Just Dance Roanoke

Roanoke's home for dance-inspired fitness.

The Beat: April 4th

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Welcome to “The Beat”, your  go-to to keep up with all things JDR. We’ll try our best to keep it up every month or so and keep things brief so you can get the Down Low on all the Disco Ball Drama, from closed business days, blog updates, special events and classes and new songs!

 


FEEDBACK: 

And no, not like when we grab the mic on the new sound system. We need and want yours. Take our survey and tell us all the things you love and think we could improve on at Just Dance Roanoke, and you could be eligible to win an Apple Watch! Yes. This is real.

Anyone who fills out the survey is entered to win.

Give us a testimonial and allow us to include your name, 2 chances! Eeeek!

Take Burn or Sweat? Fill out that section and allow us to use your name, win 3 chances! Oh yeah!

CLICK HERE for the scoop

SPRING SCHEDULE:

Not too many changes moving forward with our schedule this spring. Effective immediately, there will be no 6:00p Wednesday class. There will still be 5p with Amanda and 6:30p with Danica.

CLICK HERE to get a printable copy of the new schedule 

JDR RUNS:

Ok, we run to class, but really we run, jog, walk and warm up at a ton of events around town. Our Spring Warm Up schedule is as follows:

April 22: The Color Run 

This is our 5th year teaming up with the Color Run! We can’t wait to shake it with the runners prior to the “Happiest 5K” on the planet!

CLICK HERE to Register

April 29: Race for the Cure 

Want to dance, walk or run a 5K or 10K with some of your JDR friends? Join our team lead by JDR Instructor Blythe. Just search for “Just Dance Roanoke”.

This year’s race is at 4p, so you can still jam out that morning at the studio if you want to! There will be food trucks and bands at the end of the race. So fun, right? We can’t wait!

CLICK HERE to Register

May 5: Glow for Hope 

Join JDR participant David Wilson & the JDR team as they light up the night on Friday, May 5th at this fundraising event for Hopetree Family Services.

CLICK HERE to Register

JDR JAMS:

Want to keep up with the latest jams?

We know it’s been forever since we’ve given you an update through “The Beat”. And in 2017, we’ve added quite a few new songs to our line up!

You can always get a full list of our songs here or check out our newest jams on the Spotify Playlist.

 

Back to Twerk 2016: Results

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Wow!  Our members sure know how to rock a challenge!  Keep up your hard work (or should I say ‘hard twerk’) through the holidays and you’re already a step ahead of your New Years’ resolutions!  Take a look below to see where you fell in the race.  Congratulations to all of our winners!

Back to Twerk 1

10-19 Twerk Winners:

  • Receive 10% off your next JDR purchase (including one class pass).
  • STEPHANIE KASSEBAUM: You win one FREE month at JDR!

Julie Johnson, Lana Nixon, Christopher Reynolds, Michelle Fernatt, Carly Cash, Taylor Poff, Anabel Aguilar, Sharon Bass, Jenny Burnette, Vickie Henson, Stephanie Kassebaum, Jennifer MacDonald, Stacy Poore, Samantha Solander, Cynthia Clark, Jessica Dent, Tracey Lawton, Denise Taylor, Colleen Gibbons, Ashlee Johnson, Deana Mitchell, Sarah Neighbors, Leabeth Peterson, Denise Vaughan, Dee Dee Burgoyne, Katie Fleming, Ashton Shepherd, Ellen Szego, Hillary Wood, Rebecca Barron, Cynthia Clark, Jenn Bjurman-Birr, Margaret Henley, Sheri Sloss, Laura Totty, Lee Wonson, Crissy Gentry, Traci Ray-Carr, Lynda Sowers, Melissa Wright, Stephanie Carrico, Anna Depuy, Maureen House, Kathy Martin, Alex Queen, and Brenda Sizer!

20-29 Twerk Winners:

  • Receive 15% off your next JDR purchase (including one class pass).
  • ERIN HUDDLESTON: You win one FREE month at JDR for you AND a friend!  Send an email to morgan@justdanceroanoke.com to let her know who your lucky friend is!

Terri Wooden, Evelyn Wooden, Christy Florow, Latasha Suggs, Erin Huddleston, Sheila Cacciatore, and Sandy French!

30+ Twerk Winners:

  • Receive 20% off your next JDR purchase (including one class pass).
  • BETH MAYS: You win one FREE month at JDR!
  • STEPHANIE WALSH: You get $25 JDR Dollars on your account
  • HANNAH WALKER: You win a Fitbit!
Beth Mays, Hannah Walker, and Stephanie Walsh!

The fine print:

  • Discounts must be used in store and on ONE purchase only.
  • Discounts only valid through Friday, November 18.
  • Discounts may NOT be used on Student Monthly Memberships, 12-month Contract Memberships, or Pre-paid Yearly Memberships.
  • Still have questions?  See Morgan at the Front Desk for all the details 🙂

JDR Spotlight: Jeniffer Iglesias; Instructor Trainee

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Meet 2016 Instructor Trainee, Jeniffer Iglesias!  This mom of 3 has been a member of Just Dance Roanoke since May of 2015 and is so excited to share her love of dance with all of you!  While Latin genres and hip-hop are her favorites, she doesn’t discriminate and rocks every song that comes on in class.  When you see her around the studio, be sure to welcome her to our team!

 

Who or what inspired you to become an instructor?

Dancing brings me so much joy, and I loved the idea of being able to help others feel the same way. I have always admired the instructors here at JDR. They are so positive and encouraging and I felt that joining them was the next step for me.

[Read more…]

JDR Spotlight: Kailey Owens; Instructor Trainee

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Meet Kailey Owens!  The youngest member of the 2016 Instructor Trainee class(and youngest ever to be a part of the JDR Team)and a student at Jefferson College of Health Sciences. We are so excited Kailey decided to stay in town for school so she can continue to dance with us!  She began taking classes in December of 2015 and it was love at first dance. Don’t let her age fool you – this girl can twerk-it with the best of ‘em!  If you see her around the studio, help us welcome her to our team!
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Who or what inspired you to become an instructor?

I wanted to find a way to stay active so when I heard about Just Dance, I decided to come try a class to see how I liked it and I ended up loving it! Since then, taking classes with all of the amazing instructors has inspired me to become more than just a participant. Kelly, may or may not, have twisted  my arm into auditioning. 

What is your “real” job?

I currently work at Green Ridge Recreation Center with kids as an after school care aide and summer camp aide. 

Do you have any formal dance training?

Yes, I danced at Floyd Ward School of Dance for nine years. I took classes in jazz, ballet, lyrical, clogging, and modern. 

What style of dance do you love most?

I like hip hop because of the beat… and, well, you can twerk. <<wink>> 

What are your favorite songs to twerk to in class?

My favorite is Trini Dem Girls, but I also love Turn it up and Let Me Be Your Lover.

What other talents/hobbies do you have?

I love anything where I can be outside, so let me know if you want to go hiking. I also love to paddle board at the lake. 

Anything else you would you like the JDR family to know about you?

I’m so excited to continue my love for dance and share it with you and get to know you all better!

INTERVIEWED BY MORGAN JESSEE, JUST DANCE ROANOKE MEMBER SERVICES DIRECTOR 

JDR Spotlight: Danica Koncoski; Instructor Trainee

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Meet Danica Koncoski!  A member of the 2016 JDR training class, Danica has been taking dance fitness classes since our studio opened in the fall of 2012. She is thrilled to join our team of instructors!  Her zest for life is so evident in every conversation and every time she takes the stage in class.  We are so excited for Danica and her enthusiasm to join our team!

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Who or what inspired you to become an instructor?

All the amazing instructors I’ve been following since my first class at JDR in October 2012! What an inspiring group of ladies! Sara Bremer is the bee’s knees. 

What is your “real” job?

Registered Nurse at Carilion Clinic in the Operating Room. I truly love my “real” job! I’m also a mom to 2 kids and a wife! 

Do you have any formal dance training?

No formal dancing. I always wanted to take dance growing up but stuck with cheerleading! #spiritfingers

What style of dance do you love most?

Hip Hop, Latin Pop & Belly/Bhangra

What are your favorite songs to twerk to in class?

Any hip hop song!

What other talents/hobbies do you have?

We enjoy baseball games with the family, GO CUBBIES!! Our book club consistently meets once a month and we actually read the book not just drink wine! My hubby and I love live music, we’ve seen Dave Matthews Band 16 years in a row and enjoy many other bands/music as well. We are obsessed with our pup, Ellie, we seriously love on her all the time.

Anything else you would you like the JDR family to know about you?

Life is good! ~She loved life and it loved her right back~

National Dance Day 2016

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Join the Just Dance Roanoke instructor team as we celebrate National Dance Day, Saturday, July 25th.

Dizzy Feet Foundation was founded in 2009 by So You Think You Can Dance producer Nigel Lythgoe and director, Adam Shankman, among others to support, improve, and increase access to dance education in the United States.

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From 9:30a-10:30a JDR Instructor Lindsey Cash will break down the official National Dance Day routine featuring Meghan Trainor’s song “Dance Like Yo Daddy”. Tickets are $10 and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Dizzy Feet Foundation. Click Here to sign up!

 

Following the breakdown class, we will hold a Dance Day Celebration 75 minute class with the JDR team! All memberships and class passes apply. Click here to secure your spot in class and celebrate National Dance Day with JDR!

The Beat: June 5th

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Welcome to “The Beat”, your  go-to to keep up with all things JDR. We’ll try our best to keep it up every few weeks and keep things brief so you can get the Down Low on all the Disco Ball Drama, from closed business days, blog updates, special events and classes and new songs!

JDR Spotlight: Whitney Shell 11041297_10207410734813751_6677498913191495675_n

Whitney Shell gives us her scoop on how she makes time to squeeze in fitness between working full time, being a mom and a wife. Want to know her secret?

I always carry my gym bag with me for those “just in case” times that I can make a workout happen. 

Learn more about Whitney, what songs are her favorite and how she danced her way into the 500 club.

+Read more here

 

Best of Roanoke: Girl’s Night Out 13124767_10154195485674743_8614249357513947384_n

A huge thank you for everyone who voted for us in the Roanoker Magazine for “Best Girls Night Out!” We scored the gold and can’t thank you enough for spreading the JDR love with your girlfriends and with all of Roanoke!

+Want to know what else we won? click here

 

 

Summer Schedule Changes

We do our best to maintain a consistent schedule for our participants, but certain times of year things come up and we need to make a few tweeks to the schedule.

Starting this week the following schedule changes will take place:

Wednesday’s at 5:00p: Amanda Camden will be taking over for Jessica 

Jessica has a full time job in sales and her current work schedule is making it a struggle to be at the studio on time. Jess is still staying on as a member of the team, just taking a step back while work is insane! Don’t you just hate it when work gets in the way of fun?

Sunday’s at 3:30p: Chelsea Arritt will be taking over for Amanda

With Amanda taking on Wednesday nights, we need to make sure she isn’t overloaded and still has time for her family. In order to give her a weekend day at home with the family, Chelsea will be rocking out with you on Sunday afternoons.

+Print off your new schedule here

Jam of the Week: Me Too by Meghan Trainor Jam-of-the-Week

We’re loving this catchy new Meghan Trainor song:

I thank God every day
That I woke up feelin’ this way
And I can’t help lovin’ myself
And I don’t need nobody else, nuh uh

New songs in the past 2 week included: 

Me Too by Meghan Trainor

Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake

If It Ain’t Love by Jason Derulo

+We <3 Spotify 

 

 

 

 

 

MAY we have this dance?

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May-we-have-this-dance

We had a blast in February when we hosted “Duets Week” it only made sense to bring it back for the spring! Our instructors are teaming up to co-teach (aka Duet)  almost every class next week starting this Saturday, May 21st!

We see you posting on social media all the time telling your friends how much you LOVE JDR, so to show our appreciation for your adoration, we wanted to give you a chance to bring a few new friends for FREE!

Here’s the deets:

  • Offer only good for first time dancers. (If you’ve been to another “free” class at the studio, or attended class ages ago, that counts…sorry)
  • Go online or on the app JDR App and create a profile.
  • Purchase a “first class trial” or the “new participant trial“, then use the code MAY16.
    • The “New Participant Trial” cannot be purchased if a “Free Class Trail” was already used.
  • If computers and apps aren’t your thing, just come by the studio a few minutes before class and we’ll totally hook you up!

New to the studio? Make sure to check out our “Info for First Timers” page.

We can’t wait to see you in class and meet your friends at the studio!

 

Dance, Eat and Be Merry: The Gift of Movement

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As I sat in my stretchy pants this holiday weekend, belly full of carbohydrates, turkey and sweet delicious desserts, I was so thankful for the downtime with my family. As I laid around in a food coma, I scrolled through my social media newsfeeds to find fitness friends and JDR participants all feeling the same way: thankful, fat and GUILTY. So many people talking about how they were going to “work off” that holiday meal or trying to convince others to come “work off the extra pie” with them.

I have to say that I’m guilty for posting status updates on my personal page and the JDR Facebook page about “Burning the Bird” and “Preventative Maintenance” and “Working off those holiday indulgences”. It wasn’t until this weekend that it hit me.

How is it that we take all the joy in one day and turn around the next to feel so awful, and shame ourselves for partaking in a holiday about family and being thankful? We should be thankful for our ability to move, not feeling like we need to move as a punishment for a day of indulgence and enjoyment. 

When I came across Neghar Fonooni‘s Instagram Post it was like a lightbulb went off in my head and I screamed on the inside YES! YES! THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN THINKING ALL WEEKEND! (Neghar has such a way with words and telling it like it is.)

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My face when someone says they have to go to the gym to “work off” their Thanksgiving feast. Like, can we just not? # Because we *can* have a holiday feast without feeling guilty about it–and one day of nutritional debauchery isn’t going to ruin weeks or months of intentional and mindful eating. # Because fitness is not a punishment–it’s a privilege. Bodies are meant to move. Life is meant to be fully lived. And food is meant to be enjoyed. # We absolutely should go to the gym, of course. But let’s go because we love our bodies and we love to move. Because we want to be our strongest, most capable selves. Because fitness makes us feel powerful and purposeful. Not because we’re punishing ourselves for our food choices. #becausemuscles

A photo posted by Neghar Fonooni (@negharfonooni) on

Can we all repeat this aloud?

Fitness is not a punishment–it’s a privilege. Bodies are meant to move. Life is meant to be fully lived. And food is meant to be enjoyed.

We absolutely should go to the gym, of course. But let’s go because we love our bodies and we love to move. Because we want to be our strongest, most capable selves. Because fitness makes us feel powerful and purposeful. Not because we’re punishing ourselves for our food choices. ~Neghar Fonooni

As the weekend went on, women in my feed continued to post about how the awful numbers on their scales were and I couldn’t help by think of this photo and reminder that movement is a gift and that instead of punishing ourselves for bad eating, we need to make sure that we are making time for OURSELVES this busy holiday season.

Take the time to gift yourself some movement and relaxation between your shopping, decorating, and holiday parties. Not because you need to fight off the pesky holiday pounds, but because you deserve the time for you.

xo Sara

From ZBS to JDR: 5 Years of Dancing in Roanoke

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Have you ever heard the story of how Just Dance Roanoke came to be? It all began 5 years ago…

In March of 2010, I relocated for my “grown up” sales job from Charlotte, NC to Roanoke. Teaching dance fitness was such a huge part of my life in the Queen City, it was difficult for me to imagine life without in Virginia. In 2010, there were only four Zumba® Fitness instructors within a 25 mile radius of Roanoke. The program was new in the area and some gyms were reluctant to add it to their schedule. I begged and pleaded with many gyms in town to add the program to their line up and had multiple doors slammed in my face.

I had started a website, ZumbaBySara.com and branded the classes that I would teach. I was determined to continue sharing my passion of dance and fitness with the Roanoke Valley.

Finally, Brambleton Recreation Center had an opening for a Zumba Instructor since their current teacher had gone out on maternity leave. My first session sold out with 30 people in class and we were crammed into a tiny room in the basement of BRC. No mirrors, not disco ball, no sound system, no other instructors….just me and an iPod docking station and 30 determined women! There was a demand and we started a second class immediately following. Yes…for the first two years, I taught 2 back to back classes (eventually twice a week!).

ZBS

Photos by Elizabeth Avery Photography

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Visit the Studio

1866 Apperson Drive
Salem, Virginia 24018

Contact Us

info@justdanceroanoke.com
540.384.1537