Dance teaching is physical, it usually happens in a hired hall, and a large part of it involves other people's children. Each of those three shapes the policy, and the third shapes it most.
The injury in the class
Public liability answers for a pupil injured during a class, and the defence is the same every time: an appropriate qualification for the style and age group taught, a suitable floor, a warm up, class sizes the space can hold, and a record of what each pupil disclosed about injuries or conditions. Insurers ask about all of it. Teaching styles that involve lifts, acrobatics or pointe work is a separate declaration, because the injury profile changes rather than the class.
Teaching children, and the checks that come with it
Working with children brings safeguarding duties, recruitment checks for anybody helping, a policy on photography at classes and shows, and supervision arrangements at drop off and collection. Insurers treat these as part of the risk rather than as paperwork, and abuse allegation cover is a specific extension in policies written for this market. A teacher who cannot describe their safeguarding arrangements will find the conversation with an insurer harder than the premium suggests.
The venue, and what it requires of you
Village halls, schools, leisure centres and studios each set their own insurance requirement, and a certificate at a stated limit is usually a condition of the booking. The venue's own policy covers the venue, not the class. Where a teacher hires a hall and sublets time to other teachers, the arrangement needs each of them insured, and the hall will normally want to see all of it.
Shows, festivals and travelling
An annual show moves everything into an unfamiliar building with a stage, lighting, wings, costume changes and an audience. Many annual policies cover shows up to a stated size and exclude larger productions, aerial work or the use of rigging and effects. Competitions and festivals away from home add travel and supervision away from the teacher's own premises, and where pupils travel abroad the territorial limits need checking before the booking rather than after.
Questions people ask about dance teacher insurance
Does a hall's insurance cover my dance class?
No. The venue insures the venue. The teacher needs their own public liability, and the hall will normally require a certificate at a stated limit.
What extra cover is needed for teaching children?
Abuse allegation cover is a specific extension in policies for this market, and insurers expect safeguarding arrangements, recruitment checks and a photography policy.
Is the annual show covered?
Usually up to a stated size. Larger productions, aerial work and rigging are commonly excluded and need declaring in advance.