No heels, no hangovers, just glowsticks and a feeling of complete euphoria: welcome to Clubbercise, a dance fitness class that will have you boogying and burning calories in equal measure.
As vivacious and vibrant as her neon yellow top and black and white zebra print leggings, energetic instructor Emma Hunter never tires of seeing the joy on people’s faces as they dance in the dark to club anthems for an hour.
Described as the workout that feels like a night out, Emma teaches the feel-good dance aerobic class in venues across the area including Stonehaven, Aberdeen and Westhill.
“You’re dancing in the dark with glowsticks to really great tunes from the nineties onwards,” says Emma, who is a mum of two from Aberdeen.
“It’s such a feel-good workout and you don’t have to be a great dancer to take part, it’s for everyone.
“It’s about moving, waving your arms around and having fun.
“It’s as much about the mental wellbeing aspect than it is about the physical.
“It’s that hour a week where you just close the door and you do something enjoyable and forget about everything for that hour.
“It gives you that space and time to take your mind off other things.”
Put your hands up in the air
Dance has always been a huge part of Emma’s life as she initially trained as a ballet dancer.
“When I was younger, I trained at a ballet school in Scotland for three years before I moved to London,” says Emma, 44.
“I spent a year and a half auditioning for shows in London but I wasn’t quite good enough.
“Admitting that and coming home was a hard pill to swallow but things happen for a reason and I ended up here so it’s all good.”
Despite the disappointment that Emma felt, she never dwelled on it and instead poured her energy into becoming a fitness instructor.
“One of my mum’s friends mentioned that she was going to go on this fitness instructor course in Inverurie so with no prior experience I just rocked up to the course and I got my qualification to teach fitness classes which was great,” says Emma.
Dance like no-one is watching
Revitalised and raring to go, Emma started teaching fitness classes at Robert Gordon University and slowly but surely taught more classes in venues throughout the local community.
“I taught a combination of classes like ballet, aerobics, step class and spin across gyms and halls across the area,” says Emma.
But everything changed when she stumbled across a video online of a Clubbercise class.
“In 2015 I randomly found Clubbercise on the internet and I immediately thought ‘this is the class for me’,” says Emma.
“In the video people were in the dark with glowsticks dancing to nineties music and dance tunes and I was like ‘oh my God look at this’.
“They were all dressed in neon gear and I thought wow what a good fun workout that would be.”
Bringing Clubbercise classes to Aberdeen
Watching the video was enough to inspire Emma to train as a Clubbercise instructor.
“I just loved all the old tunes and having a dance,” says Emma.
“It takes you back to the good memories of the nineties when you would go out with your friends and dance the night away.
“So I started a few classes at Danestone Community Centre as well as at the Kincorth Scout Hut, Inchgarth Community Centre and Mastrick Community Centre.”
Emma’s Clubbercise classes really took off and eight years on they’re still as popular as ever.
“It was really busy and it still is,” says Emma.
“The class is good for people who haven’t exercised in a while or are returning to exercise or for those who are maybe just a bit self-conscious because it’s done in the dark – I think people really like that as no-one can really see you.
“One of the things that surprised me was the age range that we’ve got people of all ages.
“Children aged between 13 and 15 can also come along with an adult.”
Dance workout is good for the body, mind and soul
Over the years, Emma has seen the positive physical and mental health benefits that Clubbercise can have on people.
“There are a lot of people who have made improvements which is amazing,” says Emma.
“You see people who used to stand at the back and now they’re on the front row, going for the high impact option and they know all the steps.”
Emma is so passionate about health and fitness that in between juggling her classes and bringing up her two children Calum, 17, and Lily, 15, she also went back to university where she achieved a Masters degree in health psychology and a PhD in applied health science.
Looking to the future, Emma hopes to inspire more people to try out Clubbercise especially as a big event is due to take place in Aberdeen this summer.
“There’s a big dance fitness event called Fit’s Up that will be at the Beach Ballroom on July 20 which will be amazing,” says Emma.
“So people can come along and try Clubbercise.”
Emma holds Clubbercise classes at the Holburn Bar in Aberdeen on a Monday night at 6.30pm as well as at Stonehaven Town Hall every Wednesday evening at 7pm and at Colosseum gym in Westhill every Thursday at 6.30pm.
For more information check out her Facebook page @CluberciseEmmaAberdeen
Conversation