Happy Birthday Anson!!

We have so many favorite Anson MaZi moments! Here are a few of the glowing birthday girl!

At RIC with Gift of Movement Founder Marisol & her MaZi bestie Mallory!

Jumping on the couch during AyOH's music video filming.

Leading a Flash Mob on 6 Corners!

Twirling!

And Finally.......

Leading our LOVE.DANCE.LIVE poster!
Better Looking Photography

Happy Birthday Beautiful Anson!

- XO, Zi & Ma

#BikiniBum40 Challenge

We hope you join us in making Summer 2014 your fittest & happiest! We all start out with great intentions for summer and find that we didn't quite make them happen sometime around August. The key lies with accountability and this summer is going to be different because we're here to help!

The CHALLENGE is to:

- Take any 40 classes in July & August.
- Get instructor initials on your #BikiniBum40 card, which you will later submit for a live drawing of great prizes from our favorite neighborhood partners!
-90 minute blasts to speed up your results by pushing your limits.
- Nutritional lecture to clean up your habits by Dr. Pontarelli, date TBD. It's gotten increasingly confusing on what to eat!
- Any class package applies, but to help you take advantage of our Bikini Challenger Deal, which comes out to $6.25/class for the 40 classes at $250 for 2 unlimited months, July & August!

Visual accountability

Every week take a SELFIE of yourself in fitted clothing or swimwear in front of a mirror.

Be consistent for 9 weeks!

This is only for yourself, but if you choose to share it, please tag #bikinibum40 on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!

See you at the studio!

- XO Zi

MaZi Dance Chicago*: Spotlight on Mallory!

MaZi Dance Chicago: Spotlight on Mallory!

Mallory is one of those girls that has an inexplicable coolness factor. She's always in a good mood as she walks into MaZi with her curls in a loose bun, her dark-rimmed glasses, and a huge smile. This cool girl is also very special! She is one of our Gift of Movement instructors for RIC as she just graduated with a Dance/Movement Therapy graduate degree from Columbia College.

She brings tons of energy and sass to all the classes she's in, i.e. if you take Ballerina Fight Club with her she might knock you out.:) She's been performing with MDC since 2012 and inspires all of us choreograhers with her "attack" on the movement and endless energy and commitment to the work. Last December, before our very own eyes, and during an MDC performance, her boyfriend proposed to her after she finished dramatically on the floor. In 5 minutes flat, Mallory had us all believing in love, but most importantly she had us believing in fairy tales! 

Mallory in her element!

IN HER OWN WORDS:

Why do you dance?

I dance to give my inner soul a voice.

What does MaZi mean to you? 

My (dance) family, my release, my self-care, and fulfilling my passion. 

One of our favorite moments ever! Relive the moment HERE.

Thanks for bringing so much soul to MaZi with you everyday!

-XO, Zi

*MaZi Dance Chicago is a performing group made up MaZi Dance Fitness students that wish to learn & perform choreography. Their strong commitment and passionate work ethic makes them a joy to work with and a treat to watch. They represent MaZi's core values of: INSPIRE DANCE ACHIEVE & LOVE DANCE LIVE!

The birthday girl in pictures!

Happy Birthday Jess!

Wishing her a happy day, catch her classes all week long at Wicker Park & South Loop, and now......North Ave Beach Sundays at 9 AM for summer!

With the Ball at Wicker Park

With another "Ball" at South Loop

Urban #ballerinabum
Eddo Photography

Onstage for Off Center Dance

As a DANCER!

- XO, Zi

MaZi Dance Chicago: Spotlight on Laura

MaZi Dance Chicago: Spotlight on Laura!

Laura was hand-picked for MDC by Marisol during a Ballerina Bum Body class! Her beautiful lines and technique really shine even in the challenging fitness class. Shortly after, she was selected to be in AyOH's music video (releasing next month!) with MaZi and has been featured in solos by different MDC choreographers for her stage presence and musicality. We love watching her dance because she has an innate rhythm where it appears that the music is actually coming from her. She is also a master hair-whipper! When she's not lighting up the stage, she works in advertising and can be found taking MaZi's fitness classes with her #MaZisis, Karen!

Laura floating!

IN HER OWN WORDS:

What brought you to MaZi Dance Fitness?

I have a passion for dance and was looking for a place that I could incorporate that while still getting a great workout.  I now look forward to my work-outs and have also had my dance spark re-ignited!  

What do you love about being in MaZi Dance Chicago?

I love learning new choreography!  Everyone is there to have fun and share in the spirit of dance which is a great feeling.  

Fun Fact!

I love musicals and was involved in my college theater program.  I was part of a musical exchange program and got to perform in Guys & Dolls in Italy!

One of our favorite Laura pics during a little downtime with her #MaZisis

We look forward to watching her perform this summer and seeing her in AyOH's music vid!

-XO, Zi

*MaZi Dance Chicago is a performing group made up MaZi Dance Fitness students that wish to learn & perform choreography. Their strong commitment and passionate work ethic makes them a joy to work with and a treat to watch. They represent MaZi's core values of: INSPIRE DANCE ACHIEVE & LOVE DANCE LIVE!

5 Things you don't know about Kiley!

Kiley's always ready to Werq!

We "met" Kiley a while back as she's been teaching with us since 2010! Read here for a little #tbt on her Meet Kiley feature. This girl is the real deal and a big part of our history and MaZi fam! Here's 5 things you didn't know about gorgeous Kiley, all of which make us love her:

1.  I lived in Rome for a year during college and I'm obsessed with it.  Luckily, I get to go back for the first time this summer and I can't wait!

2.  I could not live without ice cream.  You don't want to know how much of it I eat. :)

3.  For my "real" job I'm an architect. I love it, but love dancing & teaching WERQ at MaZi Dance Fitness more.  

4.  Don't try to make plans with me on a Saturday during the fall.  I will be watching Notre Dame football.  

5.  Tardiness is my biggest pet peeve.  

Catch her for Werq Mondays at 8PM & Thursdays at 7PM at Wicker Park!

-XO, Zi

Kiley & Ma in 2011 behind the scenes for MaZi's workout video, BALLERINA EVOLVE!

MaZi Dance Chicago*: Spotlight on Jessica!

MaZi Dance Chicago*: Spotlight on Jessica!

Ethereal Beauty, Jessica! 
EDDO Photography

Jessica has been dancing with us since 2010 and is pure radiance! The first thing you notice about her in classes is her work ethic and in choreography, her intellectual approach. Even though there's so much substance behind the surface, when you see her dance it's pure joy as her movement defines "being present". She makes every choreography authentically her own, ranging from pure hip hop to lyrical, it's impossible not to watch her!  When she's not lighting up the stage, Jessica is a strategy consultant and travels most of the time. We admire her commitment to doing something she loves while still having an extremely demanding career, which is the case for many MDC dancers!

IN HER OWN WORDS:

Why do you dance?

The reason I dance is because it’s one of the rare activities in my life where I experience a state of flow. Flow is best described in my opinion by Cziksentmihalyi’s, “…as a state in which a person is so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience is so enjoyable that the person will continue to do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.” Dance is not an escape from reality; rather, dance allows me to move in the present.

What does MaZi mean to you?

Mazi is family. Mazi is strength. Mazi is community. Mazi is comfort. Mazi is courage. Mazi is beautiful. Mazi is unique. Mazi is strength. Mazi is growth. Mazi is you.

We look forward to whatever Jessica does next in her professional life as a strategy guru and on stage! 

FLOWING!

-XO, Zi

*MaZi Dance Chicago is a performing group made up MaZi Dance Fitness students that wish to learn & perform choreography. Their strong commitment and passionate work ethic makes them a joy to work with and a treat to watch. They represent MaZi's core values of: INSPIRE DANCE ACHIEVE & LOVE DANCE LIVE!