Pole Dance Instructor Certification
Pole dancing is one of the hottest fitness trends to emerge in the past decade. It requires skill, grace, balance and creativity. If you are a pole dancing enthusiast and are considering becoming a certified pole dance instructor, there are many schools and programs to consider. Carefully choosing a school that honors pole dance's rich history and offers excellent instruction will help you become the best pole dance instructor you can be.
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History
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Pole dancing is thought to have originated in the United States in the 1920s as part of traveling tent and circus shows, but pole dance teaching and certification are a recent phenomena. Pole dancing grew popular in gentleman's clubs in the 1980s, but it was largely associated with professional nightclub stripping. It did not draw widespread mainstream interest until the 1990s, when Carmen Electra and other female celebrities endorsed pole dancing as a legitimate form of exercise that required strength, cardiovascular endurance and coordination. Pole dancing quickly became a national craze, and pole dancing studios opened across the U.S. Schools for pole dance teacher certification were a natural outgrowth of the craze, and there are several international organizations that attempt to vet pole dancing schools for legitimacy. (See the links in Resources.)
Benefits
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Pole dance instructor training is a valuable asset to any pole dancer. Being an excellent pole dancer is a great step toward being a competent pole dancing teacher, but it is important to learn how to break down and teach all of the steps and tricks in a way that safely educates students. Additionally, proof that you are a certified pole dance teacher will give interested newcomers confidence that you are an expert who has been trained and is well-equipped to teach beginners.
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Misconceptions
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Pole dancing is often associated with sexual striptease, and is sometimes maligned in the media as overly sexual or low class. For this reason, having pole dance teacher certification can assure interested students of the legitimacy of pole dancing as an art form and fitness enterprise.
Another misconception pole dance instructors face is that they are trying to capitalize on the trendiness of pole dancing in the fitness community. Certification from a legitimate pole dance instruction school will help you to overcome objections from those who believe you're just trying to make money.
Considerations
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When choosing a pole dance instructor certification school, consider the length of the pole dancing program and the experience and accreditation of the instructors. Programs are available at varying lengths, costs and commitments, so consider what program's structure and schedule best fits your priorities for pole dance instruction.
What is most important is that you feel confident that the instructors at your school are experts, and that the length of the program will give you time to develop the skills you need to be an effective pole dance instructor.
Warnings
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When choosing a program for pole dance certification, be wary of any school or certification that promises a fast-track certification. You can teach a pole dancing routine in one or two classes, but it is difficult to show someone how to become a pole dancing instructor in one class. Also be wary of any schools that ask you to put down a deposit immediately. Do not attend a school where the instructors refuse to show you their credentials or dodge questions about their experience. The representatives at a good pole dance instructor certification program will answer all of your questions, happily provide proof of their expertise and give you ample time to make a decision about enrolling.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit beautiful girl dancing on the pole image by starush from Fotolia.com
