Bringing Dance for Wellness and Dance Fitness for all Ages to Minnesota
The mission of The Dance of Resilience is inspire more adults to experience the physical, mental, emotional, and social benefits of dance. To do that, we need to make dance more accessible to all. That's already happening! We invite you to join us.
With the help of national partners and supporters of the book, we are now collaborating to bring two distinct Dance for Wellness/Dance Fitness programs to Minnesota by early 2027. We are searching for the right facilities and teaching artists to deliver this programming. Might that be you? Check it out below!
And a time sensitive note: If you are interested in learning more about LaBlast Fitness from its Founder Louis van Amstel (formerly of Dancing with the Stars), don't miss his Minnesota virtual Information Session November 19 at 7 p.m.!
LaBlast Fitness
LaBlast Fitness is a partner-free dance fitness program based on ballroom dancing that anyone can join, learn to dance, get in shape, and have a great time. It is created and led by world-renowned dancer and fitness expert Louis van Amstel, as seen on Dancing with the Stars.
It is delivered across the country in numerous venues, including YMCAs, senior centers, dance studios and universities
It has something for "every body" from absolute beginners to experienced dancers
It blends iconic ballroom rhythms with popular music—pop, rock, hip-hop, country and more
It provides full-body fitness while dancing to the beat
Its intensity can be low impact or turned up—you workout your way
It's a community of joy, connection and confidence
It has five formats: LaBlast Fitness, LaBlast Splash, LaBlast Line Dancing, LaBlast Kids Fitness, LaBlast Chair Fitness
Former Minnesota state senator and long-time dancer Ember Reichgott Junge participated in Louis' Fitness class in Colorado and saw this first-hand. Such positivity! Participants loved it. So did she. She wants to bring it to Minnesota. How do we do that?
We are recruiting host venues and trainees from Greater Minnesota and the Twin Cities. There are two pathways (or combination) of them:
A Host site brings LaBlast to its center and pays for the training costs, the monthly $30 Teaching Artist (TA) fee, and the teaching fees per session. Host and TA decide number of sessions, etc.
A TA trains as an independent, and is contracted to one or more host sites that do not have teachers on site. Often the TA pays for training, and pays for the monthly $30 fee out of compensation by hosts for their teaching sessions, but this can be negotiated with individual host sites.
LaBlast cost is reasonable: $199 per trainee per format and $30 per month thereafter per instructor, no matter how many formats they teach.
Training is virtual at pre-scheduled hybrid live trainings or with on-demand videos
The Dance of Resilience book team authored and led by Ember will help administer—Louis endorsed the book. He and Ember are 100% aligned in mission. Ember was a speaker for his 2026 retreat in Colorado.
Interested? Learn more about LaBlast Fitness from its Founder Louis van Amstel at his Minnesota virtual Information Session November 19 at 7 pm! Sign up here.
Dance for Wellness
A whole-person approach to healthy aging through the power of dance
Dance for Wellness, created by Dance Vision Foundation, is a comprehensive dance-based program designed to help older adults remain active, mentally engaged, emotionally supported, and socially connected.
What makes the program unique is its whole-person approach.
Every class supports three interconnected pillars of health:
BODY Dance provides joyful, full-body movement that supports cardiovascular health, strength, balance, posture, coordination, flexibility, mobility, and functional independence.
MIND Dance combines movement, music, rhythm, memory, sequencing, and decision-making. Purposeful music, dual-tasking activities, brain games, and coordination challenges engage attention, memory, and executive function.
SOUL Dancing creates joy, confidence, self-expression, and meaningful human connection. Singing, laughter, shared movement, mindfulness, breathing, and stretching help participants feel included, successful, and connected.
The program is partner-free, requires no previous dance experience, and can be adapted for a wide range of abilities. Participants are encouraged to move in the way that feels best for them, because we believe there is no wrong way to move.
Three Flexible Class Formats
Chair Dance for Wellness - a seated or chair-supported class
Active Dance for Wellness - a standing, low-impact dance class
Dance Sculpt - dance combined with age-appropriate resistance exercise
Created by Maria Hansen, Lead Program Developer and Teacher Trainer for Dance Vision Foundation, the program draws upon four decades of dance education as well as specialized study in kinesiology, brain fitness, mental well-being, and exercise program development.
Dance Vision Foundation is working with former Minnesota State Senator and longtime dancer Ember Reichgott Junge to introduce Dance for Wellness to Minnesota through YMCA and community pilot locations.
The Foundation will provide instructor training, program materials, and ongoing guidance.
Dance for Wellness is more than an exercise class. It is a welcoming community and a joyful approach to healthier aging - supporting the whole person through body, mind, and soul.
For more information on either program, contact Ember at ember.reichgott@gmail.com. Dance on!