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IN the business of teaching group fitness classes,
cueing is an ART. It fascinates me. Cueing is about communication.
It can take many forms from subtle body language, changes in facial
expression, change in voice intonation as well as outward specific
verbal cues. It should be effective and motivating. Even the seasoned
experienced instructor will have something new to learn about
cueing.
If cueing is off, so is class participation! The
people who know your routine will follow but new people won't.
That is why, in general, I teach to the new person in my class
(if the person is in the right level class, of course). I have
my regulars who know me inside out, but I will always keep one
eye out for that new participant, as I am teaching. If they are
following then I know that I am doing a good job. Breakdown, of
course is CRUCIAL to following but cueing is equally IMPORTANT.
If you can breakdown and cue well, you will be able to teach a
lot more complicated patterns of choreography and participants
will pick it up effortlessly and enthusiastically (and come back
for more!).
I have determined 2 major areas that are key to
good cueing: Timing and Clarity. I have often observed in classes
that timing is often too late, remember people must process the
information before doing the move. Secondly make sure you are
understood and clear. Cues should be easy to understand and consistent.
In Step, think of cueing in advance when a change
is about to come, I suggest almost 4 counts earlier in the music
and perhaps even earlier if people are doing a part of the choreography
they already know.
Here is a tap free block of Step choreography
that I presented in April this year. Really fun, and automatically
changes the lead leg.
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