About DTU

DTU proudly serves the dance community by enriching the lives of not only our members but also our young dancers. The environment is friendly and promotes growth on stage but also in the studio. By offering a Competition of Excellence, DTU dancers can showcase their hard work for a panel of highly qualified judges for critique and placement awards. In the Workshop, DTU enriches the dance curriculum by offering classes in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, lyrical and musical theater. The combinations are taught alongside with a strong technical foundation. Master Teachers or Guest Teaching Artists are brought in from all over the world to share the love of the art of dance but also to inspire dancers at any level in their training. One of the founding principles of DTU is that all dancers must register and take part in the Convention in order to compete.

From the beginning

The first meeting was held on October 4, 1992. The name decided on was “Dance Teachers United.” Three workshop meetings were to be held each fall, winter, and summer with each hosting a dance competition. The DTU Board decided that a 3-day summer session would be held each summer with the location determined and voted on each year by the membership. In 1993, DTU was incorporated, henceforth to be known as Dance Teachers United, Inc. DTU dance association was legally made a nonprofit educational tax-exempt corporation in 1993. Since the formation of DTU in 1992, DTU has grown into one of the largest and finest independent associations in the South, including and representing members from 7 states.

Our mission

Dance Teachers United will strive to enhance and enable the status of dance professionals by maintaining a dignity of manner in behavior, and preservation for teaching and dance services. Dance Teachers United will observe the highest standards in the field of the art of dance. Dance Teachers United will engage in only the highest forms of teaching and dance services to bring prestige to the profession of dance. Every effort shall be made for the general standard in the art of the dance.