Monday, April 29, 2013

Zumba Instructor Certification


Do you love Zumba? Do you like to teach? Becoming a certified Zumba instructor is probably a great career choice for you! We are here to help answer any questions you may have about how to accomplish this task.

How to register for Zumba instructor certification classes

First, go to www.zumba.com and click on the Instructor Training tab at the top of the page. You will be directed to The Zumba Academy. There are many different certifications available.  Here is a list, and short description, of the different Zumba training courses.

  • Aqua Zumba –  Teach workouts that integrate the Zumba formula and philosophy into traditional aqua fitness disciplines.                                          
  • Zumba Gold –   Teach the active older adult and address the anatomical, physiological and psychological needs specific to this population.                                         
  • Zumbatomic –    Teach how to fuse the Zumba program's unique formula with the psychology and physiology relevant to teaching kids ages 4-12.                                                    
  • Zumba Sentao – Teach explosive chair-based choreography that will strengthen, balance and stabilize the core, and step up cardio work.                                                     
  • Zumba Toning –  Teach how to blend body-sculpting techniques and specific Zumba moves into one calorie-burning, strength-training.                                               
  • Jump Start Gold – Designed for new instructors who wish to teach the active older adult and addresses their anatomical, physiological and psychological needs.                                                 
  • Zumba Basic 2 –  Learn six more rhythms while reinforcing the Zumba® formula in an easy, effective class for everyone.                                        
  • Zumba Basic 1 –  Learn the foundation and formula to teach a Zumba® class. You will learn the steps to four basic rhythms (merengue, salsa, cumbia, reggaeton). You’ll learn how to put these steps together into a song, and how to create your first Zumba class                                                                                                                             
If you are new to instructor training, you will be required to complete the Zumba Basic 1 course before you can move on to any other training courses.

You can find the class nearest to you by filling out the New Instructor information at the bottom of the Zumba Academy page. The costs range from $200 - $285 depending on what certification you are attempting to acquire and how early or late you register for the class.

What to expect while at Zumba Instructor training

Stephanie Wilson is a Zumba instructor certified in Zumba Basic. This is how she describes the 1 day certification course.

“The course started with a one hour, non-stop, Zumba party. After that, they break down the basic steps of the four different dance styles. Once you have learned the steps you will be broken up into groups and each person in the group has to choreograph a portion of a song. At the end, everyone comes back together so that each person has to teach their portion. The finished program is performed and the students become certified instructors.”


How to keep your Zumba certifications current

Zumba certifications give you a 1 year license unless you pay the $30 monthly fee to join the Zumba Instructor Network (ZIN).  You can sign up to become a ZIN member during training to receive bonus materials and CD’s. As a ZIN member, your certifications will not expire and you will also receive monthly music and choreography packets in the mail.

What employers are looking for in a Zumba instructor

Ms. Melanie Beier is the wellness director of the Dover Foundation YMCA in Shelby, North Carolina. We asked her what she looks for when hiring a Zumba instructor. 

“ The first thing I look for when I want to hire someone for Zumba is making sure they have their certification. If they’re going to teach the regular Zumba class, it will be the Zumba Basic. I also look for specialty certifications. The Zumba Gold for the older adult population, Aqua Zumba which is in the pool, and then the Zumbatomic, which is for kids. Not only do I want to make sure they have their certification, but they pay the monthly ZIN fee to keep it current.”

“Some other things I think are very important are personalities. Zumba, here, is our most popular class, so I need to make sure that whoever I’m hiring is a strong candidate in terms of being outgoing and engaging with the members. They love variety. I see they love the hip hop style, they like the Latin dances, so they need to show me that they offer a wide variety and they can teach to different levels.”

“Normally in the hiring process, what I like to do, especially for Zumba, is I like to have them go into the aerobics studio and teach in one of the classes for at least 10-15 minutes. I just like to see how they engage and how their personality shines through.”

Now you know how to become a certified Zumba instructor. It’s time to “Ditch the workout and join the party.”


Work Cited 

Beier, Melanie. Personal interview. 26 Apr. 2013

Wilson, Stephanie. Personal interview. 29 Apr. 2013

Zumba.com. N.p., Web. 29 Apr. 2013.










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