Question of the Week: Are You Focused on Fitness or The Entertainer?

I've had something on my mind for a while, so I took to Facebook to ask this Question of the Week:

Post by Jennifer Lauren.

 

 

Personally, as a STUDENT, I know I'm picky about this. I don't want to take a class with a boring instructor who looks like they're just going through the motions. Yawn. But, flip your hair too many times or shake your booty too much, and it feels like you think you're a back up dancer for Beyoncé... I mean, pay some attention to the rest of us! It's a super delicate balance.

 

As an INSTRUCTOR, I try super hard to be fun without performing. I sing along, emphasize certain moves to get everyone moving more, and freestyle a little during song introductions. I try not to add too much flare (which, I think is intimidating to students without dance backgrounds) and I try to show the group that I'm focused on them - lots of thumbs ups and "You got it!"s.

 

 

But, I really wanted to know what you think... and here's what you said:

• I try to have a balance of both fitness and fun at the same time. - Tiffany, (And many others like Michele, Magda, Guylaine, Joseph, Sam, Angel, Nina and Julie agreed. They also recommend ProSkills training to help strike this balance.)

 

• My clients always tell me they come for the "show". - Adam (Tracy is an entertainer, too!)

• While keeping the Zumba Fitness formula in mind I engage with my classes. While engaging them I make sure their form is correct and I keep an eye on the newbies as well as the seasoned vets. I give a little push when it is due. I work the crowd and work them individually to make sure everyone has that "teachers pet" feel... - Adrienne

• We are instructors, not performers. We encourage and set the atmosphere of fun and fitness, but it's not a show. Big pet peeve of mine. - Patti (Sheny agreed! So did Tiffany, who said "It's Zumba Fitness, not Zumba Entertainment!")

• I like to have fun! I smile ALL the time and sing along too! But I keep my moves sharp and cue when necessary. My participants have commented that they love my many expressions during class. It makes them smile, which, to me, makes their workout that much more fun! - Jessica (Note: Have you seen the faces I make??)

• Both! Fitness is important but the whole vibe behind Zumba is about making it a PARTY ... no getting away from that, and you can't have a party without a bit of performance!! My classes are packed at the moment and loads of people tell me one of the things they love about my classes is that they can see how much I'm enjoying it and how passionately I feel about it. But even with that party vibe, I still make them all sweat and they go away knowing they've had a good workout as well as a good time! - Debra

• All of those things COME NATURAL for me. Smiling, cheering people on, being expressive, interacting... It should be a good workout but equally important is that it is FUN and an environment of A PARTY is actively cultivated. A good workout doesn't mean jumping through every song... Performing is in the eyes of the beholder...its all a matter of interpretation. What ones calls performance another may call executing moves. - Stephanie

• If you don't have fun & be a little crazy then people won't want to come back! They workout to escape & release stress for that time! I think it also depends on one's personality! I'm fun & outgoing! Everyone says I should be a stand up comic lol! - Melissa (Michelle, Ray, Patria and Natasha agreed - it's gotta be fun!)

•  I try to be relatable, show or point out my silly imperfections. I start the song modified then as the song progresses amping up the moves & adding the entertaining parts that go along with the dramatic words of the song... "Amor" I put my hand to my chest over my heart for love, "dale" I make gestures as if to say "bring it on". I definitely sing along & encourage them to as well to build their cardio strength. - Kelly

• This is a great question! In my experience, the masses value entertainment more than they value education. It's not to say that we should not educate, but just as Zumba is exercise in disguise, our class experience should be education disguised as entertainment! Also, our Zumba choreo should be compromised of moves that are inherently safe. If you find your students are needing a lot of coaching on form, perhaps the movements are not suited for regular Zumba and are better in a total body class or even Zumba toning class where much more verbal cueing is utilized. - Dana

• I don't mean to try, but the entertainment makes itself known. In more ways than one. Zumba flows through me and right into my students. Everything from smiling faces, to shrugs, fingers up cuing, hitting the leg that follows next, they just move (and cue) right along with me. I gave a mother and daughter a chuckle recently, due to a off key sing a long to Proud Mary, and I was the only one singing. Lol. - Darla

• You also noted that context matters. Lisa suggested you need to follow the tone of your classes, and Joyi said you have to "Do you... let your personality shine through!".

So... what do you think?