2020/2021 is a difficult time for everyone right now. We are amid the COVID-19 epidemic. It has affected everyone across the globe. However, people are still finding the strength and courage to watch Misty Tripoli and the Body Groove facilitators perform various dance workouts.
For most people, especially women, it has been a stress reliever. For 25-35 minutes a day, people are wiggling and jiggling their bodies to various musical genres. Yes, dance is a great way to burn calories and an ideal cardio activity. But you must take it up a few notches with Misty! She encourages you to be imaginative while challenging yourself to JUST DANCE!
Misty Tripoli is an exceptional dancer and choreographer who did not follow the traditional norms of dance. Tripoli has been dancing before she could walk and was determined to play by her own rules. She honestly believes, “There is no right or wrong way to dance,” and encourages people to dance from the heart. She wants dance lovers to let go and feel the music without seeking judgment or approval from others. This is Tripoli’s day-to-day motto but getting there was not an easy step.
Although she was a global athlete for Nike and a health director for Equinox, Tripoli’s world crumbled behind closed doors. She overworked herself to death and struggling with bulimia, needed to set herself free from the dysfunctional and unhealthy world she was living in at the time. Tripoli became fully aware of her self-worth and launched “The World Groove Movement,” a global dance movement that has impacted many people’s lives. People are eager and motivated to come together and get their groove on with Misty.
DC: What does dance mean to you?
MT: Dancing is my salvation; I am truly a dance lover. It brings me joy and connection to my creator. It is my metaphorical language and it means everything to me. Dance is my life!
I was “dancing out of my mother’s vagina.” I jumped out of her vagina and started dancing. My birth was the easiest for mom; she was only in labor for three hours. My mother had seven children but I was the child that was always dancing around the house, flinging my arms and legs. Based on that, I would say dancing is my gift to my world. It has been my path since birth and I got a hold of dance early on in life. I was dancing in the street with local boys; I was just ready to groove. I was never formally trained because my mother could not afford dance lessons. She was a single mother, taking care of seven children but I was determined to break the rules. And that is what I tell my viewers when they are watching Body Groove. The purpose of dance is to be clear and free with movement. I believe that is how you can excel effortlessly with dance.
DC: When did you decide to incorporate dance with fitness?
MT: It all started when I was a teenager. But, at that time I had body issues and I hated my body. I started judging myself by looking at supermodels in magazines. And then I was a bulimic; I was surrounded by women that did not like their bodies and I fell into that trap. It was a difficult time but dancing was never too far. I started going to the gym and it worked out. I was a natural mover and started getting into boxing, all kinds of dance, and fitness. I taught all genres of music- alternative, hip-hop, African, and Latin and then became a choreographer. I was also teaching my workout secrets and health classes all over the world. I was doing all of these things and they were great. I also had a deal with Nike under their Elite Athlete category for seven years.
DC: What are some of the challenges would you say dancers face professionally?
MT: Even though dancers are professionally trained, the career span for the profession is cut short. A dancer can end their career by the age of 30 especially if a dancer does not take care of themselves. Also, the money is not steady, and/or dancers are paid peanuts. Dancers are also compelled to perform well always and to live up to the choreographers’ expectations. On an emotional note, other dancers tend to compare themselves to other dancers based on their movement or reputation. Often those comparisons can affect a dancer’s self-esteem. Dancers can also lose a job if they do not meet the physical requirements for the job. It is that type of response that drives dancers to harm their bodies when they are rejected by a company. Dancers struggle with body image because they want to have an appealing body for the crowd.
DC: What inspired you to start the Groove Movement?
MT: I was at the top of my game but I was not dancing for myself. On the surface, I was on top of the world but I was suffering on the inside. I was still bulimic and was caught on how my body should look because I wanted to look a certain way. I was throwing up 3x-4x a day and I will vomit after a meal so I can maintain that image. It was an 18 -year battle and I was tired of lying to myself every day. I was killing myself and lost a lot of my back teeth and needed work done. And then one day, I decided to live in my truth and become more aware of my body. With this frame of mind, I started letting go of the things that were unhealthy and inconducive to my body. I said to myself, I was not born to hate myself and just started dancing for me. I cannot explain it; it was just an inner calling.
My body started surrendering to the music. I started feeling better and decided to quit my job, sold everything I had, and started the global Groove movement. I knew I was born to dance and this life-changing experience reminded me of what I was supposed to be doing at the time. I cannot be a slave to anything or anyone that owns my time and decided to make more time for myself. I did not want to do 60-70 hours of work on someone else’s time; it just was not healthy for me anymore. And so, I started working on The Groove Method in 2005. I traveled all over the world, telling people how and why they should get their groove on and be happy. For me, it is about a healthy mind, soul, spirit, along with a healthy weight. Many people from all walks of life, shapes, sizes, and nationalities participate in the Groove Movement because they respect the mission. We have real people in our groups, there are no false images or individuals. With Groove Movement, we have retreats, classes, and other training so people can learn more about what we do as an establishment. Groove Movement believes in honesty and realness and that is what we incorporate with Groove Movement.
DC: Describe the Delicious Dance.
MT: Delicious Dance is the first dance video I created before Body Groove and incorporated it into the Groove Movement. It took me eight years to sell the dance video. It was so different and marketers did not know how to sell it. We didn’t get a response until about three years ago. My marketing team figured out a way to strategize Delicious Dance and started including it on Body Groove. It was a test and we generated $6,000 in one day due to the Facebook ads. Then Body Groove started blowing up online and it became a great way for people to work out at home. We create dance routines that are five minutes long and it works well with everyone’s body. I encourage them to perform the routines at their own pace and figure out what’s best for their bodies. I encourage people to do what is best for their bodies without hurting or overexerting themselves.
DC: What is Body Groove’s mission for those who aren’t familiar with the brand?
MT: Body Groove is a dance fitness program but it is not the average exercise program. It is a live program that was introduced to the world three years ago. Body Groove is a program that tells people to break away from the things and people that are not healthy for them. It became an online platform where people can strengthen their bodies, learn more about flexibility, and still dance creatively. We want Body Groove participants to have fun while they are dancing. I want them to have fun while grooving with us either in person or at home. The dance steps are pretty simple for everyone to perform and we make them feel good for everyone. And if people experience limitations, groovers can perform moves on the chair. We want to tell people that they are no limits and restrictions. They can wiggle in the chair, no excuses. While they are moving their arms and body, we want dancers to be free and flowing. While dancing, you can release your natural endorphins, relieve pain, and release serotonin. Serotonin is a happy chemical that is associated with happiness and well-being. These are your traditional chemicals and when these are not released; you cannot connect to your authentic self. Creative movements affect all body systems and the brain. It encourages people to take care of their temples and learn how to have a balanced life.
DC: What are the characteristics of a Body Groove Facilitator?
MT: For starters, you do not have to be a dancer to be a Body Groove facilitator. We want our facilitator to dance with freedom. Facilitators will perform at their rhythm. They must be a unique individual and be willing to move their body differently. The facilitators will tell our groovers to do it their way and trust themselves while they are working out. We want the Body Groove facilitator to be authentic and creative and perform in a way that advises others that they cannot get it wrong. Do not perform the moves, just for the sake of dancing. Enjoy the movement and do it for yourself. The Body Groove facilitator will also tell our groovers “you don’t know until you try or you won’t know your strength or capabilities until you try.” It is our words of wisdom to groovers because we want them to challenge themselves and still have fun. The definition of wisdom is knowledge applied.
DC: Is there an application process for prospective Body Groove facilitators?
MT: You do not need dance experience to be a Body Groove facilitator. We do not accept facilitators based on their years of dance. We just want our facilitators to come up with a routine that unifies everyone in movement or rhythm. For example, the basic step and the fast walk are some of our moves. We perform these moves because they are doable. Next, the language has to be easy to understand or comprehend for our groovers. We encourage groovers to do it in their way and we want facilitators to proceed with the same mission in mind. We just want everyone to be unified and this is the main component we must see when an applicant sends their video. We look at their videos and provide feedback to the applicant. Future groovers must be complete 18 hours of coursework, mostly on the weekends They will also learn more about the Body Groove mission so groovers can free their minds and body while dancing. After the weekend course is completed, they will receive a certification and will continue to practice. The physical training takes three months to complete and they are enrolled in six different classes. Facilitators will also receive a course packet that includes different tutorials, coaching guides, playlists, and other marketing materials. It is a lengthy process but we want it to be enjoyable for our facilitators.
DC: What are your plans for The Groove Movement & Body Groove?
MT: Our goal as a brand is to grow and reach more people, day by day. We want people to reconnect with their bodies. We will continue to encourage people to dance and have fun. We want people to connect and prosper through dance. We know tribunal dance is one of the great ways to build community while working out. It is the modern way of working out but with Body Groove, we want people to connect with themselves and elevate their vibration. The Groove Movement is a big advocate of prosperity and creativity. But it has to start with the groover. They have to be responsible for themselves and their bodies. The secret is to change your frame of mind about yourself and health and allowing dance to be your secret weapon.
DC: What would be your words of encouragement for anyone that is struggling with body image and/or weight?
MT: Remember to be kind to yourself, the more you are kind to yourself, you will start to feel more confident. Everyone is formed and shaped differently, so you cannot look at women in magazines. It is a false illusion and it drives people to feel insecure about their weight and look. From my personal experiences and as a former bulimic, I want people to look beyond physical health in terms of being healthy. You have to learn how to love yourself and enjoy being in your body. Mental health is true health; you have to be healthy inside and out. Before you think about your physical health, you have to think about your emotional and mental health. Loving yourself is ongoing so you can start to like and love yourself more and more every day. I guarantee you if you care about yourself, your body will respond differently.
Fitness is not about a shape or size; it is about being healthy. Do not worry about having the perfect body and be real with yourself.
