The International Dance Teachers’ Association (IDTA) accepts certain qualifications from other organisations as equivalent to its own teaching qualifications for membership applications. This process is part of the IDTA’s recognition of prior learning.
IDTA Qualifications for which equivalents are accepted
External qualifications are deemed equivalent to the following IDTA qualifications:
• IDTA Associate
• IDTA Licentiate
• IDTA Fellowship
• IDTA Diploma (for some non-core genres)
Qualifications from UK organisations
We can accept the following qualifications offered by the organisations listed below. Please note that qualifications at levels lower than level 4 cannot be accepted.
| Organisation | Qualification title/level |
| bbodance | Level 4 Diploma in Dance Teaching, Level 5 Diploma in Dance Teaching, Level 6 Diploma in Advanced Dance Teaching Practices |
| Graded Qualifications Alliance (GQAL) | Level 4 Certificate in Dance Teaching, Level 5 Diploma in Dance Teaching and Management |
| Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) | Level 4 Diploma in Dance Education (DDE), Level 6 Diploma in Dance Pedagogy Associate, Licentiate and Fellowship |
| National Association of Teachers of Dancing (NATD) | Level 4 Diploma in Dance Teaching Associate, Licentiate and Fellowship |
| Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) | RAD BA Honours in Dance Education, Level 5 Diploma of Higher Education in Dance Education, BA Honours in Ballet Education, Professional Dancers’ Graduate Teaching Diploma, MA in Education (Dance Teaching), Level 4 Certificate in Dance Teaching (Ballet), Licentiate |
| Royal Ballet School | Diploma of Dance Teaching (DDT) |
| RSL Awards | Level 4 Diploma in Dance Teaching |
| Trinity College London (TCL) | Level 6 Diploma in Dance Teaching and Learning |
We can accept Associate, Licentiate and Fellowship qualifications from the following organisations:
- UKAdance
- British Association of Teachers of Dancing
- Scottish Dance Teachers Alliance
- Associated Board of Dance
- Northern Counties Dance Teachers Association
- Spanish Dance Society
- United Teachers of Dance
- Association of American Dancing
- The Association of Dance and Freestyle Professionals
- British Cheerleading Association
- Russian Ballet Society
- Professional Teachers of Dancing
- Midland Independent Dance Arts Association
Qualifications from International organisations
We can accept equivalent qualifications from international organisations. Examples of those organisations are below. Please ensure that the qualification confirms competence in dance teaching.
• Italian Associaione Nazionale Maestri di Ballo
• Canadian Dance Teacher’s Association
• Finnish Dance Organisation
• International Dancing Masters Association
• New Zealand Dance Company
• Romanian Dance Sport Federation
Other organisations: Independent companies offering specific training, such as Acrotrix (acrobatic teacher training) and American Dance Academy, can also be considered
Conditions for Membership Transfer:
The IDTA has three branches covering the core genre as follows;
- Theatre Branch – Ballet, Tap, Theatre Craft, Contemporary Modern Jazz
- Ballroom Branch – Ballroom, Latin, Classical Sequence
- Freestyle Branch – Freestyle
There are also a number of non-core genres: Line Dancing, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Cheerleading, Street Dance, Salsa, Argentine Tango, Belly Dancing, Dance Exercise, Gymnastic Dance/Acrobatic Dance, Musical Theatre
Membership offered in a core genre means that the holder can enter candidates for any genre within the branch, or in any non-core genre.
Membership offered in non-core genre means that the holder can only enter candidates for examinations in that genre.