Class Design, Choreography, and Cueing
Class design blends structure, progression, and communication. Know the components of a class: warm-up, conditioning (cardio and/or resistance), and cool-down with flexibility. Understand choreography building blocks-base moves, variations, and combinations-and how to sequence them logically.
Master cueing types: verbal (counts, directional, motivational), visual (demonstration), and kinesthetic/tactile (with consent). Good cueing is anticipatory-cued before the move, not after. Know the difference between mirroring (instructor faces class and mirrors) and same-side demonstration, and when each helps.
Choreography principles: progression (simple to complex), repetition for learning, and transition smoothness. Understand intensity manipulation through lever length, range of motion, tempo, and impact. Know how to adapt for mixed levels using layering and options.
Traps: Questions may ask for the best cue timing-anticipatory beats reactive. Another trap is confusing mirroring with same-side cueing; mirroring helps participants follow but can confuse directional cues. Also watch for choreography that ignores safety (e.g., rapid direction changes without preparation).
Rule of thumb: Cue before the change (anticipatory), demonstrate while cueing, and offer an option for every level.
Worked example: Before a grapevine, the instructor calls the move and direction ahead of time (anticipatory verbal cue) while demonstrating (visual cue), then offers a simpler step-touch option for beginners.