After five years of building a loyal local following from humble roots at a Belize City gym, dance educator Gretchen Fatima Fernandez is stepping into a major new milestone for her community-focused movement: the grand opening of her very own standalone Dance With Fatima studio in the heart of Belize City.
The Cuban-born instructor first brought her one-of-a-kind blend of Latin and Caribbean dance fitness to Belize in 2021, launching her classes out of Body 2000 Gym. From the start, her offering stood out from standard fitness routines: Fernandez designed high-energy sessions that merge multiple popular dance styles including salsa, bachata, merengue, punta, and soca, wrapped into a full-body workout that prioritizes joy alongside physical results.
For Fernandez, the new studio is far more than a new business venture. It is a permanent home for the tight-knit community she has nurtured over the past half-decade, rooted in her core values of connection, collaboration, and accessible fun for people of all ages and fitness goals.
“This is so exciting, and it’s the product of hard work, consistency, patience, faith, and staying focused on what you want to achieve,” Fernandez shared in an interview following the studio opening. “I wanted to show Belizeans and everyone who walks through my door — because everyone is welcome here — that you don’t have to see working out as a chore. It can be hard work, of course, but it can also be joyful, something you look forward to.”
Fernandez’s signature classes cater to a wide range of student goals, making them accessible to everyone from first-time dancers to seasoned fitness enthusiasts. Those who come just to learn technique will leave with mastery of multiple international dance styles, while students focused on fitness get a full-body workout that doesn’t feel like a grueling gym session. Classes integrate squats, jumping jacks, burpees and other strength and cardio moves seamlessly into choreography, with most participants burning roughly 600 calories per class without noticing the effort amid the fun.
Beyond dance and fitness, Fernandez has built her brand around community connection. Her space encourages socialization and mutual support, with a focus on collaboration rather than competition among students. The new studio is already open for children, adult, and couple classes, with upcoming plans to launch themed specialty dance nights for community members to gather and practice outside of regular sessions.
This report is adapted from a transcribed evening television news broadcast from Belize.