Fitness for Dancers

A few years ago one of my students was trying to duplicate a dance position that I was showing. Laughing, he said, “My body just won’t move that way. Aren’t there some exercises you could show me to fix that?”…and so, the Fitness Class was born.

Using a variety of exercises based on yoga, Pilates, calisthenics, and dance warm-ups, I have put together a stretching and strengthening class. What all of the exercises have in common is that you don’t need any special equipment to do them. Using your own body weight for resistance, these movements can easily be done at home. Of course, if you are like me, and need a little motivation to stick with it regularly, then you can join our group on Saturday mornings!

Even if you aren’t a dancer, these exercises will improve your health and decrease your risk of injury in your day-to-day activities. The main focus is to improve your posture, balance, agility, and coordination. You will strengthen all muscles, but particularly your core as these provide the support for all movement, balance, and posture, and are a must for a healthy back. Through various stretches we’ll increase your flexibility.

Stretch and Strengthen
Saturday: 10:30a.m. – noon: 

Standing and mat exercises for the whole body. Promotes better posture, flexibility, strength, and overall health. Suitable for all.
$20

Fitness Intensive
Tuesday: 7:10 – 7:50p.m.

Shorter warm-up and faster pace than Saturday’s class. Focus on legs, bum, abs, and back. Suits someone who is already in pretty good shape.
$9

Testimonials

Stretch and Strengthen:

“I attended Elaine’s fitness class to improve my dancing in terms of endurance, balance and muscle flexibility prior to the pandemic. I took away a number of exercises from the class, which I found very useful in my daily life, and I did them on a regular basis during the ‘shutdown’ and continue to do so in between classes now that the class has resumed. I feel fit and healthy and I thank Elaine for the fitness class.”

Female, age 65+

Stretch and Strengthen, progressing to Fitness Intensive:

“Elaine’s fitness class has been an absolute game-changer for me. I joined while recovering from an arm injury, and found that her tailored approach to general fitness and flexibility has been nothing short of remarkable. What sets her class apart is the ingenious way she weaves muscle-specific exercises tied to their use in dance patterns. Leveraging her expertise as a dance instructor, she not only targets key muscle groups but also enhances overall flexibility, which has been pivotal in my journey to regain strength post-injury as well as improving my performance in dance classes.

Her teaching style fosters a welcoming and encouraging environment where individuals of all skill levels can thrive. She nurtures a friendly, supportive environment that propels everyone towards their fitness goals. I’ve witnessed tangible progress under Elaine’s guidance. If you’re seeking a fitness class that merges effective techniques with an enjoyable atmosphere, I wholeheartedly endorse joining Elaine’s sessions.”

J. Male, 56

Fitness Intensive:

“I was impressed with the variety of exercises in the fitness classes. I felt that the level of difficulty was challenging but within my range. The classes helped with my overall flexibility and core strength.”

J. Female 65