Like a lot of modern reinventions, it started with a scroll.
Michelle Sneathen, a Chesterfield mom of four, was deep in the early chaos of raising young kids when she came across a video that stopped her.
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“It just looked like so much fun,” she recalls. “Everyone was smiling, dancing, and just letting loose.”
At the time, Sneathen says she was searching for something harder to define than a workout. “I felt like I had kind of lost sight of myself,” she says.
That moment would eventually lead her to bring Fly Dance Fitness, a fast-growing, club-inspired workout concept, to the St. Louis area.
A Workout That Doesn’t Feel Like One
Sneathen first experienced the brand while on a trip to Orlando, where she booked a class on a whim. “I didn’t know anybody,” she recalls. “But everyone was so welcoming, and it was just fun.”
The class blended choreography with strength training, all set to high-energy, throwback playlists. Participants moved through routines that felt more like dancing at a party than following a traditional fitness program.
“I burned 700 calories and didn’t even realize it,” she says. That balance—intensity without intimidation—is what Sneathen says sets Fly Dance Fitness apart.
“It’s more than just a workout,” Sneathen says. “It’s an experience every time you walk through the door.”
Classes incorporate hip-hop-inspired choreography alongside strength elements such as squats and floor work, creating a full-body workout designed to be accessible to all fitness levels.
“It’s not just for advanced dancers,” she says. “It’s for anyone who wants to come in, learn, and have fun.”
Why Dance Fitness is Having a Moment
Sneathen is not alone in seeing the appeal. Across the country, dance-based fitness classes are drawing crowds, fueled in part by a shift in how people think about exercise.
“I think people just want to let loose,” she says. “The world is so serious right now. This is a way to leave your worries at the door for an hour.”
Unlike traditional workouts that focus on metrics, reps, or performance, Fly Dance classes emphasize feeling. “You’re not thinking about what weight you need or if your form is perfect,” she says. “You’re just moving and having fun.”
That shift has been especially meaningful for adults juggling work, family, and packed schedules. “There’s this craving for connection,” Sneathen says. “A place where you can just show up, be yourself, and enjoy something.”
A Built-In Night Out
For Sneathen, part of the appeal is how the studio functions as more than a fitness space. “It’s like having a night out built into your routine,” she says.
The Chesterfield location will incorporate elements that lean into that atmosphere: dim lighting, upbeat music, and even plans for themed events such as “mom nights out” and bachelorette-style group classes.
“It’s a safe space to have fun,” she says. “You can come in, dance, and then go grab dinner with friends.”
In other words, it fills a gap that Sneathen believes many adults feel acutely. “There aren’t a lot of places where you can just go and dance anymore,” she says. “Especially in a way that fits into your life now.”
More Than Physical
While the workouts are designed to be effective, Sneathen says the biggest changes she sees are mental. “It’s like when you’re in your kitchen and a song comes on and you just start dancing,” she says. “It gives you a minute to breathe and let everything go.”
That release is tied to something simple: endorphins. “You get a really good sweat, but it feels mindless in the best way,” she says. “You don’t have to think too hard. You just move.”
The result, she says, is a kind of reset. After her first class, she left feeling energized and lighter.
“I couldn’t stop smiling,” she says. “I just felt like, ‘OK, I’ve got this.’”
Bringing it to St. Louis
Now, Sneathen is working to open a Fly Dance Fitness studio in the Chesterfield area, though the exact location is still being finalized.
“I’m being really intentional about finding the right space,” she says, noting that accessibility and safety are top priorities.
In the meantime, she is already building a team of instructors, many with backgrounds in dance and performance. “I want people who bring energy and joy,” she says.
The goal is to recreate the experience that first drew her in, while building a community that reflects St. Louis. “I really believe this is something people here have been looking for,” she says.
While an official opening date has not yet been announced, Sneathen plans to host pop-up classes in the coming months to introduce the concept to local audiences.
For those who are curious, she suggests keeping an eye on social media for updates—and being ready to move.
“Just show up and have fun,” she says. “That’s the whole point.”
