“I totally manipulate the energy in the room with my warm-up music. I start with something really calm and then build to something energetic. I go with sweet songs for pliés, so people soften and are vulnerable. Then I go aggressive with high-energy music for abs, and soothing music for stretches on the floor.
“I finish warm-up with step-touches to a fun song that feels like a party, so everyone can feel good. I couldn’t do my splits growing up, and that was always the last thing we did before center, so I would feel bad about myself. When I started teaching, I thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun if we ended warm-up with a party instead?”