Dancing Into the New Year

When it comes to News Years resolutions, many of us will make promises of a healthier tomorrow. We purchase all the workout gear, we sign up for that gym membership and we make a plan to take control of our health and fitness.

Toni Gambrel, who has been teaching a dance cardio class in London for nearly a decade, has had a front row seat to watching several of our men and women in this community take control of their health and fitness in a fun and exciting way.

“It is a fun way to be healthy,” Toni said of her dance cardio class. “You’ll get the benefit without realizing you are working out.”

Originally born in Western Kentucky, Toni was a teacher for many years before she began managing her family’s law office, Gambrel & Wilder, in 2001 after moving back to Laurel County with her family where she has remained ever since.

During the day, Toni works as a paralegal. Then, twice a week in the evenings, she laces up her tennis shoes as she heads into her second “job” as a dance cardio instructor, though Toni doesn’t consider it a job but more of a passion.

When Toni was in her 40s, she made the decision to take control of her health and fitness when she began attending dance workout classes at Powerhouse Gym.

“You realize, ‘hey, I’m over 40 and I need to start really doing extra things to take care of myself,’” she said. “I wanted to be around for grandchildren. So, I started attending classes and fell in love with the idea and aspect of dancing while getting a great workout in.”

Toni took her workout classes seriously, attending every dance class she was able to and becoming more passionate about it with every class. After a while, Toni was asked to help lead dance workout classes, as she became a co-teacher to learn the ropes and get some training before being asked to lead her own classes.

“When I started, I had maybe 10 people and they ranged in ages from as young as high school all the way up to 70s,” she said. Toni’s classes quickly grew and before she realized it, her dance cardio class was the largest, most consistent class at Powerhouse, averaging anywhere from 25 to 35 members a class.

Then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, and things quickly changed. Gyms were forced to shut down, as did workout classes with Toni. Toni and members of her dance cardio class were devastated, attempting workouts together online or meeting at an outdoor location where they could easily socially distance.

Once restrictions were lifted and gyms were allowed to re-open, Toni was eager to get back to her workout classes with the stipulation that she could only have 10 members per class, so Toni began offering two classes back-to-back to accommodate those who were just as eager to get back in the gym.

Then, another devastating blow came, with the announcement that Powerhouse Gym would be closing for good and once again, Toni and her dance cardio community were looking for options to keep their workout classes going. That’s when the owners of Rhythm Dance Studio and Toni reached an agreement for Toni to rent out their studio space a couple nights a week so she could continue offering her dance cardio classes, something that Toni said has been a huge blessing.

“It has been amazing to use the space,” Toni said.

Since then, Dance Cardio with Toni has been going strong, seeing anywhere from 15 to 25 people eager to get their dance on twice a week. Toni’s classes are typically an hour-long with choreographed dances to an array of genres from pop to country to gospel and even some holiday classics to help workout your entire body. Toni said that her classes are fun and laid back, allowing people to move at their own pace, modify dance moves to fit their needs and take breaks when needed, encouraging people of all ages and body types to join.

“This group is so welcoming,” Toni said. “It doesn’t matter your shape, size, color, gender—there is nobody that is looked at any differently. I try to make it an environment that is for everyone.”

“At the end of the day, for me personally, watching someone evolve into all that they can be, and it may be that shy person in the back who ends up being a leader, for me that is what it’s all about. It’s like having a student finally get something or your child learning to walk. I love that, I absolutely love that.”

Dance Cardio with Toni takes place at Rhythm Dance Studio every Tuesday and Thursday at 8 p.m. It is $5 per class or $35 for the month, with the first class free.

Toni invites anyone with an interest in her class to come in and observe before making any judgements about whether dance cardio is for them or not. She encourages anyone with an interest in joining her class to speak with their physician beforehand and to come in ready to sweat.

“This can be day one of deciding when you want to get healthy,” Toni said. “You get to decide when that day one is going to be. If you are 60 and you are just now deciding you want to get control of your health, I invite you—this is a place for you. If you are 20 and you are already healthy, come and join us, you may teach me a thing or two.”