said, it is helpful if you are someone who loves to dance, does it often, and has an idea of the kind of classes or events you’d love to host for people. We guide you through a process of clarifying all of that even deeper, as well as methods to find the people who will be a good fit for it.
Rusty dancers are welcome! In fact, that’s the majority of our students ;) You might feel rusty, your body might be less flexible, or you might feel like you forgot everything, but I assure you - it’s all still in you. The process is designed to first get you back into your own body and movement, so that you oil up the joints and start to relive that muscle memory. We help you shape your unique background and experience with dance into something that’s accessible NOW and that represents how you want to redefine dance in your life now.
In short - yes, it’s still for you! Starting a business with your dance work is an option that’s up to you. In the third part of the training, you’ll be guided through business and marketing tools to support you in various ways you can build a business with it if you desire. But you'll also be guided to position yourself in a way that you can be hired by existing companies and studios - maybe even ours ;)
After you complete the training, you'll have the option to submit an application to become a certified Dance Again instructor. If your class and teaching style is a good fit, you'll be approved and will receive next steps for your Dance Again license to teach under our umbrella and Trademark.
Benefits of becoming certified include:
In short - Probably not! While you might go on to become a full time dance educator, I don't recommend putting that kind of stress on yourself when you're starting a training. Most people who go through this training have the intention to start a side business with dance to supplement the income they already have. This is a more realistic approach if you are going to be focused on dance classes. There are of course options to get hired by schools and make it more of your full time gig, but again, I recommend not rushing the process.
Most likely, yes! We are happy to provide receipts and more information that would help you submit for reimbursement from your job if they cover continuing education or wellness spending.
Nope! You’ll be led to get your class or event off the ground locally, without having to have any social media presence, if you don’t want to. While social media can be helpful for marketing at times, it’s definitely not where most sales come from when you’re just starting out.
I remember when I first started up my classes, only 1 or 2 people would show up. While I was frustrated at the time, looking back I can see how it helped me build confidence and as things gradually grew, I kept pushing my edge and felt more and more ready and confident to be in front of more people. You might THINK that you’re ready, but the reality of DOING it, may show you there’s more fear in there than you thought. This is why we guide you through all of it, and have a continuing membership option to keep supporting you as you grow.
If you follow and implement the weekly lessons, you can get your dance offering off the ground in 90 days (12 Weeks) or less. But, you are also welcome to pace it out in a way that works for you. You’ll have access to the training modules for life, and you have the option to continue with our membership, so that you implement everything in a time frame that works for your life and your schedule.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint!
Start a meaningful and authentic dance class that helps you stay active and creative, while getting paid to teach others. I’ll help you develop your unique style of dancing and facilitating (even if you feel totally rusty or not experienced enough) and turn it into an offering you can share and sell.
dance again
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