“I appreciate dancing in-person in ways that I hadn’t before.”

– Christine Olivas

Bringing the Laughs Online

Aug. 27, 2020

The past few months have left us all in need of a smile, and Philly Dance Fitness member Christine Olivas is on a mission to provide just that! The 38-year-old Bella Vista resident has teamed up with a group of local comics to launch the city’s first all-virtual stand-up comedy school, designed to be “empowering, transparent, fair, useful, affordable and lots of f*&^n fun!”

Read on to learn more about Christine, her latest project and how she keeps up a fitness routine during the pandemic.

Philly Dance Fitness: Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into dancing.

Christine: Originally, I’m from Southern California, but I’ve lived in quite a few places. When I moved to Philly two years ago from Manhattan, I knew right away that I wanted to put down roots. I actually started taking classes at Philly Dance Fitness just a couple of weeks after moving, but I’ve been doing dance fitness probably since my early 20s. Up until a few weeks ago I was a full-time marketing consultant, but I’m about to join a local software and design firm. And then obviously I’ve been hard at work on the comedy stuff, including Off Mic!, the school I just launched!

So you’ve been holding up alright during the pandemic?

I’ve struggled a little bit with some of the virtual replacements, just because I’m really extroverted and I like interacting with people. It took me a few weeks, but I eventually realized that if this is how it’s going to be, I’m going to adapt and use this to my advantage by focusing on a bunch of projects. But I was super excited when the Philly Dance Fitness Midtown studio opened up again, and that’s why I was one of the first people there! There’s just something about the energy of being around other people and hearing the music live versus being in your home that’s really exciting. 

So how did you first get into comedy?

I was a writer before ever doing anything formally with comedy, and I had a lot of short stories published, plus I’d done singing and musical theater. I was just craving something that was a little bit more honest. Part of the problem with fiction is that you’re creating a character and you’re getting into their world, but you’re not necessarily telling your own story. So I was craving an opportunity to be more forthcoming about some of the wild experiences I’ve had in my life, like being homeschooled, being in a cult, and lots of other crazy things! I’d been thinking about trying comedy for a bit, then I decided to pull the trigger early last year and took my first in-person class at a theater here in Philly. Now I do comedy that’s first-person storytelling, which is basically standing up and telling a very short, entertaining story to try and make people laugh.

How did you decide to open a virtual comedy school?

A few weeks ago I just had the idea, and I was afraid that if I waited too long, someone else would take it! I know a lot of really good comedy instructors from taking their classes and performing. It felt like this was the time to bring it online and give people the chance to do it from their homes. Not just because that’s safer, but also because it might open it up to people who wouldn’t have otherwise been able to do it, like moms or people in other parts of the country who don’t have in-person options in their cities. 

Why is making comedy training accessible so meaningful to you, and what does that kind of inclusivity look like in practice?

On one hand, I think of accessibility as not framing comedy as an art that’s only available to certain people. There’s this misconception that you have to be a super funny person or very extroverted to succeed at comedy, and that comedy can’t be taught. I mean, you can’t go into it with no sense of humor, no observations on the world, or no willingness to put in the work — but it’s not something that’s under lock and key either. I really do believe that if you look at the world in a certain way, like paying attention to details, noticing the things that are funny to you, and noticing the things that are interesting or contradictory, and then get some training, you can do it. The second form of accessibility is the cost piece of it, and the third is just including a lot of different perspectives. All of the instructors come from pretty different backgrounds and careers, and by creating a group of folks that have very varied experiences, I think you’re inevitably going to make it feel like a safer space for folks.

If you had to give one piece of advice to an aspiring comedian and another to someone starting a dance fitness journey, what would you tell them?

My advice would actually be pretty similar! I’ve never traditionally been told, “Oh she’s so funny.” That probably wouldn’t even be in the top ten adjectives to describe me, and to be honest, I wouldn’t consider myself a naturally good dancer by any means. But what they have in common is that if you just keep doing them and let yourself go a little bit, you can do it.

Part of what makes dance classes so amazing is that you’re following really fantastic instructors who know how to help the class feel empowered. And then one day you wake up like, “Oh, I actually can do it, I’m not that bad!” Similarly for comedy, I started doing it and all of a sudden my instructor said, “I think at some point you’ll be really, really good at this.”

A lot of it comes down to just giving it a shout, and then surrounding yourself with people who know how to do it in a way that feels open to others. It’s always fun to realize that you’re better at things than you thought!

We can definitely agree with that! And you’ve been to a few in-person classes at the studio recently, right? What was it like to be “back”? 

Pretty amazing! It’s very safe, very spread out and very cool inside. I would encourage people to join me, assuming their health conditions allow them to go back out. I appreciate dancing in-person in ways that I hadn’t before. 

Off Mic classes begin October 1. Find more info on their website, Facebook page or @offmiccomedyschool on Instagram. You can also watch Christine perform at a September 16th Fringe Festival show or read some of her writing at christinesgotstories.com. 

-Interview by Katie Vaughn, edited for brevity and clarity

“There’s motivation all around us if we just look for it.”

– Bridgette Shannon

STAYING ACTIVE WHILE HOME-BOUND

April 10, 2020

Bridgette Shannon is making the most of at-home fitness during this time of social distancing. When she’s not remote-teaching her 4th grade students, Bridgette’s busy building a routine for her “new normal,” which includes walking her dog, taking virtual Philly Dance Fitness classes and blogging about her experiences. Read on to learn how Bridgette is coping with working — and working out — at home.

Philly Dance Fitness: Tell us a little about yourself.

Bridgette: I was the kid who always wanted to be a teacher! I loved to read, play school, all that. I was also in theater and always loved dancing and performing. I once had a director say, “Wow, you’re really good at working with the other performers.” This stuck with me and inspired me to later get into teaching. I also help out with theater productions at Saint Monica’s Catholic School in South Philly, where I teach 4th grade. In addition to those performances, I’ve been co-running a community theater program for the past 4 to 5 years.

Tell us about your fitness journey.

My mindset has shifted from, “I need to lose the weight,” to “I want to get fit.” I have found that the ‘wanting’ has pushed me out of my comfort zone to have fun with getting healthy. I’ve always loved any kind of dance, so of course I enjoy dance fitness classes. I also go on runs a lot and participate in 5ks. I am doing things my way, picking up tools and tips from the fitness community that I now hold very dear. 

Bridgette taking one of our virtual Contemporary classes

What prompted you to start blogging about fitness? 

At first, it was just a way to share my experiences. As I started trying more and more activities, I would find myself connecting with others as a way to stay fit and healthy, while holding each other accountable. It’s also a great way to get my feelings out.

What are you doing to stay fit during this time of isolation?

So far, the easiest part is taking my dog on walks, just to get fresh air. And I’ve been taking at least one PDF class a day, on the livestream or DVR. On gloomy or rainy days, I enjoy doing something lower impact, like Contemporary. I also do 30 minutes of yoga a day. I like getting the combination of high impact and then stretching while calming down.

What do you think about the livestream? 

I love that it feels just like a real class! Instructors are still joking around, it feels like you’re right at home in the studio. Dancing gets all of the stress and worries pushed away. It energizes me, it’s fun, silly, and elevates my mood.

Bridgette taking virtual Dance Party Boot Camp

Any advice for others who may be new to getting into fitness?

Everyone is saying it, but now really is the best time! Fit it into your schedule whenever you want! You can mess up when you’re on your own and nobody is there to see you. Try it out and see what you like. The biggest thing is to get out of your head. If you’re scared, just know that once you start, you’ll just have fun! 

So many people are struggling with social distancing, what’s your secret to staying so active and positive right now? 

I write down everything I want to accomplish the day before. I’ve pretty much been sticking to my normal routine, while incorporating my ”new normal” of virtual school and fitness. It’s important to remember that the world’s still going. Support from family helps — my husband, mom, sister, new baby niece, friends and coworkers, everyone around me. My dad recently passed away – January 1 this year, what a way to start 2020 – but he was and still is a huge motivator for me. And when I’m down, my motivation comes from the feeling I get after working out.

It’s also really important to reach out to people, whether in comment sections on social media or directly to people you know. Tell them how you’re feeling and ask how they’re doing. You’ll find that many others feel the same as you do. Keep connecting with people who share the same interests and maybe you’ll make a new friend. You’re not alone!

-Interview by Delaney Malloy, edited for brevity and clarity

“My recovery process was six months of headaches and anguish about why my brain tumor happened. I used it as an opportunity to rebuild better, stronger and healthier than before.”

– Andrea Corbi Fein

TAKING CONTROL AFTER A BRAIN TUMOR

“I shot up out of bed from a dead sleep, screaming from pain in my head. I spent the rest of the night awake and in a lot of pain. I remember telling my husband, ‘It’s not feeling better, it feels like something is in there.’ Same thing happened the next night. I saw a doctor who misdiagnosed me with Lyme Disease, he gave me Percocet and antibiotics. The next day the pain persisted so he sent me to the ER. They scanned me and saw a lesion. I had surgery that Friday. My recovery process was six months of headaches and anguish about why my brain tumor happened. But I used it as an opportunity to rebuild better, stronger and healthier than before with a new appreciation for life.”

After more than five years of attending Philly Dance Fitness classes, Andrea Corbi Fein has gotten in the habit of heading to a particular “spot” at each studio. But, the 42-year-old video editor admits, she would have never become so consistent about her fitness routine — or her eating habits — if not for the tumor that turned her life upside down in September 2009.

After a weekend of lingering headaches, the pain intensified, sending the then-34-year-old from her family doctor to Jefferson Hospital. There, a neurologist told Andrea that she had meningioma — a benign tumor that had grown on top of a cluster of bleeding veins on her right frontal quadrant.

“I thought, ‘Okay, so how do you take it out? Do you just suck it out with a needle or something?’” recalled Andrea, who lives in the Queen Village neighborhood with her husband, Dan. “I didn’t realize it would be major surgery.”

It happened too fast to freak out in the hospital, Andrea said. But the near-death experience left her feeling out of control. As she recovered from surgery, she vowed to do whatever she could to enjoy life for as long as possible.

“I honestly felt like I had a brand new life,” she said. “I just started to slowly be more conscious and rebuild.”

Rethinking Food

Before the tumor, Andrea admits that she paid little attention to what she was putting in her body.

“I thought I was being healthy enough,” she said. “But it made me feel like what I was doing wasn’t enough to prevent another occurrence.”

Although doctors told her there was no way to know what caused the tumor or whether it would come back, Andrea decided to focus on the things she could control. She began reading up on nutrition, paying special attention to research examining the impact of diet on chronic disease. She started writing down everything she ate “and how I felt in order to better track the relationship between my diet and health.”

After reading studies suggesting that adults could minimize the likelihood of unnecessary growth — including tumors — by cutting out a protein called insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) most commonly found in milk and other dairy products, she decided to give up dairy.

Years later, she stopped eating meat as well, inspired by Dr. Michael Greger’s video presentation on “Uprooting the Leading Causes of Death,” which posited that people on plant-based diets have blood that is better at killing cancer cells than those who don’t.

“I wanted that blood flowing through my body,” she said, “I wanted to have the best nutrition and the best blood for the rest of my life. If you tell me something is healthy, chances are I’m going to want that. Because of what I went through, no matter how something tastes, if I know it’s going to extend my life, then I go for it.”

It’s been an ongoing, deliberate educational process, she said.

“You can’t just google nutrition and say, ‘Oh, I’m going to do this.”

Andrea acknowledged that a plant-based diet won’t work for everyone, but at least for her, it wasn’t at all difficult to find meat and dairy substitutes she liked.

“Sure, cheese is great, but now when I have a burrito, I just add more salsa,” she said. “It’s exciting to explore a whole new food group and get new experiences.”

To that end, Andrea went through a rigorous professional plant-based cooking course last year and hopes to use her certification to continue promoting healthy eating. Earlier this year, she shared some of her newfound skills in a presentation on a healthy batch cooking at the annual “Taste of Philly Dance Fitness” workshops. She’s also built a following on her Plantpalooza Philly Facebook page, where she posts recipes, articles and links to local events.
Embracing Dance

As Andrea gradually switched up her diet, she also began to build a more structured fitness regimen. She’d always loved music and movement. In grade school, she was a dancer and cheerleader and even mixed her own music to use for choreographies. For her 37th birthday, her husband bought her a PDF class card. Within a month of her new routine, she noticed that her skin was glowing, her recovery time after workouts was faster and she had significantly more energy.

“I’ve gone regularly ever since,” Andrea said. Amongst her go-to classes are Dance Party Boot Camp and Zumba, although she stresses how much she loves taking a variety of styles.

“We have a gorgeous collection of instructors who speak to different people in different ways through dance,” she said, but all of them are so dedicated to doing their best. And that, she continued, just pushes her to work harder.

“I’m always trying to match Deb’s intensity. It keeps me going,” Andrea said, laughing. “The Philly Dance Fitness family is so pleasant and uplifting. There’s a strong sense of community and excitement.”

Maintaining a Healthy Balance

A typical day for Andrea starts with a bowl of steel-cut oatmeal and an early morning 5-minute plank.

“It took me a while to work up to it but I just watch nutrition videos or music videos while I’m planking.”

She walks during her lunch breaks and tries to get in at least 10,000 steps each day. A few years ago she also took up running as a way to exercise when she didn’t have time to get to a class or just needed to get outside.

During the work week, she munches on a large, colorful salad at lunch, and snacks on hearty servings of fruits and vegetables.

“I eat a lot,” she said, “but it’s all foods that are good for my body.”

Andrea said she hopes sharing her story will motivate others to make positive changes in their lives.

“All I think about is health,” Andrea said. “Having a life altering experience really opens up your eyes. My health is wealth and I’m so happy with where I am physically and mentally that I want to scream about it to the world.”

When asked what advice she’d give to those seeking healthier lifestyles, she said: “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable because the only way you’re going to get stronger is if you challenge yourself. If you’re in that uncomfortable zone, you’re going to get stronger.”

-Interview by Alexandra Sanyal, edited for brevity and clarity

“Staying active and learning new physical skills just makes me feel happy and centered.”

– Juliana Roth

SPEAKING OUT AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Juliana Roth is taking a stand against sexual violence this spring using the sharpest weapon she has: her words. The 26-year-old writing teacher is working on a film that explores the challenges of reporting sexual abuse on college campuses. When she’s not writing, Juliana loves to use dance as a creative outlet and to connect with the community at Philly Dance Fitness.

Read on to learn how Juliana hopes to use her movie to encourage more victims to speak out both locally and beyond.

Philly Dance Fitness: Tell us a little about yourself.

Juliana Roth: I live in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood with my dog, who I recently adopted — which has been quite the adventure! In addition to piecing together freelance work, I teach undergraduates as part of a teaching assistantship that funded my Creative Writing MFA degree at Rutgers University in 2018. At first, I was really intimidated by the idea of teaching but grew to love it. I’ve been lucky to work with some really talented and passionate young writers. I’ve always been interested in writing in more than one genre and being able to work with students who are curious about what that means is so fun.

Tell us about your film project, “What We Know.”

The story follows a freshman in college named Abbey. We go with her through the experience of filing a complaint with her university against another student after he sexually assaults her and she is deterred from filing with the city police. The story is fictionalized, but written after years of research and interviews with survivors, trauma therapists, social workers, police officers, administrators and lawyers.

What inspired you to create this movie?

The history of violence against women and discrimination in the university system paired with my love for the power of storytelling to help us find our way out of pain and to take ownership of our own narratives. Plus my own experiences of trauma and those in the communities around me. Complaints are often mishandled by universities and the process can end up being traumatizing for the few survivors who come forward.

I don’t have the solution, but I believe in community driven answers and that we need to hold institutions accountable to Title IX, the civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex and mandates access to a safe and equal educational space. My hope is to bring the finished film to college campuses where we can put together local panels to generate conversation around campus culture and beliefs about sexual violence.

Who else is working with you on this project?

1. Prasad, a Michigan-based director, writer and professor who I met at the University of Michigan, is mentoring us through the filmmaking process. Azure Rouet McBride, who has studied under Jonathan Demme and Spike Lee, and worked alongside Prince as a videographer, is our director of photography. And Carly Van Liere will be our lead. She’s acted professionally in the Bay Area and metro Detroit. She sees her performance as an opportunity for the viewer to empathize with those who’ve been through traumatic experiences.

What films do you recommend that everyone watch, and why?

“The Accused” starring Jodie Foster was one of the first films to depict a complex story of sexual assault. I love Jonathan Demme, Spike Lee and Nancy Savoca’s work as they still maintain a strong social consciousness in their films while also telling beautiful stories with compelling characters. They inspire me to try to do the same.

My favorite screenwriters are Diablo Cody and Charlie Kaufman. I’m actually interested in telling comedic stories along with anthology television series (“Big Little Lies” in particular) and love shows written by Tina Fey. If I had my pick, my dream writer’s room would’ve been for “The Office.”

Shifting gears, how did you come across Philly Dance Fitness?

When I first moved to Philadelphia almost three years ago for graduate school, I wanted to find a space I could go that was separate from my academic and work life. I was lucky to learn I was only a few blocks away from one of the studios. Some weeks, attending a class was a true savior. What I love about Philly Dance Fitness is that I am able to visit any of the studios across the city and take classes from hip hop to belly dance, and it’s a real joy. No day in a class feels the same. The anticipation of the songs that are picked and the energy in the room is what I look forward to the most.

How has fitness and dance impacted your life?

As a writer, it can be easy to spend a lot of time alone or in your head — not that these aren’t places I enjoy to be! But when dancing with a group of students, I feel myself both challenged and more in tune with my body in ways I can carry with me all week, and sometimes into a project I’m working on. Mostly, staying active and learning new physical skills just makes me feel happy and centered.

Learn more about Juliana’s film here. If you’d like to support the production, you can donate through this indie film crowdfunding platform.

-Interview by Lily Barnaby, edited for brevity and clarity

“It’s amazing how much of a workout you can get in without realizing it!”

– Kirwei Lo

SHARING THE DANCE DAY LOVE

As a dedicated member of Philly Dance Fitness for over five years, Kirwei Lo has tried everything from tap to Cardio Pop. This year, the 38-year-old marketing consultant is giving back to the community by serving as the volunteer chairwoman for Philadelphia Dance Day, a nonprofit citywide festival coming up on the last Saturday of July. Read on to learn more about Kirwei and what Dance Day means to her. 

Philly Dance Fitness: What is your background with dance?

Kirwei: I grew up taking classes as a kid in Salisbury, Maryland, from when I was 8 or 9 years old. I started with traditional ballet, jazz and tap, and loved it! I continued through high school, and in college I started to explore new kinds of dance through the Asian American Association. I got to learn traditional Chinese and Taiwanese dances that I hadn’t experienced growing up, as well as choreograph and perform. As an adult I tried to continue taking dance classes in the cities that I’ve lived in. Philly Dance Fitness was a brilliant discovery for me.

How did you end up coming to Philly Dance Fitness?

I don’t remember the first class I took, probably Zumba or ballet. I’ve been a member for over five years now, and it’s been nice to see the program grow, especially in its variety of classes. I love everything from the more classical technique, like ballet, to the high intensity classes, like Dance Party Boot Camp — it’s amazing how much of a workout you can get in without realizing it! And I love everything in between. That’s why I like the “Taste of Philly Dance Fitness” event at the beginning of the year. It’s like my dream day, taking all sorts of dance classes.

Philadelphia Dance Day similarly includes a huge variety of workshops. Is that what made you want to get involved?

In part. I loved that it was a great opportunity to try a bunch of different workshops at different studios all for free, since I appreciate being able to try new things. I also like celebrating the amazing dance community here in Philadelphia. Three or four years ago, I got the opportunity to perform at Dance Day with my ballet class. It had been years since I’d performed, so it was a really great experience to show off what we had been working so hard on. To me, Dance Day has always been an important cause. As fun as it is, it’s also a great way for people who may not have the ability to indulge in dance classes to be able to try things for free. I think it has a nice meaning because it encourages people to see dance as both an art form and a fun fitness activity.

Tell us more about the new Dance Day advisory board and your role as the chairwoman. 

It’s a new role that’s been introduced this year to try and expand Dance Day and bring in more people. It’s about coming up with new ideas and new ways to get the community involved. I’ve helped recruit the other board members and we discuss the overall vision, as well as some of the more day-to-day things like working with sponsors. We’re working to help shape and guide what Philadelphia Dance Day should be and make it something that is sustainable for many years to come.

What’s different about Philadelphia Dance Day this year?

Kirwei, third from left, with fellow PDF Pointe students

We’ve decided to centralize our locations to help grow the community feel. We’re having a full day at the Ethical Society along with just two satellite campuses at Major Moment and Headlong Studios. In past years we’ve had workshops at up to a dozen studios around the city. We’re hoping that these three central locations will give people more opportunities to get to know each other. We’re also having more performances. The evening showcase, which started out as a couple of informal demos from volunteer instructors at the first Dance Day eight years ago, is now a full blown show. We had so much interest from performers and student groups that we also added “pop-up performances” at lunchtime.

What do you do when you’re not dancing?

I like to travel. In the past two years, I’ve been to San Antonio, Jamaica and Australia. There’s also a great food scene right here in Philly, so I like to try new restaurants in my Art Museum neighborhood and elsewhere in Center City, especially with my brunch group. I met some of the friends in that group through Philly Dance Fitness. It’s a great excuse to go to brunch every month and get people together.

Philadelphia Dance Day is coming up on July 29 and everyone’s invited! After dancing all day long, you can see Kirwei and several other PDF students perform at the evening showcase. Also check out these two FREE preview events before the big day.

-Interview by Emily Murphy, edited for brevity and clarity

“It’s a really tricky cancer to treat.”

– Niki Shaffer, explaining why she joined up with friend and fellow PDF Member Amanda Congar to fundraise for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

CAMPAIGNING FOR CANCER RESEARCH

Longtime friends and Philly Dance Fitness members Niki Shaffer and Amanda Congar have joined forces to raise money for blood cancer research through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Man/Woman of the Year” campaign. In support of their efforts, we’re holding a fundraising social at our studios this Wednesday, May 11. Read on for details about how they got involved this project and the role PDF plays in their lives.

If you come to Philly Dance Fitness regularly, you’d probably recognize Niki and Amanda. The two have been members since 2013 after taking a chance on a Zumba class.

Although dancing together has certainly played an integral role in strengthening their bond, they’ve been friends since meeting freshman year at Drexel University. Amanda now works as the director of catering for the Philadelphia Loews Hotel. After working closely with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) on hosting several of their fundraising galas at Loews, she was asked to submit a nomination for the Man & Woman of the Year campaign. The campaign activates 18 professionals in the Philadelphia area in a friendly competition to raise funds for blood cancer research.

Amanda immediately thought of Niki, who works as a local sales manager for an international billboard company. One of Niki’s co-workers and close friends, Rodney Byrd, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2013.

After about six months of treatment, Rodney was almost cancer free, but suddenly had an extreme reaction to one of the drugs he was taking and fell into a coma. He remained unresponsive in the hospital for nearly three months. Niki sometimes spent the evenings with Rodney’s daughter, Kandra, now 5, so that his wife could be at his side in the hospital.

“It was horrifying,” Niki recalls. “He was like a total vegetable.”

The odds of a patient in Rodney’s condition surviving that situation were slim, Niki says, but somehow his body was able to flush out the cancer. Today, she says, he’s almost completely back to himself, though he’s still working with physical therapists to regain his strength.

Watching her friend undergo such trauma moved Niki, and inspired her to become a spokesperson for the cause.

“It’s a really tricky cancer to treat,” she says, underscoring why she believes it’s so important to continue raising funds for research and support. Interestingly, she says, some of the drugs that have been developed to treat blood cancer have turned out to be effective for other types of cancer.

Once nominated for the campaign, Niki formed a team that includes Amanda and nine others, and set a goal of raising $50,000 over the course of 10 weeks. They knew the task would be challenging, but they decided to get creative and approached Philly Dance Fitness for support.

In their three years of membership, Niki and Amanda — who are often seen at class together — have tried most everything, from hip hop to African Dance Revolution. Their current favorites are Cardio Pop and POUND Fitness.

Aside from the variety of classes, “it’s just an incredibly comfortable environment to work out in,” Niki says. “The instructors are amazing and there’s absolutely no judgment.”

When the duo reached out, we were inspired not only by the strength of their friendship and dedication to bettering their own lives through exercise, but also by their desire to give back to this remarkable cause.

As a result, we worked together to come up with a special fundraising event at our studios on Wednesday, May 11th. For every person who attends a regularly scheduled class, Philly Dance Fitness will donate $1 to Niki and Amanda’s campaign. Following class, we’ll also hold a social at our Midtown studio with beer, wine, snacks and great dance music. Donations will be accepted at both our Midtown and Rittenhouse studios throughout the night, and all of the funds raised will go directly to support blood cancer research and services for affected families. Find all the details here or on our Facebook page.

In addition to this fundraiser, there will also be a silent auction and gala to conclude the campaign at the Loews Hotel on June 10th. Learn more about the campaign here or by snagging Niki or Amanda one evening at class!

-Interview by Anna Jose, edited for brevity and clarity

“About a week after the shooting I went home and experienced some of the devastation firsthand. I saw it. I felt it. I visited the school, and I can’t even explain how awful it was.”

– Rebecca Salus

FIGHTING GUN VIOLENCE THROUGH FITNESS

Rebecca Salus, a 40-year-old social worker who moved here from Florida last year, was just settling in to life as a Philadelphian when news broke of a devastating shooting at her alma mater, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Moved to act in the wake of the tragedy, she joined local campaigns against gun violence, speaking out at a local march and contacting us to spearhead a fitness-based fundraiser. Thanks to her initiative, a portion of each ticket sale at our upcoming POUND Glow Party will be donated to Everytown for Gun Safety. Read on to learn more about the event, what it means to Rebecca and how you can help. 

Philly Dance Fitness: Where were you when you found out about the shooting? 

Rebecca Salus: I was preparing to head home from work and get ready for a Valentine’s Day date with my boyfriend. The organization I work for is based in Florida, so I first got an email from a co-worker that went out to the entire agency about an active shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. I then started receiving text after text from family and friends who still live in South Florida, including my sister, who was receiving texts from my 12-year old nephew on lock-down at his middle school a mile down the road from MSD. He had to hide under a desk for hours until the shooter was apprehended.

How did you feel when you realized the severity of the situation?

My initial reaction was complete and total shock and denial. I kept thinking, of all the schools in America, this can’t possibly be happening at mine. Every time I saw or heard “Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School” or “Parkland, Florida” on the news, it felt like I was being punched in the stomach. Parkland had just been voted the safest city in America, and growing up there, I was never exposed to any kind of gun violence. I spent that night glued to the news. When I found out that there were 17 victims, I felt a sense of devastation that I’ve never felt before. I didn’t sleep that night or for weeks after that.

Rebecca addressing a crowd at March for Our Lives as a member of the Mobilizing MSD Alumni Group

How have you stayed involved?

About a week after the shooting I went home and experienced some of the devastation firsthand. I saw it. I felt it. I visited the school, and I can’t even explain how awful it was. While I was there, I was able to do a lot of hands-on things to support the students and the community. When I returned to Philly, I started feeling helpless. I was concerned that I wasn’t going to be able to do anything to help.

Then, initiatives began popping up all over the country led by alumni of the high school. A national alumni group called Mobilizing MSD Alumni formed — amazingly — about two hours after the shooting happened. The group is composed of over 11,000 alumni all over the world. As soon as I learned of the 30-plus MSD alumni living in Philly, I offered to serve as a co-leader of the Philly region group.  We have been working on raising funds and awareness locally to support the Parkland students and the global fight against gun violence.

I was so worried that my high school would forever carry this legacy of violence, but when I saw the reaction of the students and alumni, I knew that the legacy of the school would be the “Never Again” movement that followed.

How does gun violence affect you personally? 

A tragedy like this is unfathomable until it hits close to home. Parkland, Florida is an incredibly safe community. Nobody would have expected a shooting to happen there — until it did, and now the MSD community will never be the same. I never felt so strongly about taking action as I have since February 14.  Thinking about my high school being so violently attacked motivated me to stand up against gun violence and make sure that voices are being heard on this issue. Imagining the scene that day, the classrooms I once sat in, the halls I once walked down, being brutally attacked, traumatized me intensely.

When I think about my nephew hiding under a desk, knowing at 12 years old that a “code red” meant an active shooter was in the area, it makes me so enraged. The fact that his generation has come to know this as part of their educational experience is unacceptable. It has to stop. No community is immune from gun violence and change has to happen on a national level for our children to feel safe.

Rebecca at March for Our Lives in Philadelphia

What prompted you to contact Philly Dance Fitness about your advocacy efforts?

Philly Dance Fitness was one of my first connections after moving here a year ago, so it felt natural to reach out and say, “I have to do something, can you please help me?” Deb, the owner, and I talked about a few different things and she said she thought having it align with an existing event would be the best way to reach people. It’s not supposed to be too much pressure or make people feel like they have to make a big donation. Just by attending the event, people are supporting the cause!

What first brought you to Philly Dance Fitness?

When I moved here in April 2017, I didn’t know anybody, literally not one person. There are only three other co-workers in my office where I serve as the program director for JAFCO, a small nonprofit that provides child welfare services for at-risk families and families raising children with special needs. I had mentioned that I was really into dance and had taken Zumba in Florida. One of my coworkers recommended that I look into Philly Dance Fitness. I went to a couple of classes and I was hooked! It was probably the first way that I started meeting people because I was going to the same classes regularly.

I also started taking classes that I knew would make me eligible to perform in Philadelphia Dance Day last July. That helped with feeling connected. Meeting people through rehearsal, getting to know the instructors — especially in those first couples of months, it gave me a reason to leave my apartment. It was social; it was also keeping me fit and helping me tap into the passion I’ve had for dance my whole life. It was really meaningful and definitely one of the reasons that I wanted to join with PDF on this event.

Do you think people without direct connections to recent school shootings will still be interested in supporting events like this? 

Communities everywhere felt the impact of what happened in Parkland. A month after the shooting, over 800 marches were held all over the world. As soon as I made it known that I was an MSD alum, the community stepped up and offered their assistance. I had a team of friends marching beside me on March 24 in Philly amidst a 10,000-person crowd filled with students, parents, grandparents and advocates from all walks of life.

Whether they have been personally impacted or not, people everywhere are saying “enough is enough.” Imagining it happening in your own school or town is enough to make most people feel the impact. This is a universal issue because it can happen anywhere and every community has to stand up and take action in order for change to happen. We cannot let this fade from the headlines just because it didn’t happen in our own backyards.  It is every community’s responsibility to speak up and say NEVER AGAIN!

* * *

A portion of each ticket sale to our April 28 POUND workshop, held on April 28 at 6 p.m. at our Midtown studio, will go to Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit organization that advocates for gun control and against gun violence. After the workout, Rebecca will give some brief information about the work Everytown does, her connection to the cause, and conduct a raffle with prizes, of which 100% of the proceeds will go to charity. Learn more about the event and RSVP here.

— Interview by Alexandra Sanyal, edited for brevity and clarity

“If there’s ever a week I don’t make it out to a single dance class, I feel tired and down.”

– Danielle Gray

DANCE DAY VOLUNTEER EXTRAORDINAIRE

Danielle Gray, has been a loyal Philly Dance Fitness member for half a decade! You might recognize her from class, since she pretty much takes them all, but you might not have known she’s also the creative mind behind our programs for Philadelphia Dance Day! Read on to learn more about Danielle, Dance Day and what has kept her coming back to PDF all these years.

PDF: What is your background with dance?

DG: I grew up in Arizona and took classes when I was little, and then I picked it up again in high school. When I moved to Philly in 2007, I was looking to meet people and be more active in general, so I started Zumba. I actually took classes with Maya (PDF Zumba & FierceFUNk instructor) at a different studio, and she told me about Philadelphia Dance Day. It was the first year of the event, and when I went I completely fell in love with Philly Dance Fitness!

Danielle Gray performing a Cardio Belly Dance routine at Philadelphia Dance Day.

Can you tell us more about Philadelphia Dance Day for students who may not have heard of it?

Sure! It’s part of National Dance Day, which was created by the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance.” It takes place on the last Saturday in July every year. The concept is that there are different dance programs going on in different cities all over the country, and in Philadelphia PDF organizes the whole event! There are free workshops at different studios all around the city, and in the evening everyone gets together for a giant dance party! It’s always a great event and a wonderful way to meet people. You can check out the website for more info. (Note from PDF: We’ll be posting the full 2016 workshop schedule shortly!)

What has kept you coming back to PDF classes all these years?

When I first started five years ago there weren’t nearly as many class options as there are now, so I was mostly taking Zumba and ballet. But as more classes were added I started trying them and on a really crazy week (I don’t do this too much anymore), I would take two classes per night. I’d take ballet, jazz, Zumba, Frisky Fridays, Power Stretch & Sculpt, and more. One of the things I love so much about PDF is that there’s so much variety and you can get such an amazing range of classes with your membership.

If there’s ever a week I don’t make it out to a single dance class, I feel tired and down. When I get back to class, see all my friends and get some exercise, it makes me feel better in every way. Philly Dance Fitness is one of my absolute favorite things about living in Philadelphia.

Which class do you find the most challenging?

I think the most mentally challenging classes are jazz and ballet, because you have to focus on retaining choreography. But I find the most physically challenging to be Dance Party Boot Camp and Power Stretch & Sculpt – both of which I adore because they totally kick my butt!

What changes in your body have you seen since you started PDF?

Philly Dance Fitness member Danielle Gray

I’m in way better shape than I used to be — my cardiovascular endurance has gotten a lot better, and I’m much stronger. My size hasn’t changed too drastically but my energy levels certainly have. I actually went to a wedding last summer where I danced for six hours straight. Everyone was asking me how I wasn’t tired at all, and I just said, “Oh, I do this every July at Philadelphia Dance Day!”

What do you do when you’re not dancing?

I like to read, hang out with my husband, go for hikes, and I love going out to brunch! I’m also the director of marketing and development for the Schuylkill River Development Corporation, managing the Schuylkill Banks.

Any fitness goals for the rest of 2016?

I don’t know if I’m going to get there by the end of 2016, but I want to be able to do a full pull-up. I’ve been going to a lot more Dance Party Boot Camp classes where we do a lot of push-ups. I distinctly remember getting a B in P.E. because I couldn’t do enough push-ups, so I want to prove it to myself that I’m strong enough now to do a pull-up!

-Interview by Lani Assaf, edited for brevity and clarity

“In 2009 I was diagnosed with MS, and in 2010, I was rendered completely paralyzed on my left side. Going back to dancing was so scary, because I didn’t know how my body would react.”

– Danielle Harrsch

DANCING DESPITE MS

It’s easy to take our ability to move our bodies for granted. Our next “Student in the Spotlight,” Danielle Harrsch, hasn’t always been able to walk much less dance. Danielle has multiple sclerosis, an often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information between the brain and body. In 2010, she was laying in a hospital bed, not even able to flex her foot. But these days, she’s dancing en pointe in Philly Dance Fitness classes every week. We caught up with Danielle to learn more about her inspiring journey back to dance.

PDF: Let’s start with a little more about you. Where are you from and what do you like to do? 

I grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia, where I spent my whole childhood dancing. I went to The Rock School of Dance Education in Philadelphia before going on to Pointe Park University with a scholarship for ballet. When I’m not dancing, I love going to see shows in the theater and going to the art museum. I also work in marketing.

It sounds like dance has always been a major part of your life. How does having MS impact that? 

Well, I danced for 17 years, but in 2009 I was diagnosed with MS, and in 2010, I was rendered completely paralyzed on my left side. I couldn’t walk and had to use a cane. That’s why for me, going back to dancing was so scary, because I didn’t know how my body would react. Sometimes in the middle of an exercise my muscles do get spastic. But I decided to pick it up again because I felt like I needed dance; it was in my blood.

What drew you to Philly Dance Fitness?

I started attending classes in July 2015. I was inspired by a friend, who was a childhood dancer as well, when she posted a Facebook video of going back to dance class. I was very apprehensive at first because of my multiple sclerosis, but I went to my first adult Beginner Ballet class and absolutely loved how welcoming everyone was. It felt like a big family and I really appreciated how the class didn’t feel like a competition. What keeps me coming back is my love of dance, but also the community at Philly Dance Fitness.

Has dancing helped with your MS?

Prior to beginning classes, I had dealt with fatigue on a daily basis – and really I still do. But in October, I went to Paris and my fiancé and I walked up all the steps of the Eiffel Tower, it’s 800 steps! I was OK, not totally drained and exhausted like I thought I would have been. Without dance, I don’t think I would have been able to do that. PDF classes have been so helpful with my balance, stamina and strength. It gives me hope for the future because MS is such an unpredictable disease. I could be unable to walk tomorrow. But the classes have given me a sense of having my body and my life back.

What is your favorite class?

The ballet classes are my focus, although I have also taken jazz and contemporary. I actually brought one of my friends to take a ballet class for the first time in her life ever and the next week she came back for a second class! I recommend ballet because it’s a great way to get active and be artistic at the same time.

Which class do you find the most challenging?

I take all the different ballet classes four times a week. Advanced Beginner Ballet on Mondays is the most challenging because the steps are more complicated and involved. I also find the more basic class, Beginner Ballet I, challenging because the steps are slower. When you have simpler steps, you can actually focus on individual body parts and technique.

Do you have any new fitness or dance goals that you’ve been working on so far in 2016?

Yes – I want to get my extensions higher, I have been working on my pirouettes, and I want to improve my overall stamina. I also dream of being able to perform the Princess Aurora Pas de Seul variation from Act I in Sleeping Beauty en pointe again.

You mentioned that you’re engaged, does your fiancé dance, too?

I went to the Valentine’s Day weekend “Ballroom Romance” workshops with him because we had been planning to do a Viennese Waltz for the first dance at our wedding. The workshops were super fun and Kira was a fantastic teacher. After the tango workshop, my fiancé actually suggested to me that we do a tango dance at the wedding as well!

Philly Dance Fitness student Danielle Harrsch poses with a Degas sculpture.

For more information about MS, visit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, which also hosts annual fundraising walks around the country to support research and awareness campaigns. One of the largest local events takes place each spring at The Philadelphia Art Museum. This year’s walk will be held early in the morning on Saturday, April 30, (Danielle is participating and invites your support!) A related Zumbathon fundraiser takes place the following day. 

We’ll continue to highlight more students in the coming months, so if you’d like to nominate someone — or even yourself! — send a note to gabby@phillydancefitness.com.

-Interview by Lani Assaf, edited for brevity and clarity

“Never has anything been more indicative of the problem of the patriarchy than the negative connotation around the word feminism. I try to do a #feministpostoftheday on Facebook to show people I’m proud to be a feminist.”

– Joan Heider

FIGHTING FOR FEMINISM

Joan Heider is a feminist and proud of it! When she isn’t at a Philly Dance Fitness class or managing public relations for a local law firm, Joan is doing what she can to speak out about the importance of the feminist movement. From representing the USA Women’s Hockey Team to attending a Supreme Court hearing on abortion, Joan has made it her business to fight for women’s voices to be heard. Read on to learn more about Joan and her mission to take the stigma out of being a feminist.

Philly Dance Fitness: What got you into dance?

Joan Heider: I started taking dance and gymnastics classes when I was in preschool. I really didn’t want to go, but my mom was like, “You have to try it, just try one class!” I loved it, obviously. I stuck with it growing up and took all kinds of classes — ballet, tap, jazz — in conjunction with musical theater.  I’m a terrible actor so there was no hope of actually making anything of it, but it was always a place where I felt comfortable and like I fit in.

Why did you become a member of Philly Dance Fitness?
After I graduated from Penn, I was trying to find a young professional identity. When you’re in school, you don’t really have a lot of free time. When you graduate and get a job, you work from 9-5 and then you’re like, “Now what do I do?” So I turned back to dance. I had walked by the South Street studio and saw the classes in there. One Sunday morning I went to Dance Party Boot Camp. I looked at Sherrilyn, who was subbing that week, and I was like, “I would like to look like her.” So I took that class and bought a 10 Class Card. I was going through them really quickly because every class I tried, I loved. I was like, “I’m just going to get a Membership!”

The instructors are excellent, and the classes are well-paced, fun, a great workout and a great way to relieve stress. The best part that I have found about Philly Dance Fitness is the lovely community of strong, thoughtful, powerful, empowered women. It’s a woman-run company — Deb does such a fantastic job. I also love my instructors, and I’ve become friends with them. I’m so grateful to have found this community, really.

What are your favorite classes?
Timaree’s Dance Party Boot Camp and Cardio Pop, Brooke’s House Party Fitness, Lehla’s Zumba class, Maureen’s POUND class…I also love Emily’s Stretch & Sculpt, she’s great. I never anticipated loving it, but I go and I feel stretched and sculpted and relaxed and centered all at once. I’ve found that I want to go to class every day, not because I want to work out every day, but because I’m like, “I don’t want to miss this class.” This past week I went to six classes, six out of seven days because I was like, “I gotta see Emily, I gotta see Timaree, I gotta see everyone.”  

Tell us about your job.
I do PR for a big law firm. We have 650 lawyers in 15 offices. I’m the Media Relations Manager so I handle all of the press. What people think I do when I say I do PR for a law firm is that I “hide a bunch of terrible stuff,” but it’s not that at all. It’s positioning lawyers as thought leaders in their area of the law.

This firm has a really active pro-bono practice, and I’m very fortunate to be included in some of the awesome work that we do. We represented the US Women’s Hockey Team in their fight for equitable pay. USA Hockey was putting disproportionate amounts of funding and resources into the men’s and boys’ programs. In spring 2017, the women had their world championship and decided to boycott it until USA Hockey would negotiate with them for equitable pay and better programs for women and girls. I ended up managing the firm’s PR and also worked directly with the players to manage their own PR campaign. They were eight-time world champions and they were definitely poised to win the gold at the winter Olympics, and they weren’t getting proper support. It was really exciting to be a part of this case.

How did you get into activism?
I’m generally interested in the intersectional feminist cause that promotes women’s rights, as well as reproductive and abortion rights. I spent the last year and a half being a part of The Young Advocates for Planned Parenthood. I helped plan their fundraisers and make the conversation about women’s rights, feminism and abortion rights. I really believe that it’s a grassroots thing. The more I talk about it, the more other people talk about it, the more people feel comfortable talking about it, the more we reduce stigma. The idea of women asking for what they deserve — it’s a very uncomfortable situation. They don’t feel comfortable asking for fair pay, they don’t feel comfortable saying no in romantic and sexual situations. I’m not an expert on this stuff by any means, but I try to do a #feministpostoftheday on Facebook and show people I’m proud to be a feminist. Never has anything been more indicative of the problem of the patriarchy than the negative connotation around the word feminism. Anything that’s pro-women people are like, “Ew, that’s ugly and gross and ridiculous.” So I try to be like, “Look, I’m not ugly or gross or ridiculous, and I think this stuff is important.”

What is one of the most memorable activism experiences you’ve had?
A couple of years ago, I was reading a Washington Post article about a woman who said, “I’m pro-choice, I’ve always been pro-choice, but I’m quietly pro-choice and the people who are anti-choice are not quiet about it. They are out there fighting every day to take away a woman’s right to abortion.” She said we all need to be louder about it, and I read that article and I was like, “Oh, yes.” After that, I went to D.C. to hear an oral argument at a Supreme Court case addressing “Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers” laws, which stated that abortion clinics had to meet certain medical requirements — which were completely unnecessary and unattainable — and if the clinics couldn’t meet these requirements they would be shut down.

Joan making her opinions clear during a march in Washington, D.C.

The laws got challenged in the courts and they worked their way up to the Supreme Court. I wanted to be a part of the protest and make sure I was being vocal. I’m not going to be quiet about it, and none of us should be quiet about it, because safe and legal access to abortion is so essential to any woman’s right to determine the course of her own life.

There’s such power in writing and words and language, and that’s why I write about these things on social media. It’s interesting that I meet or see people I haven’t seen in years and they’ll say to me, “I love your feminist post of the day,” but they don’t comment or “like” them online. They don’t interact with them because they’re so taboo — even to “like” someone else’s status on Facebook about abortion or rape culture or general women’s issues. Until recently it has not been a popular cause. Thankfully, it is now. I’m thrilled about it and it’s nice to see people come out of the closet and support it.

What relationships, if any, do you find between activism and dance?
The people I’ve met through dance are so supportive and are on the same page. It’s a group of really enlightened and thoughtful women who agree that it’s essential to give voices to people who are otherwise not given a voice — making sure they are included in the conversation and making sure the conversation is being had. Timaree, for example, is a sex-positive activist and a big old feminist activist, and she has MC’d Planned Parenthood events for me. There’s strength in numbers and I’m finding that the women I’ve become friends with through dance are such a solid base for promoting these causes. They help me understand them and they teach me.

— Interview by Alexandra Sanyal, edited for brevity and clarity