OUR STORY

Meet ChiChi Founder

danella MERCATI

Discover Our Story: The surprising, inspiring, and theatrical journey of how ChiChi Fit took centre stage in the fitness world.

When Sir Paul McCartney gives you life advice, you take it. That’s exactly what happened to Danella Mercati. The result? A dance fitness class to blow your legwarmers off.

With 25 years’ experience in musical theatre, Danella Mercati is the brain behind ChiChi Fit.

“As a kid I was mad about musicals and dreamed of being a Westend star. I grew up in Cheltenham and won a place at the Guildford School of Acting to study Musical Theatre. After graduating, without all the hours of dance I’d been used to, I began to gain weight and felt my confidence slipping. This is when I was bitten by the fitness bug. Keeping fit became a priority, not just to look ‘right’ for the musical stage, but because it made me feel so much better.

To support me between performing jobs I trained in massage and a job opportunity took me to the exclusive health resort at Parrot Cay in the Turk & Caicos Islands of the Caribbean. Whilst I was there, I met and massaged Sir Paul McCartney (!!).

We got on well and he was incredibly kind to me. We talked about his days as a Beatle, his fame, and the good and the bad that comes with it. He was very interested in my performing career and my dreams and aspirations which was lovely. During the 3 weeks I was assigned as his therapist, he gave me life-changing advice that led to me creating ChiChi Fit. (It’s not lost on me that a Beatle gave me life advice – a pinch me moment).

He talked about the challenges of the performing industry and suggested I consider stepping away from the stage and instead take the role of director and choreographer. I could create my own programmes and taking full control of my life instead of waiting for that elusive call from a director saying I’d got the role.”

Danella returned to Cheltenham and in 2003 opened her own stage school, CAMEO.

“Soon after opening CAMEO, I was offered a job teaching drama and musical theatre at The Cheltenham Ladies College. I only intended staying a year or two, but it fitted so perfectly around building my stage school and popping out a couple of kids that I stayed, part-time, for 18 years!

The idea for ChiChi Fit came about when parents of the children who attended Danella’s stage school, began asking if she offered musical theatre classes for adults. “So many parents expressed an interest, so I combined my three greatest passions; musical theatre, dance and fitness and ChiChi Fit was born.”

Danella is keen to point out that ChiChi Fit is for everyone. You don’t need to be a dancer.

For such a showbiz-centric workout, Danella made it her mission to collaborate with someone she felt embodied the fun and sparkle of her unique offering; enter Craig Revel Horwood.

“Strictly Come Dancing was on TV at the time and Craig Revel Horwood was the first celebrity to come to mind. It took 12 months to find a way of getting in front of him and, when I finally did, it paid off as he loved the idea and jumped on board. Together, we developed the programme and the huge vision for ChiChi’s future.”

Realising that at the time there were no dance fitness classes with a musical theatre focus, Danella recognised that offering the opportunity to become a dance fitness instructor could provide both an income and a musical outlet for others, so she set about developing an accessible, fun and comprehensive ChiChi training programme.

“Anyone over 18 with a passion for dance, theatre, community and fitness are invited to train as a ChiChi Fit instructor. Our instructor training programme is quick, fun and effective, teaching everything you need to start your first class and build your ChiChi business.”

Danella also developed ChiChi’s additional programmes to ensure there’s a class for everyone regardless of age or ability. Whether it’s a ChiChi Fit class, or a ChiChi training you would like to attend, Danella or one of her many instructors, will be waiting to welcome you, with jazz hands at the ready, naturally.

craig revel horwood – Ambassador

For such a showbiz-centric workout, I made it my mission to find someone I felt embodied the fun and sparkle of my unique offering, to endorse it and eventually become the Ambassador of ChiChi Fit.

Enter Craig Revel Horwood! Craig loved the idea of a Musical Theatre inspired fitness class and was instrumental in setting up and developing the ChiChi Fit programme, acting as a valued mentor and inspiration. He’s been unbelievably kind and supportive. Together, we developed ChiChi Fit’s first class along with the huge vision for ChiChi Fit’s future…all over the country and worldwide!

It is such an honour to have BBC Strictly’s favourite judge, proudly spreading ChiChi’s message of fun and fabulous dance fitness!

Today, with a larger supporting team at ChiChi HQ, we have newly-trained instructors spreading ChiChi joy everywhere they go, including Australia, USA and Ireland.

WHERE fitness meets the stage

ChiChi Fit is the dance fitness craze sweeping the globe! It’s fun, theatrical fitness that lets you step into the spotlight and dance to your favourite show tunes whilst getting fit!

Combing music from fabulous shows with simple-to-follow routines that focus on cardio fitness, strength and toning, ChiChi Fit lets you be the star of your own show.

Classes are designed for all ages and abilities!

Find Your Nearest Class

Our individuality sparks from two different aspects of the business…

Firstly, we provide a business model to allow likeminded people to train to become ChiChi Fit instructors – getting paid to dance and keep fit all whilst living their Broadway dream!

Secondly, we come from theatrical training backgrounds so are able to provide the very BEST training and choreography. ChiChi Fit have created fabulous, ready-to-go routines and playlists to save you valuable time and hard work.

BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR

ChiChi FIT’s mission

We dream big here at ChiChi Fit because we truly know that ‘dreams really do come true!’ So, here’s what we want to bring to the UK & Globally with our classes:

Empower people to get fit in a way that feels fun and energising

We want to bring out the most sparkly, fit, happy and healthy version of you through show tunes and dance.

Continue to become one of the leading dance fitness classes in the UK and worldwide

We are building a UK-wide class and instructor base and have even launched in Australia, so watch this space!

Train ChiChi Fit instructors to be the best and most highly regarded in the business

We want to get a worldwide base of instructors and become the go to brand of dance fitness!

Promote a new feel of fitness

We want to provide fun fitness with a hint of glamour, showcasing our theatrical fitness with a showbiz buzz and show tunes that take you on an emotional, exciting, energetic journey!

how does it feel to be a chichi fit instructor?

Igniting passion and rekindling hobbies!

“Look at me, can’t you see I’m FABULOUS baby” Sister Act

We recently received an email enquiry from a lady considering training as a ChiChi Fit instructor. After referencing everything she loves about ChiChi Fit, along with her reason’s for wanting to become an instructor, she asked,

“What does it feel like to be a ChiChi Fit instructor?”

This picture sums it up perfectly! You feel like you’re taking your class on an exciting, glamorous adventure into the dazzling, theatrical world that is Musical Theatre.

Dancing along to the best showtunes takes you on a journey to FEEL happier, to FEEL more positive, to FEEL healthier, to FEEL stronger and to dazzle like the star of your own Broadway show. You leave each class FEELING FABULOUS! (and a little sweaty!)

We’re so excited to welcome new instructors to our LIVE online trainings, AND, our new ON-DEMAND trainings where you can train from the comfort of home, any time to suit you!