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MY Sports Club Story: Laura

Oct 21, 2025

Meet Laura, a professional dancer, singer, and actress with over two decades of performance experience and more than 14 years as a certified Zumba instructor. She joined the NYSC family in 2023 and quickly became known for her infectious energy and dedication to her students. Recently, Laura has shown what true strength means as she navigates her Breast Cancer diagnosis with courage, optimism, and the same unstoppable spirit she brings to her classes. Her journey reminds us all of the power of movement, community, and perseverance. Read more of Laura’s story below.

Please tell us a little about your fitness journey.
I’m a professional dancer, singer, and actress, with 20 years of show business and musical theater experience, traveling here in the U.S. and in Europe. I have a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree in Dance, and have been teaching and a member of the Zumba organization for over 14 years.

What do you love about being a Group Fitness Instructor?
The students and knowing that I am changing their lives. I love their smiles, comments, compliments, and creating new friendships from spending so much time and getting to know them. I love all my students - without them, my teaching and art feels pointless.

You were recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer. How have you found support + comfort in your NYSC community as you navigate your diagnosis? 
I had a lumpectomy/left breast excision in late August of this year, for a benign phyllodes tumor. After surgery, they sent the tumor to the lab and discovered that the soft tissue around the tumor was malignant, called sarcoma. I’m happy to say that the margins are very low, which means that I don’t need things like mastectomy, chemo, or even radiation. I am now awaiting to see if I need a second re-excision, to clean things out as a precaution but that may not happen. Saying prayers!

How has fitness prepared you for this fight?
I’ve been dancing since I was 8 years old. Dancing and fitness has made not only my body but my mind and spirit really strong. I am recovering quite nicely from the recent lumpectomy procedure. Being fit allows you to assess your body in a really good and healthy way, like knowing and feeling what you can and can’t do.  All the tools one uses to get through strenuous workouts, such as going the extra mile, come into play. That helps to give me a strong, healthy, and positive attitude that helps a lot when it comes to fighting and surviving something like cancer.

In fitness, we’re often chasing goals of getting stronger. What does strength mean to you right now? 
Everything! The opposite of strength is weakness. A friend's doctor told me that when someone hears the word cancer, it is not the time to get too down, but rather to become a warrior and advocate for yourself.

Any advice for people this Breast Cancer Awareness Month?
It seems like everyone has a family member, friend, co-worker, or colleague that has been affected by cancer. It’s so important to continue the awareness. It's still scary to hear the word cancer, even with incredible technological advancements in treatments for cancer every 5-10 years, the survivor’s rate continuing to be high, and stigmas being lifted. Not all folks are lucky to live in NYC where you have hospital giants like Memorial Sloan Kettering, Mt. Sinai, Lenox Hill, NY Presbyterian, Cornell, etc., so we all need to keep promoting good health and plenty of awareness so that the medical industry can continue its fine work toward cancer treatments for women’s health.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?
If you get cancer, please know that you’re definitely not alone. Don’t blame yourself by asking “Why me?”. No one is at fault – be your own warrior and advocate for yourself. Cancer survivors are all around us, and they go on to live wonderful healthy lives, maybe even better than before. They become stronger people and appreciate life even more so!

Do you have a story about how our Club has helped improve life outside our Club? Submit your MY Sports Club Story here.