Zumba is a dance and exercise fitness program trademark by Zumba Fitness, LLC, a fitness company based in Cali, Colombia. There are four primary rhythms used in Zumba: salsa, cumbia, reggaeton, and merengue. A Zumba instructor creates their class structure based on their training and gives them verbal instructions to follow and lead. They also prepare a music playlist for each session.
The right skills and a well-written resume impress recruiters, so let’s go through common resume styles and see which one would fit you best for your Zumba job application.
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Job Duties of a Zumba Instructor
A Zumba instructor leads classes with cardio dance fitness workouts mixing various Latin music styles. They work at gyms, health centers, recreational centers, or private studios. Most importantly, they make sessions fun and upbeat.
The following are the other job duties of a Zumba Instructor:
Adjust dance routines to accommodate health conditions, ailments, and other limitations.
Instruct basic Zumba steps.
Meet Zumba Fitness standards.
Carry out warm-ups, cool downs, breathing exercises, and exercise routines.
Implement dance routines and strengthening exercises using weights for Zumba Toning.
Promote enthusiasm and lively atmospheres for clients without prior dancing experience.
Use fitness strategies to monitor each student and help them achieve their fitness goals.
Recruit new clients through advertising and retain old ones with motivational skills and one-on-one communication.
Counsel clients on fitness, nutrition, weight control, and stress management.
Provide first aid and CPR if needed.
Zumba Instructor Median Salaries
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Zumba Instructors earn a median salary of $40,390.
Top Skills for Zumba Instructors
To be able to stand out as a talented Zumba instructor, the following are top skills required:
- Diversified training: There are several kinds of Zumba classes ranging from Zumba Gold Toning® for older adults, Aqua Zumba® for high energy aquatic workouts, Zumba SentaoTM, and Zumba® Kids. Training in the many forms of Zumba will showcase your diversified profile and proficiency in teaching an audience from various backgrounds and ages.
- Physical fitness: A Zumba teacher teaches high-intensity workouts for up to an hour. They may be required to take back-to-back classes, incorporate weights in their training to promote toning, strength, and additional calorie burning. Instructors must have high energy and endurance to carry out courses while remaining energetic for long periods.
- Specialized knowledge: Employers value candidates with one or more areas of expertise such as exercise programming, fitness, clinical exercise, and group exercise. To gain expertise in a specific area, pursue certifications such as AFAA Group Fitness, ACSM Clinical Exercise Specialist (CES), and ACSM Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist (RCEP), showing recruiters how dedicated you are to learning new skills.
- First aid, CPR, and injury management: All Zumba instructors must have certification and astute knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid. They must also maintain the highest safety standards in all classes and provide emergency assistance when needed.
- Choreography: To keep clients of all ages energized, motivated, and on their feet, you must get creative with choreography and maintain engagement. Even though Zumba instructors teach pre-choreographed routines, they often add their panache and create impromptu dance steps like belly dance, flamenco, tango, samba, soca, and quebradita to make the class more fun and interesting.
- Fitness assessment and client services: A good Zumba instructor must accurately conduct physical fitness assessments of their client depending on their age and health condition. Since most clients join Zumba to lose weight, maintain fitness, and as a fun activity, their instructor should understand their goals, needs, and psyche. They should also counsel them on nutrition, fitness, stress management, and body positivity.
Educational Requirements for Zumba Instructors
To become an expert Zumba instructor, one can choose various educational paths depending on their interest. It is important to note that Zumba is a trademarked exercise program and all Zumba instructors need to be eventually licensed from Zumba Fitness, LLC to teach and practice legally.
The following are some of the degree and certification options for Zumba instructors:
Degree
According to the BLS, fitness trainers can start with a minimum qualification of a high school diploma. Most employers, though, prefer candidates with formal training in Zumba through certifications or degrees. One can also choose to be an expert in understanding fitness if they have a bachelor’s degree in dance, athletic training, kinesiology, sports science, or exercise science. These courses give the students a strong foundation in human anatomy, metabolism, nutrition, injury management, and exercise techniques which will be fruitful in becoming a holistic Zumba instructor. The courses take four years to complete.
For a well-rounded bachelor of science (BSc.) in athletic training, consider education from universities such as the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and Northeastern University.
The Glendale Community College offers an associate of arts in kinesiology in which students are exposed to the scientific study of body movement and how it impacts our health. California State University offers a BA in dance with a dance science option for specialized courses in dance science, whereas California State University offers a dance option with a BSc. in kinesiology. One can get more information from the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science.Certifications
Even after having a degree, Zumba instructors can choose to upgrade their knowledge by getting various certifications in dance, dance medicine, aerobics, and group fitness to show their commitment to deepening their understanding of the subjects of health. The following are different certifications options to choose from:- Universities and colleges: The University of Southern California offers an undergraduate certificate in Dance Medicine and Science. You will learn how to analyze dance movements and their effects on human biology.
- Member Associations: Zumba® Instructor Network (ZIN) is leading in organization for Zumba where one can learn all the varied forms of Zumba. The National Personal Training Association, Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), and the American Sports and Fitness Association (ASFA®) are premier organizations for group fitness, dance, and aerobics certifications.
- For-profit educational companies: National Personal Training Association, ExpertRating, Udemy and Fit-X-Pro, are great choices to learn about aerobics and get certified. MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) websites such as Udemy, ExpertRating and Coursera are not accredited. They are helpful to gain knowledge on specific areas of fitness such as dieting and exercise science. However, they do not provide accredited certification. You may use these to add new skills to your resume.
- Nonprofit or voluntary organizations: Various nonprofit organizations such as the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and National Exercise Trainer Association (NETA) are some of the nonprofit organizations which the National Commission accredits for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Most recruiters require that Zumba instructors for the safety of their clients have certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid training.
Zumba Instructor Resume-Writing Tips
A well-written resume boosts your chances of recruiters contacting you for an interview. To do so, here are some tips for creating a clean resume.
- Highlight necessary skills: According to HR Dive, a recruiter spends an average of seven seconds viewing your resume, making it crucial to communicate the correct information efficiently. Include skills like biomechanical knowledge, relationship building, CPR, group therapy, choreography expertise, updated fitness trends, and other relevant skills to showcase in-demand qualifications.
- Choose a niche: Don’t just teach Zumba. Get specialized in a particular training set like Aqua Zumba to let employers know you have something unique to offer compared to other candidates. You can have an impressive resume, but the key to making it stand out is to add certifications and qualifications.
- Acquire exercise science expertise: Recruiters expect Zumba instructors to know about training programs, exercise science, nutrition, and related topics. This demonstrates how adaptable you are in dealing with client goals and body types.
- Bring in relevant customer data and statistics: Documenting relevant data like class participation, weight goals achieved, diversity in training sessions, and improvements in muscle mass and body composition can prove your expertise in your field. Employers want to see these kinds of measurable results and quantifiable metrics instead of a list of duties you had in your previous jobs.
FAQ
Do I have to be a ZIN member to teach Zumba?
After completing your basic training, you can obtain a license to teach that is valid for one year. You will have to take up a ZIN membership to train for an indefinite period. A ZIN membership is a monthly membership program for ongoing support, up-to-date information, continuing education, and instructor certificate renewal.
Do I have to get recertified or get a certificate renewal?
Depending on your certification and the authorized organization offering the certificate, most of them require recertification every one to five years. Some organizations like the American Sports and Fitness Association® (ASFA) offer lifetime renewal.