Health + Fitness
Meet Ziba Lennox, the Dancing Mama Who Is Transforming the Lives of Women Through Dance Fitness
The first time I heard about dancing fitness, I wasn’t sure it was even a thing. However, that was years ago when I thought dance was just a reserve of the pros. Fast forward to 2019, Ziba Lennox caught my eye on Instagram for combining dance fitness & fashion. I had the chance to interact with Ziba Lennox, an entrepreneur and professional ballerina who is changing lives through dance. Lennox has been in the fitness industry for ten years now. Over the years, she has created and developed the revolutionary Dancing Mama Style into an irresistible trend and brand among women from all walks of life. A mother of two boys, Lennox stands both as a source of inspiration and encouragement to mothers. I spoke to Lennox about what she does, and she obliged to let me in on her success journey. There was so much to learn from this woman who believes that, “Dancing & moving are the best things you can do for your mental health.”
Growing up in a Ballet Class to Co-Founding a Company with Her Sister
Well, Lennox did not exactly grow up in a ballet class but considering that she enrolled at the tender age of two, you would be forgiven for saying she did. Her passion for dance was fanned to the extent that she became a full-blown professional ballerina. Surprisingly, or maybe not quite so, Lennox tagged her sister, Marisol, along in her love affair with the dance floor. The two were, and still, are inseparable. They even partnered to open MaZi Dance Fitness, a company that allows women to leverage dance to live healthy lives, with a focus on mental wellness. MaZi is a first of its kind in the world because they focus on the real feel of a dance studio that embraces everyone. Unlike what some might expect, Lennox went to school like all other kids and later to the University of Rochester where she graduated with an MBA in Finance. “I decided to go to business school after seeing how hard it can be to transition out of dance later in life,” she says. As you can guess, a few years in business school didn’t do much to erase Lennox’s passion for dance. The dance guru worked for Target/Best Buy in Minneapolis shortly after which she and her sister formed MaZi.
Making Profit and a Difference in Women’s Lives Without the Help of Investors
I asked Lennox what amazes her most when she looks back on how far she and her sister have come, and she told me she is proud that they, “have never had investors and were profitable since the first month of operation.” Considering that only a handful of businesses can boast of such a fete, Lennox positions herself as the daring entrepreneur who is not afraid to do things differently and win every time. Despite being tempted to think that dance is not that much of a life-impacting activity, Lennox made me realize that there is a whole lot of things people don’t know about the relationship between dance and wellness. She says, “Beyond being profitable and evolving with the fitness trends, the biggest success I feel is changing the lives of the people that come to MaZi.”
What the Future Holds
In our conversation, I must admit I wasn’t as surprised as when Lennox told me, “I don’t often think about where I’m headed. I just work as hard as I can in the moment. It’s a strength and a weakness.” Come to think of it. If the dancing mama has come this far without being obsessed and worried about the future, she is more than okay going a thousand more miles in the same fashion. The kind of easiness she approaches life with is very inspiring. However, Lennox did mention something about working on the part of her business she wants to use to create awareness on causes.
In summation, there is nothing quite like a woman motivated enough to take life by the horns. Ziba Lennox uses her experience in business, dance, and motherhood to inspire women to reach for greatness in life, and not take for granted talent and opportunity. If you are out there and like I have ever doubted the power of dance, you should reread this and share it with a friend.