Each month, we will be showcasing one of our clients. This month, Beccy Shamy-Cline has graciously agreed to be featured! Beccy has been coming to BFF for over five years now, and she has some great things to say.

Believe it or not, I think it was a Groupon. I wanted to find a dance aerobics type of class, and the schedule looked like it had some classes I would enjoy. Never in a million years did I think I would start taking ballet classes!

Wow! I can’t believe it, but it’s been over five years, and I took Latin Cardio Tone.

My biggest accomplishment by far is starting pointe training at 55, and a short six months later, getting to perform on pointe! The biggest challenge is the fitness classes; the kick my butt every time, but in a good way!

I love the feeling of community. We’re all here to help each other, and even though I’ve taken many a class where most were far more advanced than I, no one has ever made me feel like I didn’t belong or that I shouldn’t be there. We work hard, but no one takes themselves too seriously. I’ve been encouraged all along the way, and I’ve never been told I might be too old (actually, I’ve never been allowed to use that as an excuse!).

I would say it is the safest, most encouraging environment to start moving your body!

Because of Lisa and her amazing teachers, as well as the community she has developed, I was able to accomplish a long forgotten dream. There are no words.

Thank you, Beccy! We love you, and we are so happy that BFF has been able to be part of your ballet journey.

​​​​​​​If you would like to be featured in a future edition of the newsletter, email us!

We are also showcasing one of our amazing instructors each month, and this month, we are featuring Hallie Edmonds. Hallie joined us 5 years ago after one of our fitness instructors told her about us. Read on to find out more about her!

Tell us a little about your dance background.
I grew up in Tucson where I trained at Academy of Ballet under Linda Walker and Carolyn Hutchinson and later Gary Mackenzie. It was here that I studied ballet, jazz, and character. I danced for their company, Tucson Regional Ballet, for 6 seasons and danced as a “guest artist” for them for 1 year while I was in college. While attending the University of Arizona, I took ballet, modern, and jazz classes in the dance department. When I moved to Phoenix, I took classes with Ballet Arizona, Mesa Community College, and Scottsdale Community College and completed my Pilates certification. I performed with the Arizona State University dance program and was a company member with Treeline Dance in Phoenix under Jenny Showalter.Tell us about how you first came to BFF.
I actually completed my Pilates certification with BFF instructor Jackie Weinstein who told me about this “great ballet studio who was run by this amazing woman named Lisa.” I emailed Lisa asking if they were in need of any more ballet instructors, and Lisa invited me in to take and then teach a class.

How long have you been an instructor at BFF?
I began teaching in 2012

What is your favorite thing about teaching at BFF?
The people: I always look forward to coming to the studio after a long work day. The instructors, staff, and clients are some of the best people I know.

What is your favorite thing to teach at BFF, either a class or a skill?
On the fitness side: I love teaching Ballerobica (I love calf exercises haha!) On the dance side: I love teaching contemporary

If someone was thinking about joining but wasn’t sure, what would you tell them?
We’re not just a dance or fitness studio; we’re a community of supportive people who truly enjoy just working out and having fun. We welcome all exercise backgrounds and levels and want nothing more than to help you achieve your fitness goals.

Each month, we will be showcasing one of our instructors. This month, we are featuring Lindsay Dahlin.

Tell us a little about your dance background.
I began performing and competing in jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, ballet and cheerleading at the age of 5. I trained at Plumb Performing Arts Center in Scottsdale before moving to Southern California where I danced on my high school’s varsity dance team. I then attended UCLA where I split my time dancing on the UCLA dance team and performing as a Clippers Spirit dancer for the NBA. After receiving my B.A. in Sociology, I joined the Los Angeles Lakers Girls and started dancing and acting in the entertainment industry. Some of my credits include: Ironman 2, NFL Pro Bowl Halftime Show, America’s Got Talent, The Tonight Show, American Country Awards, House M.D., The Conan Show, Sizzler Restaurants, IPad, Big Lots, Salonpas, Kmart and more. My proudest accomplishment is traveling overseas to Kuwait and Iraq to perform for our US Armed Forces.

Tell us about how you first came to BFF.
I just moved back to Arizona from California in January and I was looking for a barre studio that I could potentially work at. In California I worked as a barre and dance/fitness instructor for 3 years. I really wanted to find something similar, so I searched “barre studios” in google maps. BFF was listed and it was quite close to where I lived. Once I checked out the website and saw all that BFF offered, I knew I wanted work here. I sent an email through the contact us option on the website and I came in and did a demo class. I was then offered a position as an instructor and I was so excited for the opportunity.

What is your favorite thing about teaching at BFF?
I love teaching at BFF because there is so much variety! There is no other studio quite like BFF. We are always adding new and fun fitness and dance classes while staying true to our ballet instruction. But it’s great because this keeps things fresh and interesting for our clientele and the instructors. I am able to teach several different types of classes and use my creativity as a dancer and fitness instructor.

What is your favorite thing to teach at BFF, either a class or a skill?
I really enjoy teaching our 90-minute workshops that we offer once a month because this class offers a little bit of everything to our clients. We incorporate cardio, ballet, barre, hip-hop, weights, bands, HIIT and more. There are no limits for this class and I love that!

If someone was thinking about joining but wasn’t sure, what would you tell them?
Go for it! BFF is such an awesome studio with the most amazing, qualified instructors I’ve ever met. I felt so welcome as soon as I stepped foot into BFF and these ladies are like family now. I look forward to teaching and taking class every week and I know that all the instructors here feel the same way. It’s a great workout and I guarantee you will have fun! And try all the different types of classes to see what fits you best. We have something for everyone!

Thank you so much, Lindsay! It hasn’t been that long, but it feels like you’ve been part of the team since the start!

We are also showcasing one of our amazing instructors each month, and this month, we are featuring Lisa Hunter. Like most of our instructors, Lisa came to us as a client. She had a background in dance and, like many of our clients, wanted to continue dance recreationally as an adult. Read on to find out more about Lisa!

Tell us a little about your dance background.
The majority of my dance background comes from my 11 years of participating in colorguard and winterguard, which for the most part is a mix of ballet, contemporary, jazz, and lyrical dance. Along the way, however, I’ve taken classes in hip hop, swing, bellydance, line dance and various ballroom and Latin dances. I find that each style offers choreography that best accentuates certain types of music. Plus, one of my favorite parts of dancing is performing, and each of these styles typically has an emotion that best fits it; more styles means a spectrum of characters I can portray and emote.

Tell us about how you first came to BFF.
I actually started as a student who had recently moved to AZ, and was looking to find an  affordable ballroom, hip hop or jazz class that allowed adults (note: this is about as easy as finding a unicorn). At the time, BFF had an instructor who taught a class called Latin Cardio; I signed up and between the instructor being very welcoming and me just straight up enjoying the class, I became a permanent student, at least until I became an instructor!

How long have you been an instructor at BFF?
I’ve been teaching at BFF for approximately three and a half years.

What is your favorite thing about teaching at BFF?
My favorite thing hands down is getting to watch my students progress. Even in a single Club BFF class, a new student will often be a bit shakey with picking up the choreography at first, but by the end when we are doing a review of the class, they are nailing the steps just like my more tenured students who have been coming for months! It’s really rewarding to see them smile when they realize they’ve gotten the moves down.

What is your favorite thing to teach at BFF, either a class or a skill?
It’s probably not a surprise that I’d have to say Club BFF (as it’s the only class I currently teach). It’s fun to incorporate new styles of dance to give some flair to tranditional cardio fitness, and I love getting to play DJ and take requests from my students!

If someone was thinking about joining but wasn’t sure, what would you tell them?
It’s normal to try a new place and feel very uncomfortable, not knowing what you’ll be stepping into or what everyone else there will think about you, but one of the things I love most about our studio is that everyone, from the instructors and staff to the clientele, are very down-to-earth people, who really just care about health and fitness and having a good time doing it!​

We are also showcasing one of our amazing instructors each month, and this month, we are featuring Tamara Barden Huth. Like most of our instructors, Tamara came to us as a client. As a former professional ballet dancer, BFF offered a unique environment that really appealed to her.

I started ballet at age five in Tempe at Adams Academy of Ballet where I studies the Royal Academy of Dance method. I went on to apprentice with Ballet Arizona, and then I moved to New York City to study at the School of American Ballet where I learned the Balanchine style. Two years later, I joined American Ballet Theatre and danced with the company for ten years. In 2012, I completed ABT’s National Training Curriculum for ballet instructors.

I started as a client in 2011. It was a few months after the studio opened, and I bought a Groupon. I hadn’t danced since I retired in 2001. It felt great to be dancing again!

I started teaching at the studio in 2012.

I love that it is an all-adult studio. It is so great to be able to come in and feel comfortable around peers. I don’t think I could motivate myself to show up at a regular studio filled with stick-thin teenagers at this point in my life! Also, the studio has been where I met most of my closest friends to date. It has a really close-knit community.

Ballet, of course! I like to focus on proper placement to prevent injury and the upper body, since that is what really makes a dancer look beautiful.