Q: Tell us about yourself – what do you do when you’re not teaching? What are your hobbies? What other formats do you teach? Give us a little on your background.

A: I am a corporate lawyer turned wild and happy dance fitness instructor (nickname WildKat)! Anything related to health, fitness, and nutrition fascinates me. I grew up playing competitive team sports (soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, and track and field). I also loved performing and learning new dance styles everywhere I went.

When I studied in Senegal, West Africa in college, I spent as much time dancing sabar, n’dombolo, and zouk with my new friends as going to class! I graduated from law school at UC Berkeley and became a lawyer in Oakland, California (my home town!). On Sunday nights, I danced Salsa and Merengue at Allegro Ballroom in Emeryville, California. After leaving the corporate world to start a family, I dove back into the world of performing arts, acting in theater, film, and television. The auditioning process in San Francisco took most of my time, and when I had my third child and moved to Concord, California, that lifestyle was no longer feasible.

One day, as I drove past a sign in my neighborhood that read, “Dance Connection,” I realized that I needed more dance in my life. I learned that Dance Connection offered Zumba Fitness classes, attended my first class, and was hooked. A year later, I became an instructor. Now, I am an AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor and I teach Zumba Fitness, Zumba Toning, and BollyX! I am working on my certification for a new format called Pop Pilates, core training inspired by Pilates and choreographed to Top 40 pop hits!

Q: How would you describe BollyX in one word?

A: Celebration! BollyX is a celebration of music, movement, health, color, individuality and life!

Q: What is your favorite part of BollyX class?

A: My favorite part of BollyX class is watching participants really let loose and get their groove on to their favorite tunes. Their unique styles, energy, joy and enthusiasm inspire me!

Q: How has working with BollyX changed you or your lifestyle?

A: Working with BollyX has opened my world to so many amazing people, communities, and Indian cultures. Plus, I personally have achieved a new level of health, happiness, and fitness by being a BollyX instructor – hello wide squats and Bhangra skips and kicks!

Q: How long have you been with BollyX and what inspired you to join the community?

A: I joined the BollyX community in July 2015! In Zumba Fitness, I teach some routines to Indian music. I felt drawn to the desi moves and Bollywood, Bhangra, and Folk songs and wanted to learn more and delve more deeply into Indian dance styles. A fellow instructor, Carmen Arroyo, was hosting a BollyX training at her studio and I and nine Zumba instructor friends signed up!

Q: What is your favorite BollyX song to teach?

A: If I have to choose one, my favorite is “Gallan Goodiyaan”! Participants love it, request it, and sing along. I love the song and the choreography is awesome!

Q: Where do you teach BollyX?

A: I teach BollyX twice a week at Dance Connection Performing Arts Center in Concord, CA and around the Bay Area at demos and events!

Q: Anything else you want to add?

A: My colleague and fellow BollyX-certified instructor, Pamela Suarez, and I just started our own fitness company, Glow Fitness (going2glow.com), and we are excited to bring BollyX to even more participants as our new company grows!

Take a class with WildKat in the Bay Area – check out her BollyX profile here!