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Fitness

MICHELE LAROCQUE

A Lifetime of Fitness

Photos by Dawn Nicoli/Nicoli Productions

ICHELE LAROCQUE WAS tried to find fun ways to stay in shape,
Mborn and raised in the Bay Area so she recorded music on cassette
and was just 5 years old when she first tapes and put exercise moves to them.
experienced her love of dance. Her She began workout sessions in her
mom signed her up for dance and she apartment and before long she had
was hooked. She loved how it made other students joining her too. This
her feel and she’s been moving to mu- was her first discovery of loving the
sic ever since! motivation and accountability in a
Normally a shy child, a metamor- group exercise setting. tions being held at “Jane Fonda’s The
phosis occurred once she set foot on The combination of dance and fit- Workout” in Encino. She went to the
the dance floor. “I was shy but when I ness became a much stronger passion audition. “We were given a number
danced and moved my body to music, during this time for Michele. Little did that was pinned on our leotard. The
I liked the way it made me feel inside. I she know where her career in fitness audition was led by an instructor
think that’s where it all began for me” would lead her. After college, Michele who taught a high impact aerobics
Sadly, when Michele was 16 yrs. moved back to the Bay Area where she class. We followed his lead. If you
old, her dad passed away. It caused her auditioned and made the cheerleading were tapped on the shoulder that
to delve even deeper into dance. She dance team for the USFL Oakland meant, thank you for coming. The last
found it cathartic and a way to help to Invaders. Rehearsals were grueling but ones standing continued on through
heal from the pain of such a great loss. she loved the dance routines! the hiring process. I was grateful to
“I truly believe with all my heart that At the same time, Michele got make the cut.” Michele moved to LA,
dance is a real healing force. Being her first job at a women’s gym. “I was worked full time and taught at Jane
around others and getting lost in your hired to sell memberships, just hoping Fonda’s and a few other gyms.
movements to the music helps to heal to get my foot in the door. I was not It was while living in SoCal that
whatever you might be going through. very good at sales and they knew it. Michele had her first intro to the birth
It’s powerful.” It wasn’t long after that, they took a of Step Classes. This popular fitness
Michele has always believed that chance on me and let me lead my first class became a love of hers and taught
moving your body and living a healthy aerobics class. I had observed an in- her how to master “cueing” in a class
lifestyle allows you to heal from structor leading classes there and knew setting. “I loved the choreography and
within. “I love what dance, moving to that’s where I wanted to be. I LOVED creativity on the step. It was like teach-
music and exercise does to our bodies, it. Today, many years later, my love for ing a fun dance routine on stairs to
but what happens to the inside, our it is the same. I love teaching group pumping music!” She was also teach-
soul, is the most important. I love fitness classes and dance instruction. I ing sculpting classes with weights and
sharing that with others” get paid to move my body and do what Hi-lo aerobic dance classes too.
As Michele was growing up, I love! How cool is that?” Michele is the mother to 2 sons,
she dreamed of having a career as a What made Michele even happi- 1 daughter and 1 stepdaughter. She
dancer in Hollywood. “but I needed to er was watching the reactions of her taught Aerobics and Step classes
be realistic and had to think beyond students in class. “Helping others dis- through all 3 of her pregnancies,
that dream. I went to a small college cover the fun in exercise while getting until the middle of the last trimester!
in Idaho, Ricks College. I had friends healthy gives me great joy to be able to “When my kids were little, they would
attending and I heard it had a good share this with them!” come to the gym with me and go to
dance program.” Unfortunately, the salary to teach the nursery while I taught. It was a
At college she auditioned for aerobic classes was not enough to live job I could do with them and also do
Showtime Company, a traveling on, so Michele obtained a full-time when they became school age.”
variety show, and made it as one of 6 position and taught classes before and Michele taught Group Exercise
dancers chosen. She also auditioned after work as well as weekends too. at multiple gyms while in the North
and made the Ricks College Modern A friend of Michele’s who lived in County San Diego area. Frogs Athletic
Dance Team. During this time, she L.A. told her about upcoming audi- Club in Solana Beach and Encinitas,

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