In this interview, we explore the extraordinary journey of Jules Szabo, the Founder and Artistic Director of The Dancer’s Workout® (TDW), a revolutionary adult dance fitness program, and alumna and Adjunct Faculty member at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). Jules shares her inspiring story of personal and professional growth, from a childhood immersed in classical ballet training to her creation of a thriving dance fitness enterprise that empowers adults to reconnect with their love of dance. Join us as Jules discusses her formative experiences, the challenges she overcame, the vision behind The Dancer’s Workout®, and the impact she continues to make on the dance community. Discover how she built a unique fitness solution for current and former dancers, created a supportive adult dance community, and established a legacy that bridges the worlds of dance, fitness, education, and business.
How and Where It Started
Jules Szabo began her dance journey at the tender age of two with her very first ballet class. Her early years were marked by frequent moves for her father’s career, with her mother consistently ensuring that she continued her dance training in each new location. At twelve, Jules attended her first summer session at UNCSA, where she immediately fell in love with the campus, the dance instruction, and the vibrant environment of living alongside other aspiring artists. By fourteen, after successfully auditioning for the year-round program, Jules convinced her parents to let her live on campus to attend UNCSA, one of the nation’s premier classical ballet training programs, where she rigorously trained in classical ballet for four years of high school. After graduating, Jules chose to continue her formal education rather than immediately pursue a professional dance career and embarked on a path that would ultimately combine her love of dance with her business and leadership expertise gained through college, graduate school, and a 32-year career in the pharmaceutical industry. During her corporate years, Jules focused on clinical drug development, project management, operations, and personnel leadership while raising three children and managing the demands of full-time work and graduate studies.
The First Brave Move
In her early forties, Jules made the courageous decision to return to dance after a fifteen-year hiatus. She faced the challenge of being overweight, deconditioned, and intimidated by the prospect of re-entering a dance studio, yet she was determined to reclaim her passion. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of her transformation and set the stage for what would become The Dancer’s Workout®.
The Defining Moment
Jules quickly learned that attempting to regain her dancer’s body as an adult was made all the more difficult by what she perceived as a major gap in the dance and fitness service industries for adults who had trained in dance as children and teens. Adult former ballet, jazz, and contemporary dancers were simply unable to find accessible, convenient classes that were designed with their unique dance needs in mind. Over seven years, Jules experimented with various gym and dance classes, ultimately restoring her own fitness, yet this difficult journey sparked a passion that would redefine her life mission. From this point forward, Jules committed herself to creating an adult dance fitness program that enables current dancers to continue dancing through adulthood and that provides former dancers, age 24-50+, “an emotionally and physically safe path back to dance.” In 2009, she taught the first official class of The Dancer’s Workout®, where she combined 45 minutes of exhilarating, yet low-impact, classical ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance choreography with a 15-minute segment of choreographed conditioning exercises, which she referred to as “bikini bootcamp.”
The Second Brave Move
Over time, as the popularity of her evening classes grew, Jules, who was now in her mid-fifties, made the bold decision to leave her corporate career as Vice President of Global Clinical Trial Operations to pursue her dance fitness business full-time. This calculated risk allowed her to dedicate herself entirely to her passion of inspiring both current and former dancers to dance through adulthood with The Dancer’s Workout® classes. Her own personal level of fitness, sustained by teaching these classes, inspired hundreds of other adult dancers to dance multiple times each week as well.
Putting in the Work
In 2015 Jules trademarked The Dancer’s Workout® and continued teaching on a daily basis. She soon partnered with Sara, one of her most dedicated adult students, who ultimately became both an instructor and her business and technology collaborator. Together, they continued building a thriving community of adult dancers in Raleigh/Durham, NC. Throughout these years, Jules continued to choreograph, ultimately choreographing to over 500 pop songs, and amassed an extensive portfolio of beloved TDW masterclasses that were taught and refined through her daily classes. The Dancer’s Workout® masterclasses became known for featuring original ballet, jazz, and contemporary dance choreography that inspired and challenged adult dancers as they moved through the warm-up, stretching, cardio, and conditioning segments of her classes.
What Makes the Classes Unique
The Dancer’s Workout® stands out for its combination of technical dance elements, fitness principles, and adult dance community building. Classes guide dancers through intricate choreography that builds progressively across songs, culminating in the high-energy cardio and conditioning segments. Students report transformative physical and emotional benefits while losing weight, improving fitness, and rediscovering their confidence and joy through dance. The supportive environment fosters strong social connections and helps new participants feel welcomed and motivated to continue dancing on a regular basis.
Making a Difference
Jules and Sara witness the profound impact of TDW every day. Students frequently experience emotional breakthroughs, physical transformations, and renewed social engagement. Many adjust their schedules, relocate, or make lifestyle changes to prioritize participation in TDW classes, demonstrating the significant impact the program is having on their lives. The community culture, where seasoned students support newcomers, creates a self-sustaining cycle of encouragement and inclusion that strengthens the overall experience for every dancer.
Moving to the Next Level
To expand accessibility, Jules and Sara formed the TDW MAVENS, a dance company of adult dancers who are featured in The Dancer’s Workout® virtual classes. These recordings make TDW accessible to dancers nationwide, allowing those unable to attend in-person sessions to benefit from the program through a subscription-based app, referred to as “The Dancer’s Workout® (TDW) Virtual Studio.” While in-person classes remain preferred by most, the virtual platform broadens TDW’s reach and reinforces its mission of making these revolutionary adult dance fitness classes available to current and former adult dancers nationwide.
Expanding and Establishing a Legacy
To grow TDW’s footprint of in-person classes, Jules and Sara launched both the Adult Dance Alliance, which is their network of TDW adult dance instructors, and an online instructor certification program. Their certification program trains and certifies dancers to teach The Dancer’s Workout® classes in dance studios, gyms, and fitness facilities across the country. It provides the TDW instructor training needed to teach the various TDW masterclasses and includes comprehensive business skills, operations, and large group leadership training that enables TDW-Certified Instructors to build their own successful adult dance fitness businesses with The Dancer’s Workout®. Upcoming graduates of university dance programs benefit from lessons dedicated to job search and business skills training that ease their transition into the corporate dance fitness marketplace. TDW-Certified Instructors receive continued support and mentorship from Jules, Sara, and other members of the Adult Dance Alliance as they grow their individual TDW businesses. With this expansion infrastructure in place, Jules and Sara seek to make The Dancer’s Workout® a household name, known for providing consistent, high-quality adult dance fitness classes to dancers nationwide. Recruiting talented dancers, particularly university dance graduates and studio instructors, continues to be a priority to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability and growth.
The Full-Circle Moment
Jules’s journey now comes full circle with her role as an Adjunct Faculty member at the UNC School of the Arts, where she teaches The Dancer’s Workout® to dancers who are the same age she was when she trained at UNCSA. Sharing her expertise and legacy with a new generation of dancers has been deeply fulfilling and enables her to give back to the institution that shaped her, while enabling her to inspire and educate young artists with both dance fitness training and business knowledge. Through TDW, Jules continues to create opportunities, transform lives, and leave a lasting mark on the adult dance fitness community.
Gratitude
As the interview comes to a close, Jules makes a point to express her gratitude for the dancers who took a chance on her classes during the program’s infancy. She is particularly grateful to her friend and business partner, Sara, who helps her run the business on a day-to-day basis, and credits Sara’s friendship, support, and operational expertise for helping her bring the TDW vision to life. Jules is also grateful for the TDW MAVENS, who help film the online masterclasses, for the TDW-Certified Instructors who teach them, and for the thousands of students who enjoy them. Looking back, she credits her parents and UNCSA for giving her the gift of dance and is grateful to the UNCSA Dean of Dance, Endalyn Taylor Outlaw, and other UNCSA dance faculty members, for welcoming her back to her alma mater to teach these classes. Jules thanks her entire family as well and gives special appreciation to her husband and sister for their daily love and support as she navigates a workload typical of successful entrepreneurs. And finally, Jules expresses her deepest gratitude for her continued health and strength that allow her to pursue what she believes is her divine calling to inspire dancers everywhere to continue dancing throughout their adult lives.
In conclusion, Jules Szabo’s journey exemplifies resilience, innovation, and the transformative power of pursuing one’s passion. From a childhood steeped in ballet to a thriving corporate career, and ultimately to founding The Dancer’s Workout®, Jules has consistently combined artistry, leadership, and dedication to create a program that empowers adults to rediscover dance and embrace healthier, more fulfilling lives. Her commitment to community, education, and mentorship ensures that the next generation of dancers always has a viable and sustainable employment option in the dance fitness industry as a certified TDW instructor who can inspire others to also dance throughout their adult years.
