Just because someone has insurance
As a fitness manager, venue operator, or dance teacher, you know that public liability insurance is essential. But here’s something that might surprise you: having insurance doesn’t automatically protect you from lawsuits—or guarantee that claims will be paid out.
If you’re hiring instructors, renting space to dancers, or teaching classes yourself, you need to understand the fine print. Insurance is only as good as the qualifications and competence of the person delivering the class.
The Insurance Reality Check
Getting public liability insurance for dance or fitness classes is surprisingly easy. Many teachers can secure coverage with minimal vetting, which can create a false sense of security for everyone involved—the instructor, the venue, and participants.
But here’s the critical issue: insurance policies typically only pay out if specific criteria are met. One of the most common requirements is that the instructor holds appropriate, recognised qualifications for the type of class they’re teaching. What this means in practice. Let’s say a participant is injured in a class. They make a claim against the instructor’s insurance. The insurance company investigates and discovers that:
The instructor doesn’t hold a recognised fitness qualification
Or their qualification doesn’t cover the specific style of class they were teaching
Or they were teaching outside their scope of practice
In this scenario, the insurance company may refuse to pay out—leaving the instructor personally liable and the venue potentially exposed to legal action as well.
This isn’t a hypothetical situation. It happens. And when it does, everyone loses—the injured participant, the instructor facing financial ruin, and the venue dealing with reputational damage and potential lawsuits.
The DBS Check Myth
There’s another common misconception: that having a DBS check means someone is “safe” to teach.
A DBS check is important—it screens for certain criminal records. But it tells you nothing about:
Whether the person knows how to teach exercise safely
Whether they understand injury prevention
Whether they can adapt exercises for different fitness levels
Whether they’re qualified to lead the type of class they’re advertising
The Bhangra Fitness Qualification Gap
This issue is particularly acute in certain dance styles—bhangra being a prime example.
Bhangra classes have exploded in popularity as a fun, high-energy workout. But here’s the problem: almost no bhangra teachers hold recognised fitness qualifications.
Many are talented dancers with deep cultural knowledge of the dance form. That’s valuable—but it’s not the same as understanding:
Exercise physiology
Warm-up and cool-down protocols
How to modify movements for participants with injuries or health conditions
What to do in a medical emergency
If someone is injured in a bhangra fitness class and the instructor can’t demonstrate appropriate qualifications, their insurance may not cover the claim. And if you’re the venue that hired them, you could be drawn into legal action too.
What Fitness Managers and Venue Operators Must Do
If you’re hiring instructors or renting space to fitness professionals, due diligence is your responsibility. Here’s what that looks like:
Ask for proof of qualifications—not just insurance certificates. Check that qualifications are current and relevant to the class being taught.
Verify qualifications with the awarding body if you’re unsure. Recognised UK fitness qualifications are typically registered with the REPs (Register of Exercise Professionals) or CIMSPA.
Check insurance details—specifically, confirm that the policy covers the type of class being taught and that the instructor meets the policy’s qualification requirements.
Don’t assume cultural dance experience equals fitness teaching competence. If someone is teaching dance as exercise, they need fitness qualifications.
Review your own insurance policy to understand your liability as a venue or employer.
What Dance Teachers Must Know
If you’re teaching dance fitness classes—whether bhangra, Bollywood, Zumba, or any other style—you need to be honest with yourself about your qualifications.
Having insurance is a good start, but it won’t protect you if:
You don’t hold the qualifications your policy requires
You’re teaching outside your scope of practice
You can’t demonstrate professional competence in fitness instruction
Consider investing in a recognised fitness qualification. It’s not about diminishing your cultural expertise—it’s about enhancing it with the knowledge you need to keep participants safe and protect yourself legally.
The Bottom Line
Insurance and DBS checks are important—but they’re not enough on their own. Real protection comes from competence, qualifications, and doing your due diligence.
Whether you’re a venue operator, fitness manager, or dance teacher, the message is the same: don’t assume someone is qualified just because they’re insured. Ask the questions. Check the credentials. Understand what you’re actually covered for.
Because when someone gets hurt, “I thought they were qualified” won’t hold up in court—and it won’t help the person who got injured either.