have fun. feel good. be yourself. be inspired. be ignited. be your best self.
This sums up the level of service you will benefit from at Solão Fitness and Dance. Everything has been looked into from an air-conditioned studio to a refreshment bar. We offer classes, workshops and seminars designed to empower and allow you to reach and maintain your fitness goals. Solão Fitness offers more dance-based fitness classes and the widest variety of dance styles than any other studio in Chicago. There are nearly 25 different varieties to choose from, ranging from hip hop to salsa, African dance to Bollywood grooves plus many more. We teach over 40 classes a week at all levels and to all ages.
But we’re not just here for dance. Solão Fitness also offers numerous strength and sculpting classes, as well as an array of mind/body classes for a full body fitness experience. We offer personal training for those who prefer one-on-one or small group training. And there’s our Solão Online Store, you go there by clicking here.
You can just drop in and take a class, but to register for open Solão classes, you may want to book early so you don’t miss out, click here.
Instrutora Biriba has studied dance and acrobatics since she was a child. She began her studies of Capoeira in 1997 with Gingarte Capoeira of Chicago under the direction of Contra-Mestre Marisa Cordeiro and frequently travels to Brazil for training with the world renowned Cordao de Ouro Academy. In July of 2005, she received the cordao or belt that recognizes her as an official capoeira instructor. Emily has been teaching around Chicago for the past ten years at various locations including Old Town School of Folk Music, Solao Fitness and Dance, Columbia College and Roosevelt University, several schools and festivals, as well as at national Capoeira events, and now at Solao Fitness and Dance. Emily is also a certified teacher of Zumba. In addition to teaching, Emily performs Capoeira and Samba with several companies around Chicago. Emily has a passion for movement and music as an expression of self and culture and enjoys sharing that passion with others. 
MaryMonica is very excited and very busy after starting her own live entertainment booking company, MaryMonica Music Inc., which is one of Chicago's premier female owned and managed entertainment corporations. Performance is in her blood. She started tap dancing at age 3, and eventually put herself through college as a chorus girl in many renowned Chicago Theaters such as Apple Tree, Drury Lane, Northlight, and Candlelight. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor's of Arts, but continued musical theater dancing with her university Ballet teacher Nancy Teinowitz at Joel Hall, and took professional tap classes at Lou Conte and jazz at Giordano. She enjoyed a six-month contract as Lead Vocalist/Dancer in the production staff on the Radisson Seven Seas' Navigator. She is certified in Zumba Basic and Zumbatomic Kids, and is thrilled to be a part of such a fantastically talented team of instructors at Solão!!! 
A Chicago native, Tonia has been involved in dance and fitness for many years. She is an avid runner and performed with dance troupes from childhood through college. Tonia is an AFAA certified group exercise instructor, with certifications in Zumba, TurboKick, Masala Bhangra, Urban Striptease and Reebok and Keiser Cycling. She is also a Les Mills BodyPump Instructor. Additionally, she is CPR/AED and First Aid certified by the American Heart Association. She currently teaches all types of dance fitness classes from hip hop to bhangra to striptease, muscle strength and toning classes including bootcamp and sports conditioning, cycle/spin classes and pilates fusion classes. Tonia's workouts are result-oriented and always packed with fun! So much so, you'll forget you are working out. While she's known to purposely lose count to get those extra 8 reps in, she'll definitely talk you through it! In addition to teaching fitness classes, she also practices intellectual property law in the Chicago area. In her spare time, Tonia studies Portuguese and travels.
Tom Digman is originally from Iowa. He went to the University of Iowa where he majored in Philosophy and Dance. After college he moved to New York to study Flamenco dance with the famous teacher Jose Molina. He moved to Chicago five years ago and has been a fitness instructor in Chicago for four years. He is particularly fond of teaching fitness classes in which he can indulge his passion for dance, creativity, irreverence, and fun.
Christina , a native of Belize, was the "fat kid" at school. Upon entering high school, Christina took her first step aerobics class with "Ms. Louise", the local health nut. She has been educating herself on weight training ,and dance-based exercise ever since. The combination of dance technique training combined with other fitness forms, such as spinning and free weight lifting and pilates, have changed her life. The gradual transformation and strengthening that christina has experienced, and continues to experience, over the years has inspired her to evolve into a fitness coach. Christina is Zumba certified and is pre-certified in BODY PUMP and as an ACE Personal Trainer.
A native of Chicago, Jason is a certified personal trainer, schooled in Judo, Jiu Jitsu and Shaolin Kung Fu. He is certified in Sithirun Muay Thai and a black belt in Shidokan Karate, Hapkido and Tae Kwon Do. Jason brings over 20 years of training and teaching experience to Solao. He has created a hybrid system of training and is sharing this exhilarating program in his class - Kickboxing Boot Camp. In addition to his training and martial arts experiences, Jason is self employed as a Hospitality & Restaurant Consultant. Jason also has over 12 years experience in personal, private and commercial security services.