How to Start a Dance Club

Last Updated: November 16, 2022

If you have an increasing passion to start a dance club at school, but you don't know how, you are in the right place. This step-by-step guide to starting a dance club can give you the answers you need in order to make your dance club successful on your school or college campus.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Starting Your Dance Club

1
Consider your club's goal. This can help you decide if you will focus on one style of dance or multiple styles. Consider what you want to gain out of the club and how you can create a positive experience for other members.^{[1]
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2
Decide who your club is for. Is your club accepting to all dancers, beginner or advanced, or do you need to have a certain set of skills? Knowing what level of ability you want to target will help you decide what you can accomplish. If your class is filled with beginners, your goals will be different than those who are more advanced. If you are looking for more advanced dancers, it may be a good idea to hold auditions.

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3
Talk to friends/peers that you think would be interested in joining. Finding people that would be interested in a dance club can help you in multiple ways. They can help you organize your dance club and help you gain more members by word of mouth. The more people that are interested, the easier and more successful your dance club will be.
4
Set up an appointment with an advisor. Many schools require an advisor to supervise a club; therefore, it is best to talk to an advisor that works with dancers. In addition, they may be able to help you come up with ideas or eliminate certain worries you may have.
5
Pick a time to meet. Figure out a day that works best with your schedule and other members' schedule in order to see when the best time to meet would be. You may need to change the time later, once you have more members, but this will serve as a starting point. Having a set time will help you stay organized and will help interested students see if the club works with their schedule or not.
6
Pick a place to meet. When picking a location, it is important to find a room that is big enough for you to move. If your school has a dance department, check to see if there are any available spaces during your desired meeting time. If your school does not have a dance department, check to see if any other rooms at your school has a big enough space to dance in.
7
Type out a plan. Printing a plan and a rough draft of the club's schedule will help you get an idea of what you want to do and will help you stay organized. Even if you are not sure if all of your plans are final, you should have some idea of what you are doing before starting your club. That way when you start your club, you will know what you are talking about.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Recruiting Members for your Dance Club

1
Make a flyer for your dance club. Creating a poster to display on campus will help you recruit members. Create a poster that is colorful and stands out. Helpful things to include in your poster are:
- Time and day of the club
- Where your club meets
- Types of dance styles the club has
- Contact information such as an email or phone number
- A short description about the dance club
- If the club is for beginners, advanced, or all levels of training.
- Whether or not there is an audition process.
2
Set up a booth. Pick a spot during a time and place where a lot of people walk by during the day. Your booth may catch some eyes and draw them into finding out more about your club. Here, you can talk to students and explain to them what your club does and why.
3
Post on a discussion board. Most schools and colleges have a discussion board where students can ask questions or find information about events happening on campus. This can be a good way to reach out to people and spread the word about your club.^{[2]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Holding Your First Dance Club Meeting

1
Give an introduction. This is your chance to formally introduce yourself and the club to your new recruits. Go around the room with introductions. Each club member should give a short summary about themselves. Things that may be helpful to include are:^{[3]
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- Name
- Major/minor, if applicable
- Why you are a part of the dance club
2
Discuss what you have planned. Sharing what you have planned for the club can get members excited about joining. You want to let them know what they can expect from you and the club. If you let them go in blind, they may be taken aback and feel uncomfortable. Even if you do not have all the details organized, let them know what your plan is.
3
Do a few icebreakers. Even though icebreakers may seem childlike, it does help you get to know everyone. Members can become familiar with one another.
4
Nominate club officers. Invite new members to volunteer if they want to help with club tasks (secretary, treasurer, etc). If you have multiple volunteers, hold a vote for each position. Some questions you may want to to keep in mind while you pick officers are:
- Do they show up regularly?
- Do they show up on time?
- Are they responsible?
- Do they care about the dance club and do they want to be there?
- Do they have prior knowledge/experience with dancing?
5
Teach some choreography. If you have time after going through all the information that needs to be covered, teach a combination! It doesn't have to be long or complicated, but it is a chance to get new recruits up on their feet and moving.