After years of teaching residents of central Indiana, 39-year-old Erin Johnson plans to open a permanent studio for Dance Fit Club (formerly Dance with Erin) on June 14 at 10830 Bennett Pkwy., Suites B&C Zionsville.
Johnson, a former Zionsville West High School teacher, has moved from Zionsville to several locations around the country since 2010, according to her husband, Kenny, who is in the military. The couple have two daughters, Delaney, 9, and Makena, 7, but Johnson knew her life wasn’t going well after having two children. As a housewife, she wants to be social.
“I felt isolated, disconnected, and didn’t know how to make friends in the next chapter,” Johnson said.
His solution was to find a gym after his family moved to Zionsville, but he couldn’t find one that would fit his needs. As a certified Zumba instructor, she later took to Facebook and posted a Zionsville mom group that offers free classes to anyone who wants to sign up. He said, on 7/7/2015, the first class had from 5 to 10 participants, he continued to open the class and attract more participants. To expand class sizes, Johnson secured rooms in Indianapolis, Whitestown, Lebanon and other areas. They considered other locations until the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to open classes even in the winter.
One day during the pandemic, Johnson and her children were in the car looking for an empty space for their next dance class. Delaney saw what appeared to be a large building for an indoor classroom and asked Johnson to inquire about the location. Coincidentally, the previous tenant had just vacated the space, and Johnson quickly found space on Bennett Park Road.
At the new location, the club offers Dance Fit, yoga, Guardian & Me yoga and movement classes. Additionally, the club offers premium chair yoga and events such as flash parties, belly dancing, and hip-hop workshops. Childcare is free. Classes are held on weekdays at 5:30, 7:00, 9:15, 10:30, 11:45, 16:30, 17:45 and 19:00. There are also classes on weekends.
Johnson says the regular class helps her burn 500 to 700 calories, but it also benefits in other ways, especially finding a community she wants to meet.
“When you’re addicted to what you need and you’re vulnerable and insecure, I think people need to see that more than ever,” Johnson said. . It really means you are better than others. You don’t join Dance Fit to be anyone. In fact, you’re perfect just the way you are.’
Johnson said the club is open to everyone, regardless of height or dancing ability. Motto: “We exercise because we love our bodies, not because we hate them.”
“He showed me that even though I’m a bully, I’ve had enough and I think we’ve always been supportive of each other,” Johnson said. “It really makes me want to stay here forever. They make me feel at home.”