Pony Sweat is a fiercely noncompetitive dance aerobics celebration from Los Angeles. It’s a high-energy (or whatever energy you’re at) hour of exercise that feels like dancing in your bedroom to music from a favorite mixtape. Pony Sweat is a practice in anti-perfectionism and radical self-acceptance. Our goal is to cultivate freedom of movement and thought, to take care of ourselves and to take care of each other. Come as you are, all ways, always!
The Origin
Emilia taught the first Pony Sweat to a group of friends in the summer of 2014. At that time, she was depressed and isolating, and in a rockbottom period that she felt powerless to get herself out of. Dancing to loud music always soothed her though, and reminded her of who she was and that she had a body that loved to move. Emilia’s friends encouraged her to teach a dance aerobics class-- something they knew she had always dreamed of doing, but that she continuously put off doing because of fear. She thought she wasn’t “athletic enough” or “not a good enough dancer” or “no one would want to come” and other forms of self-limiting and destructive thoughts. And then one day, her friend, Noah, surprised her by renting time at a dance studio in their neighborhood. They told Emilia to put together a dance aerobics routine, invite friends and teach it to them. They came up with a name for it together, and Pony Sweat was born! From its inception, Pony Sweat has been a practice in showing up however we are and “Fucking The Moves,” and in taking care of ourselves and supporting each other. “Pony Sweat,” says Emilia, “is not about looking cool or put-together or doing anything perfectly. It’s about learning to trust in your body and practicing radical self-love. It’s about expanding a circle of friends, growing community, and knowing that whoever or wherever you are, you are not alone.”
Pony Sweat has grown since its origins! We have fostered a strong and powerful community of Ponies, and have brought on more staff and collaborators. Pony Sweat has been taught in NYC, Portland OR, Tucson AZ, San Francisco CA, Seattle WA, Littleton NH, and Boston MA. We have collaborated with bands and artists on music videos and live performances, and have performed at events ranging from neighborhood punk shows to Coachella Music Festival. Pony Sweat’s mission has crystalized in its Core Values, and is further realized in its community actions like the P.A.F. (Ponies Against Fascists) events. In 2020 we pivoted from in-person to online-only and continue to evolve and humxnifest the class format, playlists and routines, and now offer artful aerobics videos to do at-home!
There will always be a need for spaces that cultivate bravery and courage-to-try, and spaces to explore expression in movement, spaces to get messy, and spaces to practice using our bodies and our voices without judgement. Pony Sweat is so proud to offer this space to the thousands of Ponies that have connected to it over the years.