"Funky Fit" is born

This past weekend I had the pleasure of going to "The Pulse on Tour," a workshop put on by some of the most sought after choreographers in the US. I took class with Wade Robson, Mia Michaels, Dave Scott, Chris Judd, and Brian Friedman, all of who have choreographed for some of the biggest names in Hollywood. It was an unbelieveable experience. I took home a better understanding of musicality, a greater confidence in myself, and a yearning to be different and unique.
Zumba itself began as a unique concept. The Latin community was and is growing strong in the US. The founder, Beto Perez, was the first in fitness to tap into that niche in the market. But he still simplified it enough that all ages and ethinicities can do it. Now Zumba has been replicated and duplicated to become something not so unique. "Cardio Salsa" and "Latin Fusion" classes and DVDs seem to be everywhere you look. But this has not stopped Zumba from being a thrilling experience each and every time you do it. It is still growing and I plan on teaching Zumba for many years to come.
However, I still love the art of choreographing. As an artist, I am searching for my own unique place in the dance world. I yearn to take all of the aspects of dance that I love and create a class that is easy and fun, but different than anything you can find at every other neighborhood gym. One of my core dance beliefs is that no matter how old you are, or how many years of experience you have, you should be given the opportunity to dance. Everyone should be taught in a way that is simple and easy enough for them to feel confident in their movement.
Keeping that in mind I began brainstorming new class concepts. First, I started thinking just about music in general. There are so many songs written and produced years ago that can still bring a wonderful nostalgia each time you hear them. There are kids listening to songs that came out before they were even born. The same goes for the choreography. Certain styles and types of mevement never go out of style. A friend of mine, Jeff Holt, mentioned doing a "retro" class. The concept was just what I was looking for, unique and edgy. The only setback was that I did not want to limit it to only retro. New music is just as important to incorporate in.... So I asked my class to help me come up with a new name, and "Funky Fit" was born.

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