Today, the fitness department of the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports will host its first two-hour group workout called “Blast from the Past.”
The 1980s-inspired theme will incorporate once-popular dance moves and aerobics routines from the decade.
Fitness coordinator and 1980s music fan Brook Dabbs generated the idea a year ago while teaching fitness at the University of Houston.
“All I wanted to use was 80s music in my classes. But, my students complained, so I changed the music. Now I bring it [80s music] out during Halloween,” she said.
According to Dabbs, the free group workout caught on, and soon more than 200 U of H students would turn out for the event.
“It is really awesome to do this program with tons of people dressed up in 80s gear,” she said, adding that she is hopeful for a large turnout at SMU.
Each of the six scheduled aerobic workouts will last 15 to 20 minutes, with small breaks for door prizes and a costume contest with prizes for first, second and third places.
All of the instructors are SMU students who currently teach Group X classes, which include yoga, spinning and other group classes in the Dedman Center.
“The students have really taken leadership in helping choreograph and plan the routines,” Dabbs said.
The program will open with “Sweat into the 80s,” a pun off of the Richard Simmons inspired, follow-the-leader aerobics. Lynn Romejko-Jacobs will lead.
Instructors Katie Beth Adkins and Angela Davis will teach the once-famous struts of M.C. Hammer, which Dabbs has named “Hammer Hip Hop.”
Instructors Laura Mendenhall and Ali Shipp will teach “Time Warp,” a dance routine from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”
Instructors Brook Dabbs and Claire Donovan will teach “Bodacious Bounce on the Ball,” a medicine ball workout.
Instructors Brooks Dabbs and Tricia Smit will lead “Radical Abs.”
To rap up the program, Christi Carter and Tricia Smit will teach Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” dance.
The free session is an introductory program geared toward beginners and those unfamiliar with a group workout atmosphere.
“Even if you’re not the most coordinated person, you will be able to participate in the dances,” Dabbs said.”Blast from the Past” will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
