WASHINGTON — The house lights come down. The glow lights flicker on. The DJ starts the tables spinning.
Except, this isn’t a Saturday night at a U Street nightclub.
It happens to be a Saturday morning on 14th Street Northwest.
305 Fitness, which offers classes in D.C. and New York, combines elements of the club with a relentless dance cardio workout.
Fitting of its slogan, “make sweat sexy,” participants burn up to 800 calories during the 55-minute class, according to the leaders. Classes start at $21.
“This is a judgment-free zone!” shouts instructor Marie Schlatter as the class begins.
Patrick FitzGerald — known as DJ Daywalker — cuts right to the hook of popular tracks, firing off several songs every minute. The songs are infused with the driving beats of EDM, electronic dance music.
The teacher and the DJ don’t plan out the playlist ahead of time. It’s all based on an eight-count rhythm. They adjust to the vibe in the room.
While the sounds evoke a dance club, having two left feet is not a problem: The class is more of a traditional cardio workout than it is about busting moves.