Zumba Fitness Instructor Training

I registered for the Zumba Fitness Instructor Training to become a licensed Zumba Basic Steps 1 Instructor. Registering online was quite easy to follow. I printed out my confirmation form and was ready to go! I was also very glad that they offered this workshop as part of the SWC convention in Rosemont as it was cheaper than other training options and close to home.
Parking in the area was easy, but finding the session was a little more difficult. There didn’t appear to be any signs directing people to the right room, so there was some debate over whether or not it was actually at the Hyatt or the Convention Center.
Once inside the Hyatt, I still didn’t see any signs and had to go upstairs and ask for the correct event space. From there everything else was a breeze.
Check-​in was easy and I loved the goodie bag. The training itself was pretty laid back and informal, too. That really helped calm my nerves and it appeared that everyone had a good time.
Tony Witt was our main instructor (ZES) and he did a fabulous job of getting everyone into the proper mood for the day. He introduced himself, introduced his helpers, spoke about what being a Zumba Instructor means and then started off with a master class. We broke for lunch and then he broke down all the basics for Basic Steps 1 — Merengue, Salsa, Cumbia, Reggaeton.
There were no tests and they didn’t really keep tabs on us. Some people left early, so I’m not sure if they are now licensed or not, but I kind of wish Zumba Fitness would offer a certification on top of licensing to prove that you actually can keep rhythm and that someone can verify you know how to dance. It’s great that anyone can become licensed, but a certification could possibly speak more to a single instructor’s credibility.
I joined the Zumba Instructors Network (ZIN) while I was there. Registration was simple, but I ran into some issues. The Training was on Thursday and many people are paid Friday. We were told that wouldn’t be a problem and that our payments would be processed on Friday or later that weekend; however, they ran my payments on Thursday, so my checking account overdrafted and pulled funds from my credit card, which also charged a fee.
Luckily, I was able to get the overdraft reversed from my checking, but the credit card company stood firm. I contacted Tony Witt and he personally sent me a check for the overdraft charge. I’m very glad he took responsibility and set it right, but it was a bit of an unnecessary hassle.
Overall, this was a good Zumba Fitness Instructor Training. If you’re in the Chicagoland area and can get Tony Witt as your ZES, do it! I had a good time and now I’m Zumba licensed. Watch out world, my dancing shoes are on!