The other day I wrote a post about tapless choreography.  When I thought about what I had written I realized that my true point was not clear.  It's not that I am for or against tapless or self reversing choreography.   I am against choreography progressions as a whole.  I really think the whole discussion just kind of misses the point.  We are teaching fitness classes, not dance classes.

I spent a lot of time on YouTube the other day looking for videos to recommend for my Step Resources section.  I was really excited to see all of the choreography available on YouTube.  Until I really started watching the videos.  Almost every video was of an instructor teaching the final product of 45 minutes worth of progression.  They had that class jumping over, spinning around, doing all kinds of stuff.  In most cases about 80% of the class was following along, the rest are left standing there, amazed that anyone is able to perform the sequence.

Let me give you the best example of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9QtRRj1J_w

Granted, this guy is presenting to a group of instructors, so I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he has kicked it up a notch.  And I am NOT knocking him - God bless anyone who can move around a step like that.  It sure is pretty to watch.

Still - is this an ideal?  Is this what we hope to teach our classes on a perfect day?  I have to say, I don't believe this is what they came to do.

There are ways to teach a fun, exciting step class that achieves the objective (45 minutes of cardio) without doing all this dancing. 

I teach a lot of routines to regular songs I download from Napster, Itunes, etc.  I make up a simple 16 count  sequence to the verse, and another to the chorus.  Sometimes the song has a 3rd component like a bridge (change in the music right before or after the chorus), and I may make up a sequence to go in that spot.  And at the end I may sometimes combine all of the sequences for a 'grand finale', but that's it.  Once that song is over, we are moving on to something else.  No progression of that choreography.  Yes, there is a small break between songs.  It is not long enough for anyone to get cooled down so it works out just fine.

It works well because I can use simple things like added arm movement or syncopation to take it up a notch while still including those who need to keep it simple.  I don't have to use dangerous jumps and spins to make the workout more intense.  I can simply replace an alternating knee with a syncopated alternating knee.  Plus, if someone in the class really hates what we are doing or can't catch on it's fine - we will be moving on to something new in about 4 minutes.

I have a lot of information on using this method on the site.  See the Step to Radio Play workshop download or the Step Outline (sign in, then click 'Step Outline' at the bottom of the Step section).

I am making a new CD for my Cross Training class.  Today is the first day I am going to use it.  I know what I need because I have an outline that I always follow for Cross Training. 

Outline: Warm up, Slow and Steady, Vertical Endurance, Vertical Challenge or Athletic Drill, LB Strength, Horizontal Endurance, Horizontal Challenge or Athletic Drill, Strength, Standing Torso, Floorwork (optional), Stretch.  For more information on teaching to an outline see my downloadable courses.

1  - Warm Up -  'Take You There' Sean Kingston
                      step is at vertical orientation (stepping on to short side of bench)
                      start on top of step
                      on 'We could' 3 light taps off the right side, then left
                      on 'You know I could ...' single light lunges (taps) off sides
                      walk during first verse, basic step during other verses
                      break down - 'Or we ...' (music slows and lightens) - stretch
This song was a lot of fun to teach.  I loved the little tapping movement - it was new and fresh and worked really well with the music.  Toward the end of the song I added on to it by tapping down and moving the tapping foot forward, back, forward.

2  - Strength (LB) - 'Gimme More (TI Remix)' - Britney Spears and TI
                       step at vertical orientation
                       start on top
                       stradle step (right foot lead) through rap
                       'Every time ...' - 4 count squats off sides (alternating)
                       'We can get down...' - 2 count squats stepping off sides
                       on 7th 2 count squat stay on that side and turn toward step
                       'Gimme gimme ...' - single leg lunges one foot on bench
                       repeat all above (switch leads)
                       'Mic check ...' - quick stretch break
                       dynamic lunges to the end of song
                       (start on floor, step forward drop to 90° angle, half way up, push back thru heel)

3 - Endurance - MTV MASH UPS - Kylie Minogue vs Run DMC - Can't Get U Otta My Head (Wild Thing Remix)' - Kylie Minogue, Run DMC, Young MC
                      Step at vertical orientation
                      travel over step, stradle & exit, stradle and lunge to either side & exit

4 - Challenge (Drill) - 'Vertigo' - U2 
                      Step at vertical orientation
                      lunges off step
                      football run up & down on chorus

5 - Strength - 'Rise Up (Club Mix)' - Yves Larock
                      Squats & Military presses

during break after strength song let the class turn their steps to regular horizontal orientation

6 - Endurance - 'Do it Well' - Jennifer Lopez
                      horizontal orientation (regular starting orientation - stepping on long side of the step)
                      basic 2X, one knee, one wide V step
                      chorus - jumping V step, walk down
This song was a little slow - going to have to look for a faster dance mix

7 - Challenge - 'Get'cha Head in the Game' - High School Musical
                     2:30m - very intense when done correctly
                     make sure your class knows they will get a 45 second recovery break after
                     Here is the movement you will use through the whole song:
                         4 counts
                         1 - step up w/ right foot on left corner
                         2 - bring right foot back down (you are facing front)
                         3 & 4 -  get low and shuffle toward the right
                         reverse and repeat
                     on chorus replace the step in 1 (above) to a lay up (jump) on corner

8 - Strength (Push ups) - 'It's My Party' - Thalia
                     push ups on chorus
                     Pilates stabilization during verse (swim)

9 - Standing Torso - "Don't cha" - The Pussy Cat Dolls
                     L-step on verse
                     on outside of L slide inside foot across step without tapping (torso stabilization)
                     on chorus synchopate (hop up fast and hold) alternating knees and hold for 3 counts (balance)

10 - Stretch - 'Proud' - Heather Small (The Biggest Loser Theme Song)
                     save big stretches for chorus for drama

Email me and let me know if this post was useful.  If it was I will keep doing them!  For more information about teaching classes to regular music off the radio get my 'Step to Radio Play' downloadable course.

Lately, I have seen and heard a lot of discussion over tapless and self reversing choreography.  I find this dicussion really interesting, and yet so pointless.

I think instructors are alway looking for that great 'buzz' that comes from teaching a jam packed class and seeing people leave trembling and covered in sweat.  So we take it to the next level every time.  We want that 'buzz' every time. 

Step has become a weird bird - what started off as a cardio vascular training class, has become some kind of instructor led dance, complete with it's own timing and it's own language.  This can be said of a lot of different formats (ex: kickboxing, weight lifting, athletic drills), but is more true in step class. 

In our pursuit of that buzz, we often overlook something crucial to the long term success of our class (and our facility for that matter) - the participant.  Is this class successfully meeting the needs of the participant?  Do they feel proud or foolish when they leave class?

So - back to tapless choreography.  I have to ask "why?".  Why would we speed the progression of the patterns up by taking the taps out between movements?  Maybe there is a reason, but I am not seeing it. 

Why focus on 'self reversing'?  Isn't that a lot for the instructor to think about?  The instructor should be focused on their role as coach, not choreography.  The choreography should naturally self reverse if it has been planned to go along with the chorus and verse of the music.

I am a webmaster in my other life (full time job.)  Websites and aerobics classes are alike.  They both hinge on the user experience.  If the user has a positive experience and gets what they came for they will be back for more.

So think more about helping your participant succeed, and less about tapless and self-reversing.  Do you think your participant cares if you can teach a whole class without tapping?  No.  In my opinion it's a hinderance to a positive user experience because it frustrates the pants off the beginners and it distracts the instructor.

Here are my tips for a positive user experience in your classes:

1 - Outline and plan your class WAY before your music starts.  Know what you are going to teach and why.  Know what songs you are going to play, in what order, and why.  Carry a written outline with you to class.
2 - Keep your class exciting and motivating with great music.  The choreography should be secondary to the music.  The music should be the most exciting, fun thing about your class.  If you burn a CD containing all the songs you find motivating and fun, then write an outline of choreography to those songs, your class will be motivating and fun. (see Step to Radio Play for more about this concept)
3 - Stick to the format.  Give them the class they came to take - don't change things up unless the published schedule reflects that change.
4 - Stay positive.  You shall not let a negative utterance pass through your lips.  No talking about the bad traffic on the way to the gym, about your injured knee.  No gossiping.  You are the MOTIVATOR, ENTERTAINER, and COACH.
5 - Have fun!

"And that's all I have to say about that." - Forest Gump