ORLANDO, Fla. – "There are no mistakes, only solos."
Those are words of encouragement at a unique Orlando fitness studio that pushes its members to dance hard and to dance like no one is watching.
"At the end of the day, it's not about dancing perfectly or being a professional dancer. It's about getting your sweat on and expressing yourself," says Elisa DeFoe, owner of Dance Trance Orlando.
The studio opened its doors in 2010 to fill a need. Women love to dance, but many hate the actual act of working out. Dance Trance allows dedicated members to burn hundreds of calories per class in a clublike atmosphere, with a focus on fun instead of fitness. The incredibly beneficial workout is a side effect; the unique experience is the main event.
In the past five years, with very little marketing beyond word of mouth, the studio has built a following of about 120 women who dance anywhere from three to seven days a week.
Most women start in Beginners or Break Down, classes intended to teach choreography that tends to be a little more "tricked up" than mainstream dance fitness brands. Once they feel comfortable and have learned the latest routines, members jump into regular Dance Trance classes.
"In those classes, we don't wear a mic or talk over the music or teach the routines step by step," says Renee Korte, who has been DTO's lead instructor for five years. "Those are the classes our girls really love being part of because it's all about an experience. And that experience means you get to dance your heart out."
"I expected to open a dance studio, I didn't realize all my best friends would walk in the door," DeFoe says, adding that she loves that Dance Trance Orlando has become a tight-knit group of welcoming women who support each other, laughing, crying and socializing while doing what they love -- dancing and sweating together.
Advocates of dance fitness say dancing can lead to a boost in memory, improved flexibility, reduced stress, cardio strength, weight loss and increased energy, just to name a few. If you're looking for a way to break out of your fitness routine or start one, Dance Trance Orlando might be for you.
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Video Links: Dance Trance I | Part II | Part III