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Meet Andrea Alden of Ballet Fusion Fitness-StudioBFF

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Alden.

Andrea, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Lisa Juliet, our Founding Director, originally started this project simply by trying to create an effective workout for women. She is a classically trained ballet dancer, but after college and beginning her career as a research scientist, she got into kickboxing and other forms of group fitness. What she found was that most of the fitness regimens out there did not give her the physique she wanted, so, using her ballet training and other fitness knowledge, she spent several years creating and testing out a whole new version of barre fitness–one that is truly based on the principles of classical ballet. When the opportunity arose to relocate to Arizona and open a studio, she took the chance. I was one of the very first clients; as a classically trained ballet dancer who HATES traditional fitness, when I heard there was a ballet-based fitness studio, I was so excited. Turns out, I wasn’t the only former ballerina looking for a place like this. Because so many people with very similar stories just flocked to BFF, we decided to implement a ballet program for adults as well, and that is really how StudioBFF came to be what it is today. There really is no dance studio that is only for adults where people with very little to no previous dance experience can take class comfortably; the options are usually to take an adult class at a kids’ studio OR to take classes where professional dancers will also be in class with you. Neither of those options is great; it’s intimidating and/or uncomfortable. We have created the space we were looking for, and it is a wonderful community. From there, it has grown; we offer many different styles of dance for all levels; we teach a full classical ballet program using American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum; and we have the greatest variety of fitness classes of any boutique studio, from our signature barre classes to Pilates to yoga, as well as Progressing Ballet Technique, which is a conditioning program for dancers, but functions very much like a Pilates-style class that anyone can take.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There are always challenges with any business venture, but this is a labor of love. The majority of our instructors came to us as clients, and, along with many of our clients, feel that the studio is their “happy place.” None of us can imagine our worlds without it, so we pull together and make it work, even when we are dealing with difficulties. The community the studio has cultivated is truly what makes it worthwhile.

Please tell us about Ballet Fusion Fitness-StudioBFF.
There are a lot of barre and boutique fitness studios, and there are a lot of dance studios. None of them compares to StudioBFF, and we have clients who move away tell us this all the time.

Number one: we are the only dance studio for adults only where they can get true, high-quality, classical ballet training (along with other styles of dance, but our main focus is ballet), even if they have never taken a dance class before in a comfortable, supportive, non-judgmental environment.

Number two: while most barre classes nod to ballet, our program is truly based in classical ballet and are a great to complement dance training.

Number three: we have the greatest variety of fitness classes to choose from, so you will never get bored.

Last but not least: we have the greatest community–clients and instructors–most of whom think of BFF as their home away from home, their happy place, and their sanity. We all love coming to the studio. There is usually at least one instructor taking every class because we both believe in and enjoy our program. You cannot find a better group of people anywhere!

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
That’s a tough one! Honestly, nothing significant. Everything that has not worked has been a learning experience, and that’s kind of how life goes!

Pricing:

  • First class is always free!
  • New Client Special: $99 for one month of unlimited classes (dance and fitness)
  • Unlimited classes (dance and fitness), monthly auto-renew: $120 (month to month: $140)
  • Fitness only, monthly auto-renew: $99 (month to month: $120)
  • Dance only, monthly auto-renew: $110 (month to month: $130)
  • Class packages: 5 classes for $80, 10 classes for $150)
  • Single drop-in class: $17

Contact Info:


Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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