Dance your cares (and calories) away #SweatDate with C'Yo

If you haven’t heard of C’Yo yet...get ready. Corey “C’Yo” Brown probably doesn’t even know this, but he was one of the first people on social media to inspire me to start doing sweat dates. Rocking out on instagram and across Charlotte, C’Yo is energy like no one else you have met. That is unless you’ve met a bigger, buffer, badder, cooler, and slightly darker Richard Simmons who happens to specialize in urban dance. And for all of you who think comparing anyone to Richard Simmons is an insult - grow up and get over yourself - he is the real deal and helped millions of people through dance exercise. C’Yo isn’t a national sensation yet, but after one class with him, you will see why he really ought to be.

Let me preface EVERYTHING else below with: I AM NOT A DANCER. I DO NOT DANCE. I DO NOT HAVE RHYTHM.

The Dance District is not huge but the energy it packs in there is other worldly. This adult only dance studio where we took C’Yo’s Urban Dance class is a true masterpiece in Charlotte. This hidden gem may be easy to miss driving down Old Statesville at night but once you walk in, the energy is contagious and everyone there is there to dance their clothes off...Literally…C’Yo was missing his shirt before too long.

Owned and founded by Ana Ogbueze also known as Lady Hip Hop back in 2010, this woman has trained at the top dance studios of London, L.A. and New York to bring you Charlotte's first industry style hip hop dance studio. Recently teaming with Corey Brown (aka C’Yo) they combined their loves of dance and fitness to bring you a well-rounded studio offering dance, cardio, strength and Insanity workouts all under one roof.

If you’re anything like me and have the moves of a log, this class is still for you! Don’t believe me? Watch the video above. Being my first time, I had almost no idea what I was doing and my natural inability to follow choreography had me two seconds behind everyone else and yet I had a blast doing it. I didn't think I could be sore from a dance class, but I woke up this a.m. and can definitely tell you otherwise.

The Dance District showcases a wide range of levels and abilities. Welcoming of all, you will get a little bit of everything here. DO NOT BE SHY. There are others like you (like me) who can’t dance. That is the point of going to class. You don’t go to math class because you are good at math. You go to learn and get better. This isn’t a showcase of talents, although you do have some professionals in there with you. This is a seriously, outrageously, contagiously FUN exercise class.

Heard a new song that dropped and you’re itching to get your groove onto it? Reach out to C’Yo, Cize or Lady Hip Hop who will be teaching your class and they’ll choreograph a special part of class just for you! Personalized, sweaty, total body workout, these classes will have you laughing, learning and grooving! If you love to dance, even if it’s just when you’re in the shower, check out The Dance District where you’ll be bound to find something for you.

The workout is a combination of functional movements (think squats, lunges, etc), choreography from all different backgrounds (think african, hip-hop, jazz, industry style), improvisation and fun. C’Yo will challenge dancers of all levels. Improvisation is encouraged (and for my sake extremely necessary) here and the goal (Rule #2) is to not stop moving the whole class! A sweaty, fun, music pumping, dance workout, this class is no joke!

Like the expression a fish out of water, dance is that for me. It takes me totally out of my element. Even as a kid you could say I had my own beat...that no one else could hear...ever. If that creates any sort of picture for you, a fitness class based solely around counting music, learning choreography and then making it your own highlights everything I’m not good at. Despite all this, I still had one of the most fun workouts ever with C’Yo at The Dance District. The energy C’Yo brought to the floor was invigorating and inspiring, and even for someone as nervous and as uncoordinated as me, I was able to catch on, join in, and dance my pants off in this 60 min sweat!

If you’re looking to mix up your routine or set a New Year’s intention for yourself to get out of your everyday OR if this is right up your alley and you’ve been looking for a dance studio to sweat at, this is the place. With two other dance instructors, twerkshops and a newly added Insanity class as well as a strength and conditioning class, The Dance District has you covered.

Want to check out C’Yo for yourself? Find him tonight and next Tuesday, January 10th at his other home studio Functional Fit right down the block from King of Pops for a free class! And definitely check him out on instagram @coreycyobrown.

VISIT THE DANCE DISTRICT WEBSITE HERE!