Learn • Lead • Give Back
Class Assistant Program
Weehawken Dance’s Class Assistant Program gives experienced students an opportunity to support younger dancers, develop leadership skills, and gain meaningful classroom and performance experience.
Class assistants become trusted role models and an important part of the supportive community surrounding our youngest dancers.
Interested in Becoming a Class Assistant?
There are currently no Class Assistant Training sessions scheduled. New training dates will be posted here when they become available.
Questions? Contact Miss Natasha:
Why Become a Class Assistant?
Build Leadership
Learn to communicate clearly, encourage younger students, solve problems, and become a dependable role model.
Explore Teaching
Gain firsthand experience helping with demonstrations, class flow, choreography, costumes, and performances.
Support Your Community
Give back to younger dancers while gaining experience that may be useful for community-service requirements, applications, and future employment.
Is This Program for You?
Strong candidates are students who are:
- Currently training in upper-level dance or aerial classes
- Responsible, dependable, patient, and kind
- Comfortable working with younger students
- Ready to arrive on time and attend consistently
- Willing to learn and follow the instructor’s directions
- Interested in leadership, teaching, or community service
Class assisting is a real commitment. Younger dancers come to depend on their assistants, so reliability and a positive attitude matter.
How to Become a Class Assistant
Contact Miss Natasha
Let Miss Natasha know that you are interested in becoming a class assistant. She can tell you about future training opportunities and whether the program may be a good fit.
Complete the Training
New assistants must complete Class Assistant Training with Miss Natasha or Miss Val before beginning. There are currently no training sessions scheduled.
Review the Class Schedule
Identify the days, times, locations, and classes you could attend consistently for the full semester.
Connect With the Instructor
If an appropriate opening is available, the class instructor will meet with you to discuss expectations and make sure the placement is a good fit.
Apply for Scholarship Assistance
If your family is seeking tuition assistance connected to class assisting, you must submit a scholarship application and receive approval.
Set Up Contribution Tracking
Approved scholarship participants must contact Miss Natasha before recording any community-contribution hours.
Required Training
All new class assistants must complete training with Miss Natasha or Miss Val before assisting.
- Training is offered as a short course, usually during the summer.
- Sessions cover leadership, communication, demonstrations, constructive feedback, classroom safety, costumes, warm-ups, and performance responsibilities.
- Students who completed training during the previous year may repeat it as an optional refresher.
- If it has been longer than one year since a student completed training or actively assisted, training is required again.
- Every assistant must meet with their assigned instructor near the beginning of the semester to discuss class-specific expectations.
Current Training Availability
There are no Class Assistant Training sessions currently scheduled. Future dates will be posted on this page.
To express interest, contact Miss Natasha:
What Does a Class Assistant Do?
Before and During Class
- Arrive on time and ready to help
- Welcome dancers into the room
- Help with attendance, props, and equipment
- Model respectful classroom behavior
- Demonstrate steps when asked
- Help younger dancers stay focused
Supporting the Instructor
- Follow the instructor’s directions
- Help with transitions and class flow
- Offer encouraging, age-appropriate support
- Learn class choreography
- Help maintain a positive classroom environment
- Communicate absences in advance
During Performances
- Know the dancers and their choreography
- Help with costumes and accessories
- Assist with lineups and transitions
- Supervise dancers backstage
- Help students feel calm and prepared
- Follow all backstage instructions
Volunteer Service and Scholarships
Students may participate as volunteer class assistants. These hours may be useful when students need documented community-service experience.
For families seeking tuition assistance, qualifying class-assistant placements may be approved as a community contribution connected to a scholarship. Families must complete the regular scholarship application process.
Important
- A scholarship and a class-assistant placement are not automatic.
- A dance class must have at least 10 enrolled students before class assisting can qualify as a scholarship community contribution.
- An aerial class must have at least 7 enrolled students before class assisting can qualify.
- Reaching the enrollment minimum does not guarantee that a class needs or can accept an assistant.
- Placements depend on instructor approval, program needs, student readiness, attendance, and available scholarship funding.
Recording Approved Community-Contribution Hours
Hour tracking applies only after both the scholarship and the class-assistant placement have been approved. Miss Natasha will provide access to the correct tracking system.
- Record each approved entry as #assist Class Name.
- Example: #assist Monday Ballet 1/2.
- Enter all contributions by the 22nd of each month.
- Records are reviewed after the 22nd and scholarship accounts are updated by the 1st.
- Hours entered late may not appear until the following review period.
Questions about approval or contribution tracking should be directed to Miss Natasha before hours are submitted.
Interested in Becoming a Class Assistant?
There are currently no Class Assistant Training sessions scheduled. New training dates will be posted here when they become available.
Students interested in future training or class-assistant opportunities may contact Miss Natasha:
