While I’m busy dancing and teaching all the time, I don’t participate in performances anymore. I sometimes miss being part of those never ending recitals, but I was never interested in being a performer. My goal was always to teach dance to serious students and to have my own studio. Happily for me, I’ve accomplished those goals.

But owning a studio does require me to market it and while social media and web sites are great tools, video has become even more important. So instead of performing on stage, I’ve been performing to a camera.

My first involvement with video was in an MVP commercial. It was shot a little over two years ago at Albany Dance & Fitness and it still runs from time to time. This wasn’t a studio promotion, we just happened to have the right look for what the producers needed. At the last minute I got cast in the piece, I’m the out of focus dancer wearing orange in the background.

Last year I decided to start underwriting a show on one of the channels that WMHT runs. I didn’t know much about the show but my husband thought it would be a good way to promote the studio. WMHT shot a short video, with many of my students and instructors that ran just before a show called Classical Stretch, hosted by Miranda Esmonde-White.

Like I said, at the time, I didn’t know anything about this show or the host. Once the underwriting spot started to air, I would tune into the show just to see the Albany Dance & Fitness spot. Like a little kid, we would rush to the TV to watch it and every time it aired it made me smile. But a curious thing happened, after a while, I started to watch the show and then started to do the workouts along with Miranda.

I was amazed at how much I enjoyed those workouts and could feel the benefits of doing them. It wasn’t long after that realization that I decided to become a certified instructor in Essentrics™. I’ve written about the process I went through to become certified. It was a lot of work but I’m so glad I made that investment to do it. I became certified in October 2015 and now offer several Essentrics™ classes per week.

Meanwhile, I’ve been pestering the staff of WMHT to try and arrange for Miranda to come to our area. She and her other Public Broadcasting show, Aging Backwards have become big hits all over the country. The WMHT staff were all for getting Miranda, but with her success, she has become one busy woman.

Finally, about two weeks ago, I heard back from Scott Sauer,  Executive Vice President, External Affairs and Assistant General Manager. He said that arrangements had been made and Miranda was coming to the WMHT studios to tape some spots. He also wanted to know if I would be able to help set up a class with some of my students. Of course my answer was yes.

So yesterday, February 11, 2016, a handful of my Essentrics™ students and I went to the WMHT studios to take a short Essentrics™ class with Miranda! While we were working out, the WMHT production team was recording the whole event. You will be able to see parts of that video when it airs next month during the broadcast of Miranda’s show Aging Backwards.

While waiting for the shoot to begin, we were all a little nervous. I kept telling everyone to relax, we would be fine once we started to move. I had met Miranda Esmonde-White last year and knew that she has a gift for making everyone feel at ease. And sure enough, once she came on the set, we all felt the warmth of her personality.

Because of time constraints, we did an abbreviated workout that included some of the trademark Essentrics™ moves. Some of these movements were new to me and my students, but Miranda’s explanations and calm voice guided us through these steps with ease. Most of the time I’m in the front of the class, so it was a treat for me to be a student in the back.

When the videographer told us that they had recorded enough of the class for their purposes, we were all a little bit disappointed that it had to end. Still we all felt so lucky to be part of this special event. I was so happy that I was able to share this opportunity with some of my students. I really appreciate that they gave up part of their busy day to take part in the shoot.

For the past few months I’ve been considering taking the Level II Essentrics™ live training that is scheduled for this summer. Working with Miranda today and being exposed to some new moves has convinced me to go for it. Miranda mentioned something about an Essentrics™ symposium coming up in Mexico this year. I better start saving my pennies!

Aging Backwards with Miranda Esmonde-White March 2016 Schedule (PDF)