Melain Blue grew up watching old musicals with her family and was enthralled by their joyful movement and energy. She remembers wishing she could dance beautifully, like they did, but the small town she grew up in didn't offer any kind of dance or theater program. "I tried gymnastics for a while, but my teacher told me I was too tall to be graceful," Melain laughed, as she recalled her many failed attempts at a cartwheel. Things changed one sleepless night during Melain's 3rd pregnancy, as she was up alone watching the musical, Chicago. "As Velma Kelly showed off her moves in the song, I Can't Do It Alone, I became totally transfixed and thought to myself, 'I could do that!'" That moment propelled her journey into learning how to move like the dancer she wasn't raised to be.

​

I became totally transfixed and thought to myself, 'I could do that!'

​

Melain took her efforts to the next level after she discovered the world of dance fitness, and promptly became a Zumba instructor. She loved exploring the different Latin styles that Zumba had to offer, but found that there was a spike in energy in her classes when doing a familiar, iconic song. She wondered if that energy spike could be sustainable in a whole class, and her dance fusion class was born! This class consisted of beloved music with movements that suited the song, rather than the more basic aerobic steps that she had be using.

​

There was a spike in energy in her classes when doing a familiar, iconic song.

 

One day, a firecracker arrived in the back of Melain's class in the form of fitness instructor, Cory Crawford, and an instant friendship was formed. After Melain left the gym where she was teaching dance fusion, Cory called her to say that she and many other participants missed it, and expressed interest in teaching the class. This led to a beautiful five-year long partnership in which Melain and Cory settled on the All-American theme and the name Rizzmic. They built a strong following, choreographed many songs together, and Melain continued to refine her dance technique through ballet and barre classes.

​

An oasis for people who love dance, whether or not they have a dance background.

 

Rizzmic continues to grow and change, and its instructors and participants along with it. It has become an oasis for people who love dance, whether or not they have a dance background.  "The most surprising part of this journey has been the feedback about results that our participants experience." Melain says, "This started out as a fitness thing, but it has become so much more than that." When people write to thank Melain for Rizzmic, the biggest response is not just, “I lost weight,” but rather, “This changed my life.” Rizzmic is not mindless, repetitive movement. It pushes people out of their comfort zones, and challenges both the body and the mind. These challenges bring growth, and that growth affects everything. “Rizzmic is the ANTI-box." Melain says, "It’s the space outside the lines. At first you feel like you’re in a free fall, but then you find your feet, and that creates the traction you need to transform your life.”

​

"This started out as a fitness thing, but it has become so much more than that."