Viral hip-hop workout studio coming to the Charlotte area
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Photo: So Many Moments Photography, courtesy of Fly Dance Fitness.
Fly Dance Fitness, a popular cardio dance fitness chain out of Florida, is expanding to the Charlotte area this year.
Why it matters: Charlotteans flooded the comments of the studio's Instagram post announcing the expansion, making it clear there's high demand for dance-based fitness options.
The vibe: Fly Dance Fitness, which has over one million followers on Instagram, is known for high-cardio, hip-hop-based dance classes taught in a party-like atmosphere.
- Classes are also designed to be inclusive. Studio rooms don't have windows to keep the classes as private and comfortable as possible.
What they're saying: "We give you the workout. We give you the fun. We also give you an experience because we have the club lights going," Charlotte franchise owner Jena Bowman tells Axios.
- Bowman is a local fitness instructor who got the idea to open a studio here after Fly Dance's viral videos started landing on her feed.
What to expect: The signature class is the "Throw Down," a one-hour hip-hop cardio workout with routines that change weekly.
- "So FLY Step" combines choreographed hip-hop and step aerobics. This one's similar to Raleigh's Club Cardio & Fitness Bar, whose pop-ups sell out within hours.
- "Throw and Flow" is a mix of the "Throw Down" format with a choreographed stretch routine.
- Other formats include weight-based and circuit-style workouts.
Flashback: Fly Dance began in Sarasota, FL in 2014 and began franchising in 2023.
- Charlotte marks the 11th franchise. Several other recent or upcoming openings include Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Knoxville and Atlanta.
What's next: Bowman hopes to open the Charlotte studio by the end of the year.
- While an exact location hasn't been confirmed, she says she's heavily eyeing the Lake Norman area.