Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Mostaccio.
Samantha, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
One of my first memories of group fitness is doing step aerobics with my mom at the local Town Hall in Frelinghuysen, NJ. I remember watching women of all ages, shapes, backgrounds move and celebrate each other through exercise. I also vividly recall my favorite VHS tape workout videos: “Buns of Steel,” and “Dance! Workout with Barbie.” During this time, I began falling in love with the science of the body and movement. I started to teach group fitness classes (Step) at a local gym at 14-years-old.
Once in college, I started working at the group fitness facility in the recreation center, which is when my career and passion for dance and fitness evolved. I heard about Zumba while I was studying biochemistry. My dreams quickly shifted from physiology when I became one of the first licensed instructors.
My Zumba classes had around 100 students waiting an hour before class to dance. I felt so alive seeing all the smiling faces ready to sweat and let go. As a self-taught dancer, I spent hours learning and practicing from professional dancers on YouTube. When I came across Luam, a hip-hop NYC dancer, I was so inspired. I would drive six hours roundtrip from college to NYC to take a one-hour class to learn.
As I traveled back and forth from college to NYC, I found a Zumba class at Equinox. I learned the instructor, Tanya Beardsley, was looking for a personal assistant. I knew I needed to do make this happen. I was so BLESSED to have this opportunity. I traveled around the tri-state and learned everything from setting up workshops to presenting, to creating an experience for your students, and so much more.
Three years later, I began teaching masterclasses, which are 90-minute dance classes, throughout NY, NJ, and CT. Before I knew it, teaching opportunities arose overseas in Holland, Netherlands, France, Denmark, Poland, Germany, Italy, Brazil, and Canada.
I was living in NYC teaching fitness and Pilates and traveling every weekend to teach masterclasses. I got to work with the most incredible studios and teachers in the world including Tina Thompson (Pilaballet), SLT, JoyRide, and Ride/Reflect to name a few. I worked closely with these brands to train and develop the instructors. During this busy time, Nike was hiring instructors to teach a format Nike Training Club. I got to be part of this talented team of athletes and fitness presenters for two years. In 2014, I moved to Chicago with my husband and continued to work for a Megaformer studio “Chi50,” as well as teach dance classes at Nike Studio downtown. Currently, I am developing my method in a dance-based interval class. But my favorite teaching job so far is showing my one-year-old little girl Aven, how much joy music and dancing brings!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Oh my goodness! So many challenges and struggles along the way to success! Being an artist at such young age – there are so many distractions and ideas of what you are supposed to do rather than what I felt I was meant to do. I lost a lot of friendships/relationships because I was working four jobs to be able to live in NYC and build a business for myself of what I’ve always dreamt of. The most important thing you can do in finding your voice in your field is being authentic. You have to stay passionate, hard-working, kind, and REAL! I’ve also always surrounded myself with people I could learn from-being a student every day is how you will always grow and keep your spirit alive and curious!
What should we know about Samantha Mostaccio? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am an International Presenter for Dance/Fitness through my own Masterclasses I’ve built. My background was in NYC Zumba Era with an influence and passion for dancehall, Caribbean, African, tropical house, latin, and hip-hop! My classes are known for energy, fun, passion, music, getting really sweaty, and having an experience you won’t have anywhere else! My vision is to spread what has changed my life through music and movement with hard work, drive, passion for learning/teaching, and to make a global impact with everyone I meet. Eventually, I would love to have a studio with dance-cardio, iso-kinetic resistance training, pilates, and dynamic stretching. Another dream of mine after becoming a new mom is to work with young girls-using music as an outlet through their creativity and bodies and working through anything going on in their everyday life! While I was on the east coast – I was a creative director/instructor training for Zumba Sri-State and boutique fitness studios. I LOVED that so much! Being a part of someone’s growth and watching their lives change through teaching was such an honor for me! Working so much on the physical part of the body, I am also so passionate about health and the mental, spiritual connection through foods! Nutrition, post-partum, fertility, and finding yourself again after bringing a new baby into this world through movement and food is something I truly align myself with!
I am most proud of how much I stayed true to myself and didn’t go with the latest trend that is always happening. I always listened to my gut and pushed my limits every second of every day. Being kind in this business is something that is genuine and hard to come by when you meet people! Leave your EGO at the door always!
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
Hell, yes! Women make the world go round! I learned off of youtube in 2008! Media is now such a gift because you have so much access to so much information! I do believe it has created a bit of insecurity with trying to figure out what you can bring to the table when there is an endless amount of talent-but once you find your niche and why you can help people and use your passion – it will all come together. Women are coming together more than ever to support and lift each other up! That is how you can start to change your outlook on anything holding you back. Working with people that inspire and challenge you to become a better person will ultimately be the way you can take on anything you dream of!
Pricing:
- MasterClass/Workshop- $25
- Privates/Nutrition-$100+
- Online Streaming- Coming Soon!
- Charity/Donation Based Class-$0+
Contact Info:
- Email: samanthamostaccio@gmail.com
- Instagram: samanthavioletmostaccio
- Facebook: samanthamostaccio@gmail.com
Image Credit:
Alisha Tova Photography, Dorothy Hong, Alexis Incornata Photography, Jorge Quinteros, David Bracetty Photography, Ashley Garcia Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
