Vita's Vibe professional fitness celebrity for the Choreography Newsletter #1 is Erica Perkins, Director of Fitness at the University of Virginia, Director of Club Sports. 
 

Vita: Tell us a little about yourself, any accomplishments, awards, you have
achieved, and what you currently do in the industry.

Erika: I am currently the Director of Fitness at Club Sports at the University of Virginia. I am an Alumnus. I am an alumnus from Virginia Tech where I was an All American Lacrosse player. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Exercise Science and a Master’s in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. I have been a certification specialist/trainer and ceu provider for AFAA for ten years as well as a cec provider for ACE. I am the proud mother of two children and through fitness, my goal is to be a 60-something grandma playing on the playground with my grandchildren rather than sitting on a bench!

Vita: How long have you been teaching and how do you see fitness today compared to when you started?

Erica: I have been teaching aerobics since 1988 and have seen group fitness grow tremendously over the last twelve years. I have seen them become more safe and user friendly, in that there are many different types of group fitness classes offered now that will appeal to almost anyone. We have seen more sports training methods enter group fitness as well as dance and mind/body disciplines that has not only created something for everyone, but, encouraged more cross-training which is the safe and healthy approach. 

Vita: What is your favorite class to teach and why?

Erica: I honestly fluctuate between step, kickboxing and boot camp as my favorite classes. I enjoy the choreography of step, the stress-relief that kickboxing provides with the hardcore punches and kicks and the pure physical intensity and playfulness of boot camp.

Vita: Tips for the beginner instructor.

Erica: My tips would be to focus more on communication rather than on choreography as a beginner. I have recently done a survey at the University and 90% of the participants ranked intensity as their number one motivator and second was the enthusiasm of the instructor. If a new instructor is having a hard time cueing intricate choreography, the intensity and energy often gets compromised.  Encourage people to have fun, that is what keeps them coming back. Use landmarks in the room instead of rights and lefts, use hand signals as much as possible, try to advance cue as much as possible, so they have plenty of warning of what is coming up next. Do not rush any moves. Holding patterns can be a good way to put some intensity options in there and buy the instructor some time. 

Vita: You work at University of Virginia, how is the fitness program at UV different from a fitness club.

Erica: We are not as concerned with the bottom-line dollar and do not have to be because we receive revenue multiple sources at the University. Our focus is primarily on the education of the staff and participants. I have worked in a hospital wellness center, a private club and the university and all are very different in the way they are managed and how they get their resources.

Vita: Why should an instructor, find their own style as opposed to someone else.

Erica: You have to truly love teaching aerobics for your classes to be successful. Successful in terms of creating the energy in the room that encourages people to work at their best fitness level and want to come back on a continual basis. Your energy and attitude must be contagious and that is not something you can fake, it has to come from you. The way to get this across is to be yourself. 

Vita: What are your thoughts on speed and step.

Erica: I do not think that Step should be any higher than 130, preferably 128. Cost-effectiveness indicates that controlled movements through a full range of motion are better than fast, incomplete moves. Your joints, bones and muscles will be better off. 

Vita: What do you like best about your job?

Erica: I love seeing the adaptations that exercising regularly brings to people and I love when one of my staff tells me a story about the successful effect they had on a participant through group exercise. The under grads gain such confidence when they teach and it sets a pattern of healthy living.

Vita: Why is it important to work with the musical phrase?

Erica: When teaching choreography based classes, using the musical phrase not only feels right, but it is easier to cue and put choreography together. For sports conditioning/boot camp type classes, this is not as important.

Vita: When teaching a class, how do you motivate your participants?

Erica: Motivation is a very personal internal thing. I think it pulls together from many different sources such as the way you present yourself with smiles, encouraging looks and energy, the music in the class, the group dynamics and the playfulness you bring to it.

Vita: Should instructor's practice?

Erica: Being prepared is most important. If you are introducing new choreography, then you will need to practice the teaching methods that will work best. If it is not new choreography, then reviewing old moves, preparing music, and plan B’s are just as important.

Vita: How often do you change your music/choreography? 

Erica: I rotate my music and choreography. I keep a notebook of what tape and moves I used for a particular class and will refer back to them every month or two.

Vita: Can you give two tips for the fitness instructor, to make them better at 
instructing?

Erica: Teach safe, effective and fun classes! By doing those three things you will be successful! Safety is the number one priority, then making sure you are giving them an effective workout, one that incorporates challenging intensity levels for all, and making the experience fun, through playfulness, great attitude and energy. 

Vita: How did you become an AFAA Certification Specialist? 

Erica: There is an extensive application process that can be located at their website: www.afaa.com

Vita: The importance of teaching right and left leads?

Erica: This is about muscle balancing. Overdoing it on one side or the other will lead to an injury – PERIOD. 

Step III 5/30/00 

I. Step up, quick kicks, ball change, straddle down, L-step, up and jack, rock down, up and jump on top 2, Rep. 3, down off end, L-step exit (flip turn optional).

Step tap, L-step, across 2X, up and lunge 3, down down, repeat 2. *

II. Straddle, L-step (face back of room), across with flip to front, GV R&L, across, L-step back, mambo. 

Turn step (6 count, with hops at end – one leg or two), Corner to Corner, step tap, reverse turn, over the top, rocking horse. *

III. V-step 2X, side step up, lunge 5, down down, step knee on the bench, step knee on the floor. *

* - repeat combo on left lead.


You can contact Erica Perkins at the following address:

Erica Perkins, Director of Fitness & Club Sports IM-Recreation Sports
University of Virginia Aquatic & Fitness Center
P.O. Box 400317 450 Whitehead Rd.

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