How to Teach Hip Hop Dance

Hip hop dance is becoming extremely popular as a way to exercise. Its popularity in dance clubs and music videos sparked an interest in using it as a way to get people in shape. There are no strict guidelines to becoming a hip hop dance instructor, however, there are some basic skills that an applicant should possess.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Assess your dancing skills to determine the level you can teach.
2. Get certified for general aerobics instruction. While not mandatory, this provides a strong background in teaching a fitness class. Being a hip hop dancer does not give a person the ability to teach a fitness class. By combining dance skills with instruction basics, success in teaching a hip hop dance class can be achieved.
3. Visit other classes. See what local gyms are looking for in a hip hop class. There are several hip hop dance videos available also. These can give an aspiring instructor a little help in terms of what a class consists of.
4. Remember it's not just about dancing. There are mandatory parts of a fitness class that must be included also. Warmups, cooldowns and making sure to work several different muscle groups during the course of the workout is expected by those in the class.
5. Be prepared. Come up with routines ahead of time. Even the best teachers have some idea of what they are going to include in the routine beforehand. Teaching on the fly can be done, but for beginners it can lead to disaster.