Transform your passion into a career with San Jac's dance instructor program
Do you have a passion for dance and a desire to inspire others? San Jacinto College’s dance instructor technical program is your gateway to turning that passion into a rewarding career.
Through this specialized program, guided by expert instructors and held in the College's dance facilities, you'll gain the essential skills and experience to become a successful studio dance instructor.
Launched in fall 2024, this program is already making an impact. Meet two students on their journey toward earning the dance instructor certificate.
Emily Rodriguez
Nineteen-year-old Emily Rodriguez has always felt the rhythm of life through dance. Growing up in a close-knit family with supportive parents and a brother who is also her best friend, Rodriguez found her passion for dance at 4. It has become more than just a hobby but a calling that has shaped her into the person she is today.
Currently, Rodriguez balances her time between her studies and her job as a server. Her journey to San Jac was sparked by her beloved dance studio teacher, who spoke highly of the College's dance program.
"My San Jac experience has been nothing short of amazing," she said. "The number of opportunities provided to us as dancers to expand our community has been a highlight of my time here. Everyone is friendly and welcoming."
Rodriguez is currently working toward a certificate of technology in dance instruction and aspires to become a dance teacher. She dreams of creating a warm, encouraging environment for her future students, just as her professors have done for her.
With a unique blend of the guidance she's received and her personal touch, Rodriguez hopes to inspire others, whether they are seasoned dancers or beginners.
Her ultimate career goal is simple: to dance, learn, and teach for as long as possible. Rodriguez plans to continue her education by transferring to a university, where she can further immerse herself in the art of dance, choreography, and teaching. She is determined to keep dancing at the forefront of her life, continuously learning and growing in her craft.
Sierra Victorian
Born and raised in the heart of Louisiana, Sierra Victorian has always been in love with the arts. Victorian's passion for dance has been a constant throughout her life, intertwined with other artistic pursuits that have shaped her creative spirit.
Alongside her love for dance, she has developed a knack for connecting with people, which shines through in her part-time job as a waitress and bartender. Her journey to San Jac was sparked by proximity and practicality, but what truly solidified her decision to enroll was a lasting impression from a teacher who praised the college's dance program.
For Victorian, pursuing an associate degree in dance was a no-brainer. Dance has always been her passion.
A quote from an old theater teacher also guided her: "If you wake up every day thinking about the one thing you love to do, you should do it." With that in mind, she realized that dance was her calling.
"I had a love/hate relationship with dance, and when I decided to join the program, Jennifer [Salter] and Jamie [Williams] changed my whole perspective," she said. "I will always appreciate them for that. I've met some amazing people here, for which I'm also so grateful."
Victorian is currently pursuing a certificate of technology in dance instruction, a natural step for someone who admires her own dance instructors. She has always been interested in teaching dance and working with children.
Her ultimate career goal is to teach in a studio she loves, growing both as a dancer and an instructor. She is eager to see where this journey will take her and how far she can go in the world of dance.
About the Program
The program at the South Campus provides basic preparation for entry-level employment as a dance studio instructor, developing skills in pedagogy, movement, technology, and performance, culminating in a two-semester internship at a local dance studio.
Graduates may pursue work as:
- Dance instructors/teachers
- Movement coaches
- Choreographers
