International update Safeguarding adults
Safeguarding children
Private dance instruction regulations in the Americas Astrid Sherman, our International Representative for the Americas, examines the regulatory and safeguarding requirements for individuals and businesses involved in private dance instruction across the Americas. Disturbingly, I can report that teaching dance all over the Americas is a largely unregulated business. There are very few requirements for qualifications, safeguarding checks, and other concerns. I reached out to studio owners and teachers in Canada, the USA, Mexico and the Caribbeans for their experiences.
Canada and the USA These two countries are very similar. Registering as a business is essential for tax compliance, securing city or municipal licenses, and addressing music licensing requirements (e.g., ASCAP, BMI, SOCAN, SESAC for both classes and performances) in the USA and Canada. Many dance studio owners choose to incorporate their businesses to minimize personal liability in potential legal disputes. Once incorporated, liability insurance becomes a necessity, and it may also be mandated by landlords or when working with nonprofit organisations, school boards, or educational institutions. Liability insurance is commonly held by studio owners. In the USA, teachers frequently opt for personal liability insurance to ensure broader coverage, given the potential scope of liability suits. Nonprofit societies, school boards, and educational institutions mandate criminal record checks for both organisers and dance instructors, and this requirement may extend to volunteers at year-end shows when minors are involved. Certain insurance companies are now imposing police clearance requirements for all staff, while some studio owners are adopting these safeguards to align with industry standards.
Membership Login to My ISTD and check out our free webinar resources on safeguarding children and adults at risk www.istd.org/my-istd/safeguarding You can also access our safeguarding policy, which is applicable to all the ISTD’s activities both in the UK and internationally. This policy assumes that all members may interact with children and young people. While the document outlines certain processes that specifically pertain to the UK, particularly England and Wales, it is highly recommended for all ISTD members worldwide to achieve the procedures and guidance described within this policy and its appendices for the safety of our young dancers. This should be done in accordance with the relevant legislation and regulations governing safeguarding in members’ respective countries or territories.
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Above safeguarding guides available via: www.istd.org/my-istd/safeguarding
Nonprofits, school boards, and educational institutions require on-site staff members to hold First Aid certification, and some private studio owners cover or subsidize staff training costs to comply with this requirement. Each municipality and state has specific health and safety criteria for obtaining a business license. The choice of wording in the business name can affect the conditional use permit; for example, ‘school’ may entail more requirements than ‘studio’ or ‘academy’. Generally, occupancy licenses are
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Teaching dance across the Americas is a largely unregulated business with minimal requirements for qualifications and safety checks.
granted after successful inspections for local building codes, zoning laws, and safety, including fire and egress. Annual inspections may be mandatory in some areas but not in others. Government regulations typically don’t mandate qualifications for opening a private dance studio. However, degrees or teaching credentials are often preferred when seeking positions in public or private education and nonprofits. Studio owners commonly establish their own hiring criteria based on qualifications and industry experience. It varies widely by location, with some states allowing 18-year-old dance students to open studios with no requirements, while others have stricter regulations in place.
The Caribbeans Caribbean studio owners didn’t report any need for police record checks or mandatory liability insurance. Nonetheless, many still choose to have liability insurance for self-protection, which is considered a prudent step by most owners. Governmental health and safety regulations are rare, with minimal enforcement, except during the Covid pandemic, when sanitation requirements were more strictly observed. In Barbados, there is an ongoing challenge with classification, as dance studios are sometimes categorised as ‘schools’
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