Thread: How to teaching gigs at gyms, ect

So I've just recently moved to a new city and am looking to get back in the teaching game. My last teaching gigs in my old city were kinda just handed to me (cover me here, I'm moving take over for me, ect). Since I dont know anyone in this city, I've got to market myself. One spot is this really nice gym in walking distance from my apartment, but I'm just unsure of how to go about approaching them. Press packet/resume? And what if I'm not exactly the ideal model of "fitness"? What about other yoga/dance studios? How do you make bellydance appeal to them? If anyone can provide examples of your resumes/kits and stories of how you made it work for you that would be most useful! Thanks bhuzzers!

I would just call the owner and speak with him/her and set up a meeting. Arrive dressed as you would for an interveiw and bring you resume along. Point out some positive things about belly dance classes (for instance at the gym I teach at you don't have to be a member to take my class. The owner is happy because some of my students have signed up for membership because they came in for the class and feel comfortable. They state that they never would have join a gym privious to taking the class there).
I would approach it from a business to business stand point and not "I'm looking for a job". Explain what your business (as a teacher) can do for their business.
Hope this helps a little bit?

i'v been in the fitness industry for ten years.If its a big gym ask for the aerobic's coordinator and have a plan or format for your class. It should be set up for example-5-10 min warm up alittle stretch then about 20min aerobic workout then put your technique-toning then maybe more traveling moves to get heart rate back up -cool down and stretch dance stretches or some modified yoga stretches. remember in a gym they want to hear workout -calorie burning terms.look @ rania or suhaila videos there formated for workout rather than lessons. i have tons of those videos if interested contact me @ stasiahdance@yahoo.com good luck

Generally I wouldn't approach a gym unless I was going to be teaching a fitness-oriented class -- in which case, yes, they will expect you to look *reasonably* fit (since that's the goal of the participants) but you don't have to be a total hardbody.

There are exceptions. I contacted a small local gym and just asked to rent their aerobics room for a class I was already running that needed a new home. They wouldn't do that, but we agreed on a flat rate of $50/hour and I operated there for years. It was never a fitness class and most of my students came from my own advertising, very few of the gym members took my class because it wasn't fitness-oriented.

Alternative ideas, if you want to teach more of a dance class, are dance studios (where you most often rent space and manage your classes yourself) or YMCAS (they'll probably want to pay you an hourly rate, and it'll probably be low, but they'll do all your marketing and registration and insurance for you).

Another really good option is parks & rec departments OR community edutainment programs offered by community colleges.

How you approach depends on who you're approaching. Dance studios, for instance, you'll most likely get an answering machine and you can just leave a message saying you're interested in renting a studio for a class. Most of them won't call you back (because they don't have studio time available and have too many phone calls to return to bother telling you that, I think) so call every studio in the yellow pages.

Parks departments and Ymcas and community colleges -- look in their booklet or on their website. Often there'll be a blurb telling people how to go about offering a class. More and more they like an e-mail contact, but phone calls are the standard. Tell them that you're a bellydance teacher who's moved in from another city and you'd like to offer a class.

You don't need a fancy written proposal. A dance resume, with your background, past teaching experience, and references along with any certifications you might hold (even CPR!!) is a good idea. Community colleges and large parks departments plan their program 6-9 months ahead of time in order to print those big catalogs of classes, so contacting them now might not result in an actual class until fall.

Work up a little one-paragraph blurb about your class, as it might appear in a parks department catalog. Including why people would take your class, what the focus is (having fun? Getting fit? Foreign culture? Serious dance training?) You may need to submit it later, but doing it now will help you focus your thinking before you approach your venues.

have you tried something like Curves or 24 fitness? I know 24 hour fitness offers pole dancing so surely bellydance would be considered fitness

a friend of mine did quite well teaching bellydance aerobics in colorado. her classes were overflowing

put some weight belts on those gals and make them sweat :)

Originally Posted by jesennia

have you tried something like Curves

Just an FYI, The franchise agreement Curves owners sign prohibit them from offering any classes outside of the standard Curves circuit training. That said, there are a lot of franchise owners who do whatever the heck they want and do offer classes in their locations.

Originally Posted by laura 2

Just an FYI, The franchise agreement Curves owners sign prohibit them from offering any classes outside of the standard Curves circuit training. That said, there are a lot of franchise owners who do whatever the heck they want and do offer classes in their locations.

Yep. I taught both dance and dance/aerobic/fitness at Liberty Fitness, which is a franchise.

Originally Posted by Halima-Dances

Yep. I taught both dance and dance/aerobic/fitness at Liberty Fitness, which is a franchise.

Just to clarify, I don't think all fitness franchises have this rule. I just know that it's part of the Curves franchisee contract (or at least, it used to be) specifically.

Originally Posted by laura 2

Just to clarify, I don't think all fitness franchises have this rule. I just know that it's part of the Curves franchisee contract (or at least, it used to be) specifically.

this is true! The consequences are pretty heavy if they're "caught" deviating from the circuit workout.

That said I know a lot of gyms are interested in doing the whole 'new class' for spring and summer to up their memberships. I'm sure they'd love to have you on board there, Midnight. Good luck!

Originally Posted by midnight_star56

So I've just recently moved to a new city and am looking to get back in the teaching game. My last teaching gigs in my old city were kinda just handed to me (cover me here, I'm moving take over for me, ect). Since I dont know anyone in this city, I've got to market myself. One spot is this really nice gym in walking distance from my apartment, but I'm just unsure of how to go about approaching them. Press packet/resume? And what if I'm not exactly the ideal model of "fitness"? What about other yoga/dance studios? How do you make bellydance appeal to them? If anyone can provide examples of your resumes/kits and stories of how you made it work for you that would be most useful! Thanks bhuzzers!

I would suggest a press packet/resume and talking to the program coordinator. A few questions you will need to be ready to answer: (1) Do you have instructor's insurance? (2) Do you have group fitness certification? (3) Do you have current CPR certification? Even if the answers are no, be prepared to answer as these are pretty normal questions from gyms and fitness centers.

It may be a better option to rent space at a local dance studio, yoga studio, or gym rather than to offer your services as an instructor. Having done both, I actually prefer to rent studio space because it gives me a bit more flexibility in my marketing and fees.

Good luck!

Got my first interview Monday with a dance studio, haven't approached the gym yet and I might just stick with the studio for now . I liked the gym for the prime location but realistically the dance studio would be much better and I wouldn't have to be all "fitnessy". Thanks for the help, I'm sure I'll be asking for marketing help for classes soon!

Hi!
I just want give my opinion about gyms in general...
I was just offer a dance instructor position in a very big atletic club and just got home from the audition class... In the interview I wxplain that I'm a dance instructor, not a fitness instructor and they said they were cool with that... After 35 minutes of class they told me the class was too slow (was a beginner class and they had no clue what is bellydance whatsoever)., and they want a more fitness-bellydance oriented class....

I'm kind of disappointed when somebody ask for a fitness bellydance class and said no matter if the students are following you or not you should go ahead and make them sweat without full understaing what is bellydancing?

Anyways I do respect thei point of view but I just respect the bellydance the way I learned and the eay I want pass on...

I find teaching at a gym to be a tough situation. I currently teach at a gym and structure it w/a warmup, technique drill, combos to review, cool down/stretch. BTW, I do have instructors insurance and ACE group fitness and CPR certifications. The insurance wasn't necessary but the other certs were.

The issues I have come across though are:
1. I could have a newbie show up at any time so the classes are pretty much one-off. I really can't build on much, although I can tell the regulars to add something to a move.
2. I get feedback from 1/2 the folks saying they want to sweat and the other 1/2 that want to learn to dance. ,r:;
3. Although when I do give them something more challenging (a la making them sweat), they all look at me like I am nuts. ,r:;

I am going to take Oreet's SharQui workshop next month and I am hoping it will give me some new ideas/new approach. Zumba is insanely popular around here and I think some people are expecting a class along those lines.

I feel the same way!
The gym said to me they want something in the same structure at the zumba class....

Go figure!!!
If you do not want a dance class, why bother put it on the program?

I've never taken a Zumba class so I'm sure of the comparison there a high intensity zero technique workout thing? I took a couple classes at a shapes gym and they were very technique oriented so thats the class I'm looking to offer.

Originally Posted by midnight_star56

I've never taken a Zumba class so I'm sure of the comparison there a high intensity zero technique workout thing?

I take Zumba a couple of times a week, and I can verify the high intensity/zero technique thing. It's all about keeping your heart rate up, and the breakdown of any moves or footwork is minimal to none.

And will kill your back with that booty posture.

Originally Posted by anala

And will kill your back with that booty posture.

Oh yes...I modify the moves quite a bit to protect my lower back. That swirly "push to the back booty ommi with no ab control" move looks like a one way trip to the chiropractor to me.