Music-based holistic activities have been a mainstay in the fitness offerings of gyms for decades.
Aerobic gymnastics, in particular, originated in a surprisingly medical and academic context. It was Dr. Kenneth Cooper, a military doctor, who first coined the term 'aerobics' in the 1960s. He developed an exercise programme aimed at preventing coronary artery disease. Cooper's idea became popular very quickly, spreading to gyms and creating a global phenomenon. The success of aerobics was such that it prompted the videotape industry to produce and distribute numerous workout programmes, diversifying into variations such as dance aerobics, sports aerobics, step aerobics and water aerobics. Celebrities such as actress Jane Fonda embraced this form of exercise, promoting it not only as a physical training method but as a lifestyle, turning it into a cultural phenomenon of the 1980s.
Arianna Comandini, from Forlì, has been involved in holistic metabolic fitness on a musical basis for over thirty years, and considering the importance, in gyms and elsewhere, of this type of offer, we thought it interesting to ask Arianna a few questions about her experience with New Dance Studio.
Q: Arianna, the New Dance Studio is a place renowned for combining dance, gymnastics and fitness. What prompted you to establish this academy in 2012?
My passion for dance and fitness was the main driver. I wanted to create an environment where the energy of movement and music come together to improve the physical and mental well-being of our students. New Dance Studio was created to offer a holistic approach, customising classes according to the needs of each individual, regardless of age, with group classes as well as individual and customised mini classes by appointment.
Q: Tell us about your working method. What does a holistic approach mean?
The classes we organise combine exercise and music in ways that not only improve physical health through intense activity, but also offer mental health benefits through fun and socialisation. It is the ability to blend fitness and entertainment that is one of the main reasons for the success of this type of training, which is now independent of fashions and seasons.
Another fundamental aspect concerns the richness and differentiation of the courses, so as to offer different experiences and content to meet the expectations and interests of users. In fact, we offer courses with high muscular intensity and aerobic endurance, courses characterised by greater technical involvement, so-called 'choreographed' courses, where exercises, with and without equipment, are combined with dance movements, and finally courses characterised by techniques such as Myofascial Stretching and Postural Pilates, Mobility, and Holistic Workout, to strengthen the link between body and mind.
Finally, but as you have realised perhaps the most important aspect, the work team. I am Arianna Comandini and I have many years of experience in the field of musical fitness and technical Holistic Workout, Pilates, as well as president and artistic director of the New Dance Studio. I have been working with expert collaborators for years, such as Andrea Guerra in the field of toning and functional fitness, my daughter Matilde Toresi, a graduate in Motor Sciences, dancer and teacher of choreography from modern to show dance and other styles such as hip hop and musical fitness, also with the collaboration of Ylenia Rizzato, certified for fitness activities for children.
Another important member of the New Dance Studio and Holistic Workout and Pilates technician Daniela Boschi has been with us since 2012, and for Country Fitness and Choreographic Step Monica Vallicelli. Course differentiation, the ability to blend physical activity with fun and socialisation, can only be achieved through a synergetic and highly specialised team. The team, animated by a shared passion for physical well-being, must create a unique training environment in which exercise is perfectly intertwined with fun. The key to success, I believe, lies in the ability to share the same basic ideas and enthusiastic spirit, together with the necessary technical knowledge.
Q: The holistic approach seems to be a recurring theme in your studio. Can you explain more about how you integrate this into New Dance Studio's programming?
Absolutely, the holistic approach for us means not only working on the body, but also on the mind and spirit. Through rhythm and movement, we try to create an experience that relieves stress and promotes mental health. The energy that is generated in the classroom is contagious and creates a community where everyone supports each other in a completely familiar environment.
Q: What are the most popular activities at New Dance Studio?
In addition to classics such as Movida Fitness and Choreographic Step, Country Fitness, Movida & Choreography and Hip Hop under 15 are very popular. We use popular music as a vehicle to create fun choreographies even to current catchphrases, which improve cardiovascular and metabolic capacity. It's a way of seeing exercise not as a chore, but as a pleasure, almost a game and fun.
Q: Finally, what are your future plans for the New Dance Studio?
We are always looking for new ways to innovate and improve. Our strength is always to seek training through fun and socialisation for an audience ranging from 3 to 99 years old. We want to expand our offer with new courses and workshops, and perhaps open other locations.
Thank you, Arianna, for sharing your vision and passion with us. It seems that the New Dance Studio is truly a special place for those seeking a complete and enriching fitness experience.
NEW DANCE STUDIO FORLI'
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