“I believe that movement is the key to longevity. For me, dance will always be my preferred form of movement. I started studying Pilates and yoga many years ago, so they have also informed my approach to fitness.”

– Annie Landry

In this interview, Annie Landry outlines how her journey from dancer to holistic fitness expert has shaped her approach to wellness. Annie provides practical insights into how integrating dance with other fitness routines can support overall health, encourage self-expression, and aid in injury recovery.

SM: Can you tell us about your transition from a professional dancer to a holistic fitness expert and how it influenced your approach to movement and wellness?

AL: I got my first pair of tap shoes at the age of three and I started assistant teaching dance in the studio where I grew up at the age of fourteen. I worked several professional desk jobs and it wasn’t until graduate school that I got my first professional performing gig. I soon realized that dancing and teaching dance was what I wanted to do as my career.

I later realized that, given my deep understanding of anatomy and physiology from years of dance studies, it made sense to pursue fitness certifications to complement my dance training.

I believe that movement is the key to longevity. For me, dance will always be my preferred form of movement. I started studying Pilates and yoga many years ago, so they have also informed my approach to fitness.

SM: How does your current career reflect your philosophy on combining dance with fitness?

AL: I wanted to create a safe space for individuals of all ages to explore dance and fitness. I wanted to provide high-quality technical and artistic training that is grounded in scientific principles. When you’re safe, you can create and you have another avenue to express yourself.

I had not found anyone else doing what I did exactly the way I wanted to do it, so I had to create it myself.

SM: How do you integrate dance and corrective exercise into fitness programs, and what benefits have you observed from this holistic approach?

AL: A good dance teacher is always assessing and correcting proper form, as he/she is providing detailed verbal cues and images to progress the class. With corrective exercise, we assess which muscles are overworked and underworked to prevent injury. Proper use of these techniques and strategies not only prevents injuries, but improves performance.

At CMC, we incorporate more fluid progressions into our fitness classes so that participants can find more joy in the movement. We are always assessing form and giving guidance and gentle corrections.

I have found that participants are more willing to try new things when I create an environment where they are encouraged to share their goals with me privately and the class is invited to share their goals and wishes for the day’s class, as they are then active participants in their own programming. I incorporate these suggestions into my plans, tailoring my programming for the class and giving individual progressions as needed. I always try to give varying progressions of exercises in a group setting and modify exercises as needed in personal training sessions.  

SM: Can you share some strategies for incorporating hobbies and dance into a regular fitness routine? How can these activities contribute to overall health and well-being?

AL: Your fitness routine should include things you like to do! There are so many ways to incorporate movement into your day, beyond going to the gym. (Don’t get me wrong: I love the gym, but incorporating movement into your lifestyle means that you need to add in other activities in addition to traditional cardio and weightlifting).

If you like pickleball, play pickleball with friends! Join a sports team. Take a movement class. I have found that the social aspect of dance, team sports, and group fitness may make it easier to incorporate more movement into your routine. This is one of the reasons why our community is so important to us at CMC! We want to support each other as we work to achieve our individual goals and our group goal of living a healthier lifestyle.

SM: In your experience, how does proper placement and alignment in dance impact long-term fitness and injury prevention?

AL: It’s everything! Gone are the days of forcing turnout and risking dancing through injury. Thankfully, there is more research available now about how we can improve flexibility and strength to complement dance training, in addition to our traditional approach to pedagogy. It’s my hope that the fields of sports medicine and dance can continue to better inform one another, so that we can continue to modify best practices as we approach our training to better prevent injuries and ensure lifelong fitness.

In the fifth grade, I was asked to write a paper about what I wanted my life to be like as an adult. The only line I remember from that paper was that I would be dancing until I was old and couldn’t move anymore. I now see it as my job to take good care of myself, and I try to rehabilitate old injuries and not compensate for them. I encourage my dancers to learn about how the body works and what they can do to get stronger and work safely. I coach my fitness clients on this as well, and I carefully consider the progression of their training plans. I refer clients to medical professionals and physical therapists when they need more than the scope of my practice as a dance teacher and fit pro.  

SM: What are some common misconceptions people have about combining dance with fitness training, and how do you address them in your practice?

AL: I tell my students to do both! They are not mutually exclusive.

In ballet, in particular, there is a long-perpetuated myth that dancers need some muscles to be over-developed and others to be underdeveloped for the aesthetics of the form (the “line.”) While it’s true that we need to use some muscles more than others to properly execute the technique, it’s important to be aware of this so that we can ensure that we don’t lose functional movement.

I learned this the hard way. I had surgery on my hip for a labral tear. I had a rough recovery because I had a hard time getting my glutes to work. Getting into or out of a chair was extremely difficult. I learned that, when you do a lot of ballet, you are accustomed to using your external rotator muscles to hold your turnout. The external rotator muscles and glutes cannot fire at the same time, so I had to learn how to engage my glutes, not my rotators, to get back to daily function.

I am constantly adapting my dance and fitness programming to the needs of my clients/students for optimal movement efficiency and injury prevention. I don’t want anyone else to have to learn these lessons the hard way!

SM: Can you discuss any specific challenges you’ve faced in your career and how you’ve overcome them to achieve your current success?

AL: I’ve had to rehab abdominal and hip surgeries. Each time, it was a long, very challenging process that encouraged me to learn more about body mechanics, how to progress a fitness program, nourish my body, and find other ways to relieve stress. These challenges have given me first-hand experience and insight into who I can help the most with my programming. As a result, I created dance and fitness programming that has a low impact on the joints, but yields high impact fitness results to help clients live their best lives and move with joy.

SM: What role does nutrition play in your fitness and wellness programs, and how do you ensure your clients are receiving balanced and effective guidance?

AL: As a certified nutrition coach, I incorporate nutrition coaching throughout my programming. There are generally acceptable nutrition guidelines, but everyone has their own unique tastes and challenges. I’m often asked about different diet trends, and my advice is usually to eat a balanced diet that works with your body, not against it.

I’m launching a new online fitness accountability membership called Rise next month. In this membership, we will provide more nutrition coaching, meal planning inspiration, and organizational tools to provide more clarity on the information that is out there right now and remove the hassle and confusion from meal planning to keep you on track to reach your personal goals.    

SM: How do you stay motivated and continue to grow in your field? Are there any recent achievements or milestones you’re particularly proud of?

AL: Seeing my students and clients grow and achieve their dreams encourages me to want to be my best self so that I can continue to motivate, inspire, and educate them.

I’m really proud of the new online membership that I’m launching. I’ve recently received several requests for coaching, classes, and even performance opportunities from women in their 40s and 50s, and I am so excited to serve this market! I’ve developed a program that incorporates individual and group coaching in a supportive worldwide community to help others live their best lives, and I can’t wait to bring this program online so that I can help more people achieve their dreams!  

SM: What advice would you give to someone looking to start their journey in dance or fitness, especially if they’re dealing with injury recovery or seeking a holistic approach to health?

AL: I would recommend consulting with a professional. Once you’re cleared to exercise by your doctor and physical therapist, do a little research. Find a fitness pro who is certified by a reputable agency. Ensure that their approach to exercise and wellness aligns with yours. You want to find a trainer or program that will show you how to progress in your programming as you gain strength and flexibility and hold you accountable to your goals in a supportive way.

“I encourage my dancers to learn about how the body works and what they can do to get stronger and work safely. I coach my fitness clients on this as well, and I carefully consider the progression of their training plans.”

– Annie Landry

Links

• Annie Landry’s LinkedIn profile
• Create Movement Collective (CMC) LinkedIn page
• CMC website
• CMC Instagram
• Annie Landry’s Instagram
• CMC Facebook

Share Your Insights

We’d love to hear your thoughts on integrating dance with fitness routines!

1. How do you currently incorporate movement into your daily routine?
2. What challenges have you faced in blending different fitness practices?
3. What strategies from Annie Landry’s approach could you apply to your own wellness journey?

Share your experiences and insights in the comments below!

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