It all started as a dream.
Shepparton aerobics enthusiasts Sean Reynolds and Daniel Johnson always envisioned that one day they would turn their passion into a thriving business.
And in 2019 they were finally able to take the plunge.
Opening up the first Revival Aerobics studio in a small rental space on Corio St, they began with just six students, offering sport aerobics and cheerleading classes from the beginner level (ages five plus) to elite competition.
They had no idea whether their dream would translate into a successful business venture.
But if you fast forward three years, it’s safe to say that their passion and dedication to the sport and growing it in the Shepparton region has Revival well on the way to becoming a success.
Currently sporting a team of 30 athletes, Revival Aerobics is beginning to make waves in a number of top flight competitions.
Looking over the 2022 season, Revival athletes have reeled in an incredible 42 medals, which includes a haul of 20 gold, 16 silver and six bronze.
The recent SchoolAerobics State Championships in Geelong were particularly impressive for the Shepparton studio, with a return of 18 medals (five gold, nine silver) resulting in 13 of its athletes being given the opportunity to travel to the national championships.
Now in the midst of their final preparations for nationals in Queensland, which begin on August 19, these results indicate just how far the studio has come.
And when you talk to co-founder Reynolds, the excitement of seeing Revival athletes on the national stage had him champing at the bit.
“We are very, very excited (for nationals), it has been a long time since the last one and for our athletes to receive such a great opportunity to shine,” Reynolds said.
“There is two chances to get to nationals, beginning with the regionals before going to states, so to see 13 of our athletes get through after so much hard work it is very rewarding.”
For those unfamiliar with how Sport Aerobics operates, it can be described as a high-intensity performance sport that combines elements of dance and aerobic gymnastics to create a 1.30-2 minute routine to music, where athletes show their flexibility, power and strength through various skills such as push-ups, splits and jumps.
This year’s competition is 12 months in the making for the crew at Revival, with the studio poised to have a major presence at the 2021 national championships before it was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“It is so exciting, the kids cannot wait, and after missing out last year it has just created that extra motivation to attack training,” he said.
“Last year we had seven competitive athletes preparing to go and this year we have 13, which shows how much we have grown.
“The vibe around the studio has been so good, especially over these past few weeks, and the support all the kids are giving each other in the lead-up to the nationals has just been wonderful to see.”
And while the rapid growth of the studio can be seen in competition, perhaps more impressive is how much it has grown off the floor.
Having more than tripled its number of athletes in three years, Reynolds and Johnson took advantage of the growth, trading their small rental studio for a larger space they now own.
Reynolds said it was incredibly exciting to be able to have a studio they could call their own, and was excited for what the future held at 3/15 Mitchell St.
“Opening up in 2019 we began by renting a small space in town, and then only a few months ago we decided to expand and purchase our own space to turn into a studio,” he said.
“The kids are loving the new space, it has opened up so many more opportunities for us and we cannot wait to keep developing it moving forward.”
As for what Reynolds hopes the athletes get out of the opportunity at nationals, he said he just wants to see everybody give it their all.
“I just hope everyone does their best,” he said.
“Hopefully we see plenty of personal best scores from our kids and most importantly they have fun with it.”
Revival Aerobics Studio will be recruiting new competitive squad athletes for the 2023 competition season in early November, for their junior, youth, senior and cheer squads.
Contact revivialaerostudio@gmail.com to register your interest.