Coach in the Amateurs, or Amateur Among Coaches?
Top 4 reasons why a coach should NOT compete in the Amateurs category
1️⃣ Moral and Ethical Aspect 🙅♀️
If someone teaches dance or fitness, they are a professional in that field. If a person teaches dance or fitness, they already call themselves a professional in this field.
⁉️ If not — why are they teaching others?
For a coach, sport and dance are a job. But the Beginner and Amateur categories are made for students — people who do it as a hobby.
So it is not morally right to put a professional — someone who works and earns money in this area — in the same group as students and hobby dancers.
🎯 If a coach goes into the amateurs category, it does not mean they are humble or self-critical. It means they are ignoring professional ethics.
2️⃣ Physical Aspect 💪🏻
A coach, even from a related discipline, has an advantage — both physical and technical. Even if exotic pole dance is not their main style, a coach usually has: better body control, stronger technique, more physical endurance, and most importantly — professional training and knowledge
This is more than what a typical amateur has — someone who is just starting their journey. That’s why a coach in the amateurs category is not fair — even if their main discipline is different.
It’s like a professional athlete going on the track with people who just put on sneakers for the first time. Technically, they are all “runners”. But one trains every day. The other is still learning how to stand. Calling that a fair competition is a lie — for yourself and for others. And everyone who has seen this situation before understands that very well.
3️⃣ Financial Aspect 💰
In most cases, coaches have better conditions to prepare for competitions.
For example:
– They often have free or cheap access to a dance studio, and they can spend more time there than students.
– They have easier access to props, professional lighting, mirrors, cameras — everything that helps with creating a strong performance.
– They have connections in the dance or fitness world — which means they can quickly ask for advice, get technical help, new ideas, or feedback from more experienced colleagues. Most students do not have access to these things.
So for coaches, preparation is usually: cheaper (financially), easier (organizationally) and better (technically).
That makes the competition unfair.
4️⃣ Psychological Aspect 🧠
The presence of a coach in the Amateurs category creates psychological pressure for other participants.
Amateurs come to competitions to:
– challenge themselves
– fight their fear
– get motivation, support, and experienceThey want to perform on a stage in a safe space, with people like them.
But when they see a coach standing next to them:
❌ They feel demotivated
❌ They feel it’s unfair — even before the competition starts
❌ They lose trust in the event and in the whole idea of “amateur” categories as a place for growth
A coach in the amateur category is not competing — they are hiding. It’s not about growth — it’s about showing power at the expense of others.
That’s why more and more event organizers are now making sure that coaches do not enter the amateur categories.
❓Is it only the organizer’s responsibility?
In one way — yes. Organizers are responsible for checking participant levels using videos and the info that participants send.
But on the other hand — it’s impossible to check the full background of every single person from 100+ participants. Some may hide their experience.
So the main responsibility is on the dancer themselves: responsibility to yourself, to the dance community and to the people you share the stage with.
This is not only about rules. This is about honour.
About respect for yourself and others. Because when someone hides their true level to get an “easy win” — they are not cheating the system. They are cheating themselves.
❓So what is the value of a medal for a coach who wins in a student category?
❓Is that a real victory?
❓Can we take this kind of teacher seriously?
❓Would you want to learn from someone like that?
We leave these questions for your personal reflection.
💬 Some coaches try to defend themselves by saying: “A coach doesn’t have to be a strong performer.”
✅ That’s true. Not every professional dancer is a great teacher.
✅ Yes, a coach doesn’t have to do the most difficult tricks, but they must know how to teach them.
✅ Yes, a coach does not have to compete.
⚠️ But if they choose to compete — they must go in the right category. Even if it’s a different style than their main one.
📌 SHABASH RULES: If you are a coach in any dance (strip, heels, pole dance (sport, exotic, art), twerk, hip-hop etc.) or fitness (stretching, pilates, yoga, crossfit, tabata etc.) discipline — you CANNOT compete in Beginners or Amateurs categories.
We believe in fairness.
It is better for a coach to take last place in PRO, than to win in AMATEURS — among students.
So we wish you all: self-respect and strength to grow honestly.
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