Dallas Dance Fitness is like no other adult dance class that you’ve experienced. If who we are as a community of women wasn’t enough to pique your interest in joining us for a class, we asked some of our new and veteran dancers what keeps them coming back for more, through every phase of their member experience. Cheers to growth, helpful tips and inspiration to keep striving to become a better version of you!
Phase I: Give Yourself Permission To Start Where You Are. Each new member has different motivations for starting a workout routine with DDF. Some have never danced, and some are lifelong dancers looking to reconnect with their passion. DDF is a welcoming, judgment free environment for anyone who wants to enjoy great music and movement.
It’s okay if you’re not picking up the moves, your body doesn’t move the same way as the person next to you, or even if you’re just having a “hard” dance day. It’s normal and we all go through it. In order to succeed you first need to tap into acceptance, and that’s accepting where you are in your dance journey.
“As a new dancer I have been enjoying the choreography in addition to exercising for cardio benefits. With the smaller classes (virtual or in person) I have a much better view of the
instructor opposed to the fuller classes at my former gym. I’ve increased my endurance too! There are days when I’m slower but the instructors have such a great attitude that I always end up feeling great, even when I’m dripping in sweat! I do 3 sessions a week and have seen a difference in my arms and shoulders.” - Sarah Hall | Member since March 2020
“I have to keep moving my body. I had a lumpectomy last year and the surgeon told me that if I wasn’t going to take that horrible pill that I had to exercise 300 vigorous minutes a week. So I decided to join DDF to keep me sweating!” - Theresa Lee | Member since February 2020
I joined DDF just over a year ago. I was NOT a dancer, and I was pretty scared to try it. At first, I had no clue what I was doing, but everyone was so nice and encouraging, that I just kept coming back. I signed up for two classes a week, then immediately switched to three, then unlimited classes. DDF is the first ‘workout’ I have ever looked forward to, and because of it, I am in so much better shape than I was last year. - Renee Morales | Member since October 2019
The good news is, by accepting a new challenge you can not only change physically, but reap mental and emotional benefits as well. Dance is more than movement, and progression can best be manifested when we accept our individual starting lines and choose to move forward from there.
Phase II: Focus on Continuous Improvement. There are a number of ways to keep progressing even when you’ve continued to show up, seen improvement in your dancing, and stayed mentally checked in. Check out these two very helpful tips from our dancers.
“Liza, a friend who is a DDF regular gave me a great suggestion: Pause the video during DDF On Demand classes to repeat difficult steps so that you can enjoy the experience when it’s sped up! And use the music as a motivational tool. It’s so fun! When I feel myself slowing down, I try to stop cursing my feet and relax.” - Sarah
“On days that I can, I attend the choreography workshop just to get a head start on the new dance! I’m someone who doesn’t like big breaks that drop my heart rate which naturally happens when I don’t know a dance, it prevents me from going full out. So taking that extra step to learn it in advance makes for a better dance class experience cardio wise, when that breakdown piece comes up!” - Audresha Pemberton | Instructor since 2017
No matter where you are in your dance fitness journey, there’s something here for every skill level. Here is some input from our dancers on how they make classes even more challenging!
Phase III: Switch it Up. Now that you’re mastered the choreography, challenge yourself to do something you haven’t done before. Maybe you’ve always stuck to a grapevine as opposed to taking the three-point turn option. Take that extra step to try something that you haven’t yet done.
“I’ve been teaching with DDF for maybe 2 or 3 years? It’s been so long that I honestly don’t remember. One thing I personally do, even as an instructor, is watch other dancers in the room and try to incorporate the way they move into dances I’ve mastered. For example, Amy Moore’s feet are completely mesmerizing during the chorus on the song Bounce Back. I have no idea how she floats her feet that way but every single time, even when I’m leading the routine, I try it out! Although it messes people up when they try to execute things exactly as I do, I’m still determined to push myself even when I’m ‘teaching’. - Audresha
“My legs and hips will always require extra love and encouragement so I keep an eye out for times when the instructors get low and or work the core. If I’m staying vertical then I’m not as challenged” - Sarah
The key takeaways here are to simply show up, do your best, have fun, don’t take yourself too seriously and to choose one small progression every single week. Every journey looks different as does the rate of progress, but even then, progress is subjective. I, Audresha, base my own progression on how quickly I’m able to adapt to picking up new routines and putting my own spin on them. You, my dancer friend, might base your progression on something that can’t be seen. Either way, we are here to support you and see you succeed. Can’t wait to see you out on the dance floor or from the comfort of your living rooms!
xoxo