I've been ballroom dancing, mainly American Style (but also some International Style) on and off for many years. I am interested in learning how to teach and have a professional instructor who will be helping me with the syllabus. But I do not have competition experience. My question is, with studying all the syllabus, how feasable is it for me to become a ballroom instructor, not being able to bring the performance/competition experience going into it? It seems to me that most of the accomplished professionals I meet have an impressive resume to show whatever studio they may walk into. Am I being unrealistic to think I could reach this goal without having had that? I do not want to go to Fred Astaire or Author Murray to learn how to "sell". Thanks in advance for any sugguestions or advice.

If you are content to teach wedding couples and introductory social groups, you do not need competiiton experience.

To teach dancing more seriously you do - maybe not in theory if your students are not themselves destined for competition, but in practice there is really no other source of "rubber meets the road" (suede meets the hardwood?) practical experience than getting out there on a competition floor and doing it for real.

"If you are content to teach wedding couples and introductory social groups, you do not need competiiton experience."

Even if that's all you want to do and by some change an independent hires you, you'll still be competing for business with the other instructors. You have to ask yourself what you can bring to the table to compensate for what you lack.