Exploring Life & Business with Andrea Woodward of Hermitage Dance Academy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Woodward.

Hi Andrea, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Fitness and dance have always been a part of my life. Whether playing sports, doing VHS tapes in my living room (remember those? ha!), or training in dance, I have always loved to move!

I grew up playing softball and basketball plus cheerleading and dancing and was always training for something. Sports, especially basketball, were my big focus for most of my teenage years (I played for my middle and high school teams). When I felt myself losing my passion for basketball in my sophomore year of high school, I then decided to shift all my focus and attention to dance. Dance class was something that had always been there, it was something I had been doing in the background all along (since 3 years old) and was always a great escape. I went from basketball practice 5 days a week to teaching and taking dance classes 5-6 days a week (when I’m in, I’m ALL IN!). This new passion then lead me to open my own studio, Hermitage Dance Academy (HDA) in 1997 at 19 years old.

I’ve experienced all kinds of workouts through my various experiences, and have great respect for all kinds of training methods including weight training, circuit training, HIIT, and of course dance! I, like most women, also have had my fair share of fitness ups and downs, including a love/hate relationship with my body. As I’ve aged, I’ve realized that my body has allowed me to pursue my passions for many years and should be celebrated!

My inspiration to create Amped Fitness at HDA was to help others discover a love for moving and an appreciation of the power that our bodies hold. Delighting in the joy of dancing/growing stronger while sharing a space with other people who inspire and motivate me is a dream come true! I am now licensed to teach Zumba, Zumba Toning, and Strong Nation, and love how these 3 platforms allow me to tap into all of my training and experiences to share with others.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think that inspiring and motivating people to lead a healthy lifestyle is one of the most difficult things to dedicate your life to. Somehow, most of us, end up putting ourselves, and our mental and physical health last on the list… but is the one thing we all want.

As a society, we are held to ridiculous standards of beauty and end up viewing fitness & food as tools to achieve a “look” instead of tools to increase our happiness/fulfillment/life span. My hope is to inspire people to view their fitness journey as a tool for greater confidence, connection, and a fuller, more joyous life!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
“Hermitage Dance Academy is more than just great dance…we strive to inspire our community to dream big, achieve more and reach their fullest potential” HDA is more than just great dance, but what sets us apart from other studios?

HDA offers something for EVERYONE! We don’t want to be your run-of-the-mill dance studio…Our DREAM is for the ENTIRE Family to join the HDA Family in some way or another; whether it be Dad helping build props or winning at charity BINGO, little brother attending our Pre-K Enrichment Program, or Mom & Grammy taking an Aerial Silks or Zumba class together! There are so many ways your whole family can get involved at HDA.

We are known for being EXTRA! We will go the extra mile, not just for you and your child, but in everything we do!
From our extraordinary props and storytelling choreography for our dancers to creating unique and memorable experiences for the whole family, we strive for excellence and are always looking to come up with new, innovative ideas that focus on bettering our Studio and Community.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe that if you work to be great at what you do and you share that passion with others, success and opportunity will be attracted to you. Of course, there will be ups and downs along the way, but with consistency, determination, hard work, love, and vision, you make your own “luck.”

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ampedbyhda.com; www.hdadance.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ampedbyhda; https://www.instagram.com/danceathda
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084851162162; https://www.facebook.com/hdadance
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuyahkXxnzgCraIecsw-MQ; https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIwOo51WwKU8ryWLDl0SXHg
• Other: https://vimeo.com/user65191079