First of all-the great:
I have my first paying gig!! I'm subbing for two classes next Saturday and the week after. I am really excited! I can't wait to see how I do in a foreign environment with new people and actually getting paid for it. I feel like I'm a good instructor and that I make it fun, but I'm still really nervous. I hope this leads to something more regular. I'm looking forward to actually finally making some money on this. I've been teaching for free for five months and I love it, but a little $ will be nice.
The Good-well it's still Great, I just wanted a clever title:
Class was really fun tonight! I wasn't feeling well tonight and took a 2 1/2 hour nap after I got home from work. I ended up not having time for dinner so I chugged a breakfast drink and then my stomach was upset. This ended up with me at class, groggy and with a stomach ache, but excited for class. You guys totally came through for me! I love seeing every smile and feeling your energy. It makes me so happy to know people are enjoying my class. It's also amazing to hear the feedback that people give me. Our record so far for the number of people in one class is 54! That is beyond my wildest dreams!
The Bad:
A while ago I was told that someone in my stake viewed some of class as inappropriate. I have worked really hard to keep my class true to Zumba, but appropriate for the setting. There are a lot of songs I have skipped and moves I have tweaked, but Zumba is still Zumba. There are shimmys, booty shaking, and some crunches (that are pretty much like a hip trust.) These moves are very useful in toning specific parts of the body and I try to explain why we do certain moves. Apparently someone still was upset with my class and went to their high counselman. There was a meeting in my stake to see if I'm doing inappropriate things. A woman from my stake came to class tonight and thought my class was fine, which made me feel better. The main thing that bothers me is that I don't know what they were bothered by and they didn't come to me. If there is a particular song or move that bothers you, PLEASE send me an email or leave an anonymous comment and I am more than happy to tweak things to make them better. Having someone complain about me where I can't help resolve the issue or defend myself makes me feel blindsided. I feel like I put a lot of work into this class and when there are problems like this it makes me feel like throwing my hands in the air and just saying "forget it." But don't worry, for now I'm still here. :) I've gone through my stages of dealing with stuff. I 1. brush it off, 2. cry, 3. get mad, 4. move on. I'm in the move on stage and I'll be there next week with some new songs!
Thanks for letting me rant. I love you guys to pieces and thank you so much for supporting me and giving me all your feedback. You make me so happy!!
PS-there is an AWESOME event at the Orem Fitness Center on April 30th. It is Ladies Night! It is free for ladies 16 and up and no guys are allowed. There will be Zumba for 1 1/2 hours with three instructors, free food, massages, and lots of other stuff. I goes from 7-10pm, and Zumba is from 8-9:30 pm. It's going to be amazing!
PPS-The playlist from tonight was as follows:
Abusadora - Zumba
New Low - Middle Class Rut
Cumbia Arabe - Zumba
Jai Ho! - A.R. Rahman
La Vida Es Un Carnaval - Zumba
Evacuate the Dancefloor - Cascada
Na Pona do Pe - Zumba
Waka Waka - Shakira
Zeina - Zumba
Forget You - Glee Cast
Pegate - Grupo Treo
La Tortura - Shakira
Hokey Pokey - The Puppies
A La Nena Le Gusta - Zumba
Telephone - Lady Gaga
Say Hey - Michael Franti & Spearhead
Firework - Katy Perry
FOrget you is my all time favorite!!! dont get rid of it no matter what anyone says hahaha. THank you I love your class!!!!
ReplyDeleteSo bummed I missed it last night. I'm sorry that people in your stake feel that way. I don't think anything in your class is inappropriate. There's one line in "DJ's got us falling in love" that's edited, but some might still view as inappropriate. You usually whoop during it, and it IS edited, but maybe that was their issue? I love the song, but I also like the well-placed yell. :o)
ReplyDeleteGood luck subbing! You'll do great!
VERY well said Charlotte!! You already know how I feel about all of this...so I will just tell you that I love you and I LOVE your class!! Thank you and I'm excited to hear how your saturday classes go at that place!!! Love you lady!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all you do. I've missed the last couple of classes and have truly missed you and Zumba. I have never felt offended or put off by any of the moves, and I can be a prude about other things when the mood strikes me. :-) I think you set a fantastic tone that helps us to appreciate the joy of moving our bodies without ever becoming inappropriate. Thanks again for all your hard work!! I'm glad you're finally going to get paid a little for what you've so lovingly done for us for free for so long.
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone!!! It makes me feel better to know that I'm not offending every person, I can handle just offending one here and there. hahaha! jk See you all tonight!!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to one of your classes yet, but I can say that the person who thought you were doing inappropriate things and went to the stake to tell them, and they had a meeting regarding it and everything...that person was doing an inappropriate thing. I don't understand how someone could do that! I personally would have been upset with the stake too. If a person is offended by some of the moves, then they should talk to you, or better yet, just not come! What goal were they trying to achieve by going to the stake? It is none of their business. It is a workout, Zumba like you said is Zumba, and to me there is nothing that is not appropriate about it! It's a great exercise program. Don't be sad, that person who did this to you is the one who did wrong!
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