April 24, 2017

Meet Danielle Roberts of Danielle Roberts Dance & Fitness in North Shore and Peabody

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Roberts.

Danielle, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I walked into a Zumba class early 2010 and loved it. The energy and the music that is when I decided that I could do this, and love it. Growing up I danced so why not give it a shot. Months later I was licensed to teach Zumba.

Shortly after I rented a church hall in Peabody and it all started from there. Sure I started out at gyms, and substituting for people at small studios when I could. Now I have one location in Peabody and one in Stoneham, over 100 students and I teach all formats of fitness now. Zumba, Barre, Piloxing Barre, Pilates, Plyoga, TRX (coming soon), as well as regular group classes. I have also collaborated with troubled youth homes and low income housing communities and brought zumba and fitness to them as well. It’s just rewarding to see people having fun and getting fit all at the same time.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No it definitely was not a smooth road. When starting out gyms have their favorite instructors so when you are the “new kid on the block” it’s tough to get a following. I have had many times where people would walk out of my class, just stand around and chat with friends, and then there are the times that just no one shows up.

I have rented places and hopes to start my own thing and it just fails and I have to pick myself back up and start again. At one point in the last couple of years I thought I was going to have to shut down one of my weekly classes due to low attendance and it was tough, but then I joined forces with DiHard Fitness in Peabody and it came alive again. Now I would not even think to stop running a class, and that one that was failing is now going even stronger than it was.

When I say “joined forces” with DiHard, That is where Danielle Roberts ~ Dance & Fitness lives right now. I rent space from them and run and conduct my business out of theirs. It’s been a great experience and I am very happy to be there.

There is a lot of competition out there. You just have to be your own person and give all you have to those that come to you. They deserve that, and when you do that they will tell people about you and in the end you will succeed.

Danielle Roberts ~ Dance & Fitness – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Danielle Roberts ~ Dance & Fitness has been around since 2010 and I love it, best thing I did, I love teaching and meeting new people. I love seeing people reach their goals, it’s what it’s all about!

I have one person that is my sidekick, Christian LoColle. I don’t know what I did before she came on board. I love mentoring other instructors and that is how she came to DRDF, and I mentored her and now she teaches for me and other places too, as do I.

I would say that I specialize in Zumba, Barre and Piloxing Barre. I can only think of a few other places on the North Shore that even offer Piloxing Barre and it’s such a great workout. But if you asked me what I am known for it would be Zumba. That was my first love and it really only solely taught that for a few years until I got my Barre license in 2013.

What sets us apart I feel, honestly we are like a big family. I have wonderful students and they really welcome every new person with open arms. I love that people can come to class because they had a bad day and want to make it better by working out with me and the other students. I take pride that we are such a friendly group. We don’t judge people for their age, size or goals we embrace them and make them proud of who they are and feel good in their own skin.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I don’t know if I have a proudest moment. I like to believe I am pretty humble about my achievements, but still who wouldn’t be excited to see their name on a plaque for Best Zumba Class. But what it really comes down to is seeing my clients succeed.

I guess I would have to say that my most proud moment is when see a wonderful person who is overweight walk into my class nervous about taking that first step. She goes slow but works hard and never gives up and within a year shreds 80lbs and can do a plank and other fitness moves she never could before. Now when I see that smile on her face, and know that she is healthier and happier, then I can be proud because I helped, and that is better and any plaque or salary.

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