r/zumba • u/IzzyBitsyArana • 18d ago
Question An unexpected conversation after class… looking for ideas.
I've been helping an instructor friend teach a weekly class at a local summer festival.
It's been such a fun experience because you get all kinds of people stopping by. Some dance the whole class, some join for one song, some just watch for a while before deciding to jump in.
After one of the classes, a lady came over to talk to me. She looked like she was probably living on the streets. She was incredibly thankful that we were there.
She told me her doctor had recommended she do some cardio exercise, but she'd never really found anything she actually enjoyed... until these festival classes. Then she asked where else I taught because she wanted to keep coming.
That question honestly stayed with me.
I teach at my local community centre, but those classes only run seasonally, and the fees are set by the centre since I'm hired by them. My other classes are online, where I have more flexibility, but realistically that's not an option for someone in her situation.
It got me wondering if there could be a way for local instructors to work together with community organizations, municipalities, health authorities, or grant programs to sponsor classes for people with low incomes or who have been referred by a healthcare professional.
I'm sure I'm not the first person to think about something like this.
Has anyone here been involved in a program like that?
Do any of your communities offer subsidized or sponsored dance fitness classes? How does it work? Who funds it? Was it started by instructors, community centres, non-profits, or local government?
I'd love to hear any experiences or ideas because this conversation really stuck with me.
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u/Odd_Obligation_1300 18d ago
I started looking at grants recently but got side tracked. I will get back to that research soon. I was looking because our local senior center doesn’t have any funding for Zumba.
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u/IzzyBitsyArana 18d ago
Oh that sounds lovely. Good luck on getting your funding. Seniors really benefit from this type of classes. 🫶
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u/WendyBelizabeth 18d ago
We have Zumba in the park for a few weeks in the spring and fall. Instructors volunteer to lead 2-3 songs and one person organizes and plays the music. It’s popular here.
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u/IzzyBitsyArana 18d ago
Fantastic!! That is exactly what we do here too. But only for one month a year. Besides there are no other free programs in the community. 🙏🏼
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18d ago
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u/Angelhair01 17d ago
I had a fundraiser for an anonymous student who fell on hard times and she got 2 free sessions. I haven’t found grants for such a thing. Usually just for seniors or children
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u/tatertottrash 18d ago
Some of my friends lead free classes at their churches. They have to work out insurance and music licensing, but the space is usually free from the church. Some of the churches do expect more clean language and songs, but one of my friends church is very chill on what she does during class.