LABLAST® FITNESS:
OUR STORY
LaBlast® Fitness was officially created and trademarked as a Ballroom dance fitness company in 2010. However, the creator of the company, Louis van Amstel, started teaching ballroom dance fitness classes in Sherman Oaks, CA in 2008. After the second season of ABC’s smash hit TV show “Dancing with the Stars” in 2006 and the show’s stadium tours in 2007 and part of 2008, Louis’s celebrity partner, Lisa Rinna, asked him to start a partner free dance class so she could continue dancing after season two and tours. Lisa and Louis asked some friends to join a sample class that Louis had created for this small group. One of Lisa’s notable friends who joined was business entrepreneur Cindy Crawford who told Louis after class that she herself is not a dancer, but this could be a potentially hugely successful business. This program would be accessible to all, make everyone feel like a star, and be completely different than any program out there!
In October of 2008 the first class was held and within weeks more classes were offered. Within a year Louis was teaching eight jam-packed classes weekly. After two years, the classes had become so popular that Louis was considering turning his classes into an actual business.
In the Fall of 2009, Louis was partnered with celebrity Kelly Osbourne for season nine of “Dancing with the Stars”. They had a very successful season making the final with fellow celebrities Donny Osmond (partnered with pro dancer Kym Johnson), and Maya (partnered with pro dancer Dimitri Chaplin). Kelly lost over 25 pounds during the three months that they danced together on the show. Kelly Osbourne’s journey on DWTS was so life changing that he was inspired to develop a program that would be suitable for both dance and fitness facilities worldwide. The premise was simple: create a partner-free dance program based on Ballroom dancing that anyone could participate in, learn to dance, get in shape, and have a great time.
Following season nine in January 2010, Louis flew to his native country of the Netherlands to launch the LaBlast® Fitness program in several dance and fitness studios. The response was overwhelmingly positive. With this success, Louis returned to the United States with a determination to bring LaBlast® to students all across America.
To ensure success and integrity of his dance fitness company, Louis van Amstel first certified himself in the two major group fitness certifications with A.F.A.A. (Athletics and Fitness Association of America) and A.C.E. (American Council of Exercise) and later the aquatics group fitness certification A.E.A. (Aquatics Exercise Association). Even though Louis is a 3x World Champion Ballroom dancer it is important that he educated himself as a fitness professional. He also has extensive training under his coach and mentor Ruud Vermeij, centered around Rudolf von Laban’s movement theories, which have heavily affected the movement philosophy of LaBlast.
After years of presenting LaBlast® Fitness at Fitness conventions, including SCW Manias, IDEA World, ACSM, local FitCons, and growing LaBlast® Fitness successfully in dance and fitness studios, YMCA’s, Jewish Community Centers, and locally owned gyms, It became clear LaBlast Fitness needed to expand.
In 2015 LaBlast® Splash was thoroughly created and designed especially for the pool, still based on partner-free Ballroom based dance fitness, including the aqua principles from the worldwide organization AEA (Aquatic Exercise Association)
Following LaBlast Splash was LaBlast® Line Dancing. This four-wall choreographed format was originally designed for recreational purposes as a standalone class. While the other LaBlast formats include all components of physical fitness, LaBlast® Line Dancing was created to focus on partner-free social dancing. The format was so well embraced that many LaBlast Fitness instructors got certified and started incorporating LaBlast® Line Dancing within their fitness classes.
LaBlast® as a company is always looking to stay up to date with trends while staying in their lane: the lane of partner-free Ballroom dance fitness for all!
Even though a big part of LaBlast’s mission is for all its instructors to provide classes for all ages and abilities in the same class, LaBlast is aware that many active agers live in senior communities and children and teenagers go to school where only those within that age category will attend. There for, LaBlast added two more formats: LaBlast® Chair and LaBlast® Kids. Both formats are based on partner-free Ballroom dance fitness and include all components of physical fitness.
LaBlast® Chair, is the seated format that still focuses on fitness and moving the whole body, physically, mentally, and emotionally, even while sitting on a chair. Although the main population of seated fitness is the senior community, many younger people who are recovering from injury or surgery enjoy LaBlast® Chair.
The LaBlast® Kids format is not only based on partner-free Ballroom dance fitness, it also includes many of the national school standards that each student needs to learn during their school hours throughout Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle school, and Highschool.
The five LaBlast® formats are all designed to inspire people from all ages, abilities, and to express themselves through the power of movement, all while improving their overall health and well-being. Combining dance, music, community and enjoyment, LaBlast is for everyone and every body!
LABLAST® FITNESS SIGNATURE FORMATS
LaBlast Chair Fitness
Grab a seat and experience the latest in chair fitness. Inspired by “Dancing with the Stars,” this motivating ballroom fitness class blends dancing and gentle weight training with simple, easy-to-follow patterns designed specifically for the aging population. Like all LaBlast® formats, LaBlast® Chair Fitness can be adapted for all levels. Whether you prefer to dance standing up and using the chair for balance, or seated the whole time, you’ll surely have a blast!
LaBlast® Splash
Dive into the future of water fitness – LaBlast® Splash! Low impact? Check. Cardio building, joint friendly and outrageously fun? Check x3. So what sets Splash apart from other water aerobic formats? Splash celebrates the beauty of ballroom fitness in the water! Learn the Disco, Jive, Viennese Waltz, Lindy Hop, and more through whole body movement both in and above the water. The easy-to-learn patterns and music selections from all genres and eras welcome any age and fitness level. Ready to break from traditional aquatic disciplines? Make a Splash!
LaBlast® Fitness
Inspired by TV’s Dancing with the Stars, LaBlast® Fitness is an energizing ballroom fitness class blending the true skill of dance with the calorie blasting properties of interval training. Carefully curated music playlists from all eras and genres keep you engaged and entertained while learning the Tango, Rumba, Quickstep and more! The multi-level learning approach makes LaBlast® Fitness perfect for everyone, from the absolute beginner to the advanced dancer. It’s partner-free, high energy… And did we mention that it’s really fun?
LaBlast® Line Dancing
Country Line Dancing has been a favorite of many for decades. Are you ready to take traditional line dancing out of the saddle and on to the ballroom floor, while blasting it to a whole new level of fun and fitness? Then LaBlast® Line Dance is for you! Easy-to-learn dances including Disco, Foxtrot, Samba, Paso Doble, and more get you moving to all four walls in no time at all. All dances are partner-free and can be done anywhere, making LaBlast® Line Dance the next social dance revolution. Put a smile on your face and join the fun!
LaBlast® Kids Fitness
Experience the newest LaBlast® Fitness format, Kids Fitness. A perfect balance of dance, ballroom fitness and FUN, designed for children ages 5 and up. This ‘workout in disguise’ will get you moving to dances like the Jive, Salsa, Quickstep, Paso Doble, Viennese Waltz, and many more set to your favorite music. No partner needed! This is your chance to be a kid again, and dance like no one is watching.
NOW YOU CAN EXPERIENCE LABLAST® Online!
LaBlast® Online has something for everyone. Something for every schedule. LaBlast® Online has weekly Livestreams in a set schedule. Also included in every LaBlast Online membership, is access to an extensive library of pre-filmed workouts at any time!
READY TO GET STARTED ON YOUR OWN FITNESS JOURNEY? SIGN UP FOR ONE FREE WEEK OF LABLAST ON DEMAND, NO STRINGS ATTACHED!
PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE LOVING LABLAST®! HERE’S WHY…
My name is Laura Johnson, and I have been a Group Fitness Instructor and Group Fitness Manager for 30 years in the fitness industry. I am certified in numerous programs and have taught
every dance program that is currently on the market. After becoming certified by Louis Van Amstel in his dance fitness program “LaBlast®“, I now ONLY teach and endorse his dance fitness program. Louis and his team provide excellent instructor support. It has withstood the test of time which is crucial in a fitness facility.I brought Louis’s program to Galaxy Fitness two years ago and it is a successful thriving class that continues to grow, prosper, and inspire members of all ages. LaBlast® is a top
producing dance fitness program that has proven to be a lucrative addition to our group fitness schedule. Men and women of all ages benefit from the classes.
Each time I finish a class I have participants who rush up to me and tell me how LaBlast® has made an impact on their lives. It is a program that grows with the progress of students. My ability to offer any genre of music and level of choreography inspires them on a physical as well as emotional level.I would encourage every group fitness instructor/Gym owner to bring LaBlast® to their facility. They won’t be sorry. LaBlast® is simply “The Best”!
Beth instantly fell in love with LaBlast® because it embodies the lifestyle necessary for ANYONE to achieve a healthier and happier life. Through LaBlast®, Beth has been able to reach people of all ages and fitness levels, exposing them to the fun and excitement of dance, and molding stronger, healthier individuals with more fulfilled lifestyles. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Beth combines her knowledge of body mechanics and movement to offer a safe and effective class. Beth’s unique balance of talents enable her to offer trainings rich in education and the necessary skills to excel as a fitness professional. She enjoys sharing her experience with other professionals to help them realize that they too can change people’s lives through LaBlast®!
Thanks so much Louis for creating LaBlast® and for giving me something to help regain my confidence and love for dance. Before we met I had found myself getting older and that younger cuter teachers were getting the new students. Adding to that I was forced to leave competing. I felt so lost and depressed, put on weight and just really didn’t know where to go anymore. I attempted trying to do Zumba but really hated it. Nothing about it filled my love for dance or even wanting to teach it. Louis, you and LaBlast® have helped me regain my love for teaching and dancing.
