Holistic music-based activities have been a cornerstone of fitness offerings in gyms for decades.
Aerobics, in particular, originated in a surprisingly medical and academic context. Dr. Kenneth Cooper, a military doctor, was the first to coin the term “aerobics” in the 1960s. He developed a training program aimed at preventing coronary artery diseases. Cooper’s idea quickly gained popularity, 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 training programs, diversifying into variants such as dance aerobics, sports aerobics, step aerobics, and water aerobics. Celebrities like actress Jane Fonda embraced this form of exercise, promoting it not only as a physical training method but also as a lifestyle, turning it into a cultural phenomenon of the 1980s.
Arianna Comandini, from Forlì, has been involved in holistic metabolic fitness with a musical basis for over thirty years. Considering the importance of this type of offering in gyms and beyond, we found it interesting to ask Arianna a few questions about her experience with New Dance Studio.
Q: Arianna, the New Dance Studio is renowned for combining dance, gymnastics, and fitness. What motivated you to found 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 blend to improve the physical and mental well-being of our students. New Dance Studio was born to offer a holistic approach, customizing courses according to the needs of each individual, regardless of age, with group lessons but also individual and personalized lessons and mini-classes by appointment.
Q: Tell us about your working method. What does a holistic approach mean?
The courses we organize combine physical exercise and music in ways that not only improve physical health, thanks to intense activity, but also offer mental health benefits through fun and socialization. The ability to blend fitness and entertainment is one of the main reasons for the success of this type of training, now independent of trends and seasons.
Another fundamental aspect is the richness and differentiation of the courses, offering different experiences and content to meet users’ expectations and interests. We offer courses with high muscle intensity and aerobic resistance, courses with greater technical involvement, the so-called “choreographed” ones, where exercises, with and without equipment, combine with dance movements, and finally courses characterized by techniques such as Myofascial Stretching and Postural Pilates, Mobility, and Holistic Workout, to strengthen the connection between body and mind.
Finally, but perhaps the most important aspect, the team. I am Arianna Comandini and I have many years of experience in the musical and technical fitness sector, Holistic Workout, and Pilates, and I am the president and artistic director of the New Dance Studio. I rely on expert collaborators who have been with me for years, such as Andrea Guerra in the field of toning and functional training, my daughter Matilde Toresi, a student in Motor Sciences, dancer, and choreographer teacher from modern to show dance and other styles like hip hop and musical fitness, also with the collaboration of Ylenia Rizzato certified for children’s fitness activities. Another key member of the New Dance Studio and Holistic Workout and Pilates technician is Daniela Boschi, with us since 2012, and for Country Fitness and choreographic step, Monica Vallicelli. The differentiation of courses, the ability to blend physical activity with fun and socialization, can only be realized through a synergistic and highly specialized team. The team, driven by a shared passion for physical well-being, must create a unique training environment where physical exercise is perfectly intertwined with fun. I believe the key to success lies in the ability to share the same core ideas and enthusiastic spirit, along 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 the New Dance Studio’s programming?
Absolutely, for us, the holistic approach 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 generated in class is contagious and creates a community where everyone supports each other in a completely familiar environment.
Q: What are the most popular activities at the New Dance Studio?
In addition to classics like 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 on current hits, which improve cardiovascular and metabolic capacity. It’s a way to see physical 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 constantly seeking training through fun and socialization for an audience ranging from 3 to 99 years old. We want to expand our offerings with new courses and workshops and maybe 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.