Zumba is a group fitness class set to high-energy dance music. Many gyms and fitness centers offer Zumba classes in their group fitness lineup. If you want to teach Zumba, you must become licensed through Zumba Fitness. Some gyms and fitness facilities also require you to have a general aerobic instructor certification.
Identification
In the mid-1990s, Beto Perez created Zumba in Cali, Columbia. According to the Zumba Fitness website, the birth of Zumba was an accident. Perez, a group fitness instructor, forgot the music for his class one day, so he used some Latin dance music he had in his bag. He incorporated dance moves into the fitness session and Zumba was created. At the time of publication, Zumba is taught in more than 110,000 locations in 125 countries.
Zumba Certification
To become licensed through Zumba Fitness, you can take either the Zumba Basic I or Jump Start Gold instructor training courses. Zumba Basic I teaches you the fundamentals of Zumba. You learn the basic Zumba dance steps, the four basic rhythms -- merengue, salsa, cumbia and reggaeton -- and how to create a Zumba class. The Jump Start Gold workshop is similar to the Basic workshop except it focuses on teaching beginners and older participants.
Aerobic Certification
Zumba Fitness does not require that you have any fitness certifications or experience to take the instructor courses and teach Zumba, but you do have to be 18 or older. If your gym requires you to have basic group instructor certification in addition to your Zumba license, the American Council on Exercise and the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America are two well-known and respected certification agencies.
Considerations
Although there are no other prerequisites for you to take the Zumba Fitness instructor courses, the organization recommends that you take some Zumba classes and be familiar with the class format and style. ACE and AFAA offer continuing education Zumba courses. However, these courses alone do not license you to teach Zumba classes. You must take one of the instructor courses through the Zumba Fitness organization.
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