Presence Matters: Line Dance Instructors' Development

dynamics — one of your most powerful tools for engaging every dancer, in every class!

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Gerard Murphy Line Dance International Line Dance Instructor, Choreographer and Emcee | Event Director | Speaking Professional

There’s a particular skill in walking into a line dance class full of people and quickly understanding what the room needs.

After years of teaching, speaking and facilitating, I’ve learned that leading a group is about far more than the content or the material. And the same is true in line dancing.

As an instructor, you can have a fantastic dance prepared to teach or the perfect playlist. But if you aren’t paying attention to the people in front of you, even the best choreography can fall flat.

Read the room.

Are they energized and ready to move?
Are they looking a little hesitant?
Are they struggling with the steps?
Is the energy starting to dip?
Do you need to slow things down, inject some humour, or simply give everyone a moment to breathe?

That’s the real work of teaching.

It’s knowing when to challenge your dancers and when to reassure them. When to push the energy higher and when to bring it back down. When to demonstrate again and when to stop talking and let them dance. It’s a lot to balance, right?

And perhaps most importantly, it’s creating an environment where people feel comfortable enough to make mistakes.

Because line dancing - or any type of dancing - isn’t just about getting the steps right. It’s about creating a space where people feel comfortable and confident to participate, connect, laugh, learn and come back next week.

Years of facilitation have taught me that the best group leaders don’t simply manage a room. They read it.

And that, I believe, is one of the most important skills a line dance instructor can develop.

NEW BLOG: Are You Waiting to Feel Confident?
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about confidence and the way we talk about it as line dance instructors.

We often assume that confident instructors simply just ARE confident. That they know what to say, know what to do and somehow walk into the room without second-guessing themselves.

But what if we’ve got the whole thing backwards?

If you’ve ever stood at the front of your class and thought, “I wish I felt more confident…” - then this one is for you!

☕ Read my new Presence Matters blog:
Maybe Confidence Isn’t What You Think It Is

https://gerardmurphy.weebly.com/blog/maybe-confidence-isnt-what-you-think-it-is

And when you’ve read it, I’d love to know: What could YOU do before or during your next class that will help you become a little more confident?

What do you think? How effective are you in showing up with all of my 5 Cs when you teach?

Connection matters more than perfection. 😊

You don't need to raise your voice to raise your impact.

As line dance instructors, our goal isn't to be the loudest in the room - it's to be the clearest, calmest and most connected!

When we communicate with intention and presence, we earn attention, build trust and create an environment where line dancers feel comfortable, engaged and ready to learn.

Hit like if you’ve seen an instructor shout unnecessarily to connect with dancers! Hit share to share this myth. 🙂

Can you relate?

🗣️ “That’s not how I learned it.”
🗣️ “You skipped the restart.”
🗣️ “Stop talking and just turn on the music!”

These moments don’t test your teaching.
They test your confidence - and presence.

This fall, I’m launching a brand-new Presence Matters workshop that will give line dance instructors a practical communication technique for handling these situations with confidence, professionalism and presence.

It’s based on my classic Acknowledge/Assert framework!

Workshop title and full description will be released soon. Coming to events in Fall 2026.

Waving hello to all of my recent new followers! Thanks for connecting here. Please take a second and introduce yourself in a comment. 👇