Move
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A BARRE3 INSTRUCTOR?
Have you ever been in the middle of a barre3 class, sweating it out alongside an inspiring instructor, and wondered, could I do that? Dino Malvone, Studio Director at barre3 West Village, believes you can—as long as you love teaching.
“We attract all kinds of people, but the common thread among our instructors is that we all share a love of teaching,” says Dino.
“The fitness aspect is important as well, but there’s something beautiful about gaining wisdom and being able to share that wisdom with like-minded folks. People who apply to become an instructor have an innate desire to lead, to inspire, and to create change!”
Of course, there’s a little more to it than that, which is why we asked Dino to tell as all about the process of becoming a barre3 instructor. Read on to learn what it takes to become an instructor and see if it’s a good fit for you.
STEP 1: THE AUDITION
Get ready for the stage, it’s time for your one-on-one audition with your studio owner or mentor. “In this session, you’re given the tools to teach a portion of the warm-up, which is often the most difficult portion of class to nail because of nerves,” says Dino.
STEP 2: IN-TRAINING CLASS
If you pass the one-on-one audition, you’re then given the appropriate tools (choreography and music) and asked to teach a full 60-minute class to your friends and family. This process typically takes four weeks. Once you’ve taught a few full friends-and-family classes, you’ve graduated to the next step: a new-instructor training session.
STEP 3: NEW-INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
“The new-instructor training sessions are intensive, three-day learning experiences tailored to give new instructors a sense of why we do what we do,” says Dino. During the sessions, you’ll get tools to be the best instructor you can be based on your natural strengths. You’ll also learn techniques to help you find your most authentic voice as an instructor.
STEP 4: PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
After the new instructor training, you’ll return to your home studio to put everything you’ve just learned into play. You’ll practice (and practice, and practice) and teach a combination of friends-and-family and community classes. During this time, you’ll be given detailed feedback from your owner or mentor about shaping your class.
STEP 5: CERTIFICATION
Once your owner or mentor deems you ready, you’ll teach a class for certification. If all goes well, you’ll be teaching to the community at large soon thereafter.
The entire process takes anywhere between seven and 10 weeks. Though the steps look the same for each trainee, the process does feel different for each and every person. “There are those who thrive under pressure and are able to find their voice almost immediately,” says Dino. “For me, it took time. However, the process gives potential instructors all the tools and wisdom they need to find their authentic voice, and it’s a rewarding process.
“It’s scary. But in the end, you feel empowered and supported, and you’ve increased your potential to change the world.”
Have you ever been in the middle of a barre3 class, sweating it out alongside an inspiring instructor, and wondered, could I do that? Dino Malvone, Studio Director at barre3 West Village, believes you can—as long as you love teaching.
“We attract all kinds of people, but the common thread among our instructors is that we all share a love of teaching,” says Dino.
“The fitness aspect is important as well, but there’s something beautiful about gaining wisdom and being able to share that wisdom with like-minded folks. People who apply to become an instructor have an innate desire to lead, to inspire, and to create change!”
Of course, there’s a little more to it than that, which is why we asked Dino to tell as all about the process of becoming a barre3 instructor. Read on to learn what it takes to become an instructor and see if it’s a good fit for you.
STEP 1: THE AUDITION
Get ready for the stage, it’s time for your one-on-one audition with your studio owner or mentor. “In this session, you’re given the tools to teach a portion of the warm-up, which is often the most difficult portion of class to nail because of nerves,” says Dino.
STEP 2: IN-TRAINING CLASS
If you pass the one-on-one audition, you’re then given the appropriate tools (choreography and music) and asked to teach a full 60-minute class to your friends and family. This process typically takes four weeks. Once you’ve taught a few full friends-and-family classes, you’ve graduated to the next step: a new-instructor training session.
STEP 3: NEW-INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
“The new-instructor training sessions are intensive, three-day learning experiences tailored to give new instructors a sense of why we do what we do,” says Dino. During the sessions, you’ll get tools to be the best instructor you can be based on your natural strengths. You’ll also learn techniques to help you find your most authentic voice as an instructor.
STEP 4: PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
After the new instructor training, you’ll return to your home studio to put everything you’ve just learned into play. You’ll practice (and practice, and practice) and teach a combination of friends-and-family and community classes. During this time, you’ll be given detailed feedback from your owner or mentor about shaping your class.
STEP 5: CERTIFICATION
Once your owner or mentor deems you ready, you’ll teach a class for certification. If all goes well, you’ll be teaching to the community at large soon thereafter.
The entire process takes anywhere between seven and 10 weeks. Though the steps look the same for each trainee, the process does feel different for each and every person. “There are those who thrive under pressure and are able to find their voice almost immediately,” says Dino. “For me, it took time. However, the process gives potential instructors all the tools and wisdom they need to find their authentic voice, and it’s a rewarding process.
“It’s scary. But in the end, you feel empowered and supported, and you’ve increased your potential to change the world.”
