MaZi Dance Fitness South Loop

One of my «quirks» as a fitness-​enthusiast is that the gym/​studio must be clean. The cleaner the better. Admittedly, I’m a bit of a germ-​phobe (in my defense, I have a best friend that worked at a gym and hearing some of her stories… we should all be praying for proactive cleanliness by gym employees!). I have to say, MaZi is kind of run down and gross. .
I hate calling out all of the negatives in a public forum but hopefully this will improve the experience for other users. The floors are always dirty and have floating hair balls (and in yesterday’s class I noticed brown, thick lotion-​like liquid along the wall… graaaaooosssss). They don’t have wipes or any type of cleaning supplies for shared mats and other equipment. Hellooooo ring worm! I asked one of instructors if they have wipes somewhere after class and she responded with, «no, but we wipe them down every two weeks or so». No. Just no. The next time I brought my own yoga mat wipe and wiped down the mat, the wipe was so dirty afterwards. The bathroom trash is always overflowing, and in general it is not a clean studio. Also to note: there is no water cooler, just use the random sink in the studio and more importantly, the fire escape door appears to be covered by a huge wood blockade. Not only is that so not smart but also not legal. The space itself has potential but it reminds me of an attic that was decorated by a pre-​teen (DIY stencil painted letters, etc). Okay now I’m just being crabby.
Anyway, the instructors themselves are very enthusiastic and passionate about the dance classes (and have great playlists), this is not a dig against them but please, management, clean up the studio, it’s kind of nasty. A little TLC would go a long way.

Great location and super fun classes! I love ballerina bum and fight club. Really fun for a girls night idea too!

Impressed.
I came here for Ballerina Bum Barre and had so much fun getting my dance on. First off, the studio is open and spacious, cubbies are available to store your stuff, and they provide a variety of props. For the class we used a mat, block, and weights.
Although I’ve taken a lot of barre classes, I still def felt it. But if you’re a newbie, don’t let that deter you! I would tell anyone new to barre to take this class with Marisol. I’m used to barre classes with small, precise movements, and sometimes in the beginning it’s difficult to isolate that one muscle group you’re working on. Not here. Marisol’s instruction was fun and upbeat, and since the class was more dance based there was much more movement and flow. It made the workout so much easier to understand and follow, and it definitely was a full body workout. The best part? Stretching at the start of class. Srsly, it’s so rarely done these days it’s become a treat. Verdict? This is the best place I’ve found to get your combo workout/​dance on and live out your wannabe Beyoncé dreams.

I only took ballerina fight club through classpass so my review is limited to that one class. I also will not return but that is because I am starting work in the suburbs soon so I can’t make an evening class here. With that being said, I will explain my four stars.
Location – simple lofty dance studio in convenient location to southeast loopers.
Instructor – super energetic and engaging
Workout – this class was basically a cardio kickboxing or turbokick class with very little dance elements and some ab and glute mat work. I hate kickboxing and any high impact jumping so I would never take this class again but compared to other kickboxing classes I have taken in the past, this was my favorite one. The moves were not too complicated.
Personally I am a fan of the Bar Method for my ballet inspired workout but perhaps mazi s other classes might be more dance oriented.
Final – if this studio is convenient for you to get to, it’s worth trying a few classes to see if you like it.

I’ve been going to MaZi regularly since 2013 and have seen amazing results. I have chronic knee issues (patella femoral syndrome) and have undergone physical therapy for the it three separate times from 2005 – 2013. Rather than exacerbating the condition, the conditioning and strengthening classes turned out to be perfect for keeping my lower body and ab muscles strong, which supports my knee. I’ve taken other conditioning classes but the exercises here are unique, varied, and the routines change every couple weeks so it’s always fresh, never boring. I think that’s why it works so well. I have had little or no knee pain as long as I regularly take Ballerina Bum Bootcamp, CardioBarre, and Ballerina Bum Body. Every class is also a full-​body workout so I’m seeing great results in my arms and back too. My favorite cardio intense classes, ZiCardio and Ballerina Fight Club, are a wonderful cardio work out — fun, uplifting, and seem to fly by, as well as incorporating some conditioning. I used to miss running and spinning, but this is just as good a cardio workout and way more fun. The instructors are friendly, energetic, and professional. I’ve seen incredible results and have never felt better, stronger, or more limber and flexible. This is so much better than the monotony of a gym and I couldn’t recommend MaZi enough.

Took a ballerina bum class earlier in the week. First time here. Studio has a great contemporary feel to it. I adored the instructor. I wasn’t too impressed with the class itself because it’s not anything I haven’t done before. I can take a pilates/​yoga class that is closer to home, and much cheaper. I was a bit disappointed because I thought tho studio would stand out from all the rest, but it doesn’t.

I am surprised that there is only 4 reviews about MaZi’s South Loop location. I am a newbie to MaZi. I have been taking Zumba and other dance classes in Chicago for a few years now. I think MaZi has something great going on.
I have only taken 4 classes with 4 different instructors. First thing I noticed, they all have great energy, seem to like what they are doing and their dance goes with the beats of the music! I will make sure I try all the classes.
FUN and GREAT Workout!!!

So I’ve been coming to Mazi for about 4 months now. Overall really like the place. Instructors are knowledgable, fun, and inspiring. Music is good. It is a bit on the pricey side but I guess all these studios are. I only feel like its worth it if I go to the more intense classes (fight club and boot camp mainly) since I have better things to do with my time and money if it wasn’t going to be a good workout like… happy hour or sleep. True story. What’s missing for me is an intense dance class… the dance classes they offer are pretty easy with basic steps. I do love the studio though and think its appealing to a variety of fitness levels and interests. Check it out if you live in the ‘hood!

MaZi is GREAT! I am in Chicago for the summer and decided I wanted to take dance lessons to keep me in shape and have a little fun before I have to go back to school in the fall. All the instructors have the greatest energy and are really into their routines. It does not feel like a workout at all you have so much fun. Each instructor has their own style which keeps you on your toes. My favorite class is Mazi Broadway with Jessica, you get the feeling like you are on an actual stage! It is awesome. I do love Mazi and I am going to be sad to leave

I had come across MAZI while searching for dance fitness centers. I went in with no dance experience and a few months of inactivity. I had no expectations, but have now been going for 3 months and can honestly say this is the BEST dance fitness center. The instructors all have a very positive attitude and have their own unique style of teaching. Marisol & Ziba are extremely professional and always open to ideas. I have never come across instructors that are as enthusiastic about what they do as I have here & the energy is addicting!!! In addition, the music used and the workouts are awesome. (I can say this because I have taken every class that the south loop location offers.) I highly recommend MAZI south loop to anyone looking for a great workout –remember you do not need a dance background. You’re guaranteed to feel welcome with the friendly staff and you will leave feeling confident & stronger!!!

I just joined this past Feb and couldn’t be happier with mazi! The owners are incredibly sweet and welcoming and the classes are amazing. I literally plan my work schedule to make sure I make my favorite class every week (werq on monday nights with allison – who is one of the best dance fitness teachers ive had – and i’ve taken a LOT of classes over the past several years). I’ve taken a few of their other classes and loved them as well! Ballerina bum bootcamp with Jessica is a great total body workout and she really focuses on making sure you are doing everything properly (which i REALLY need). Everyone that works there is incredibly friendly and makes you feel so welcome! So glad I decided to join!