I’m Bevin Branlandingham, the Femmecee and Founder of Fat Kid Dance Party aerobics (For All Sizes to Heal from Body Oppression). It’s a safe(r) space in LA for people of all sizes to feel good about their bodies, boost their joy, and rip up the dance floor. Now, I want to take the same message to everyone, regardless of location!
I created the class in response to bullying and other traumatic experiences I had growing up and living fat in the world. I internalized the messages that being fat is bad, and that I should be ashamed of what I looked like. Whenever I would try to dance or move in any way in public, I felt a lot of judgement that made me want to stop moving altogether. Most people who have been fat know that shame doesn’t create weight loss. (In this fatphobic society, if shame worked everyone would be thin!)
After serving as a thought leader in the body positive movement for over a decade, I’ve decided to create the kind of dance class I wish I had when I was a kid, and throughout my life. Something that wasn’t about weight loss or making our bodies look like those in a magazine, but focused on radically affirming all bodies. Something that helps to build not just self esteem but self love. And most importantly something that at its core helps to spark that deep fire of joy that lives in all bodies—but perhaps has been dormant in some of us for far too long.
PopSugar did a video about my class this summer and the response has been overwhelming. Almost 4 million people have seen the video and the number one response has been: “How can I get this class where I live?” Now, I want to bring it to everyone who needs a cheerleader worldwide! But I need your help to do it…
I am creating a Fat Kid Dance Party workout series that people can download and dance along with right in their living room. Production costs are particularly high for these types of videos, especially licensing for awesome music, which I believe is a key element of sparking joy. I’ve bought hundred dollar workouts with only one recognizable song and felt so let down by that - so the more money we raise the more fab music we can license, the higher the production value for the videos and the more I can move towards creating a body affirming movement series!
If you’re interested in affirming joyful movement class or learning some hot new moves to tear up the dance floor…
Support this project by pre-ordering now and sharing with your friends!!!
I can’t wait to party with you!
One more thing: I call this class Fat Kid Dance Party (For All Sizes to Heal from Body Oppression) because body negativity affects everyone. I want to be your cheerleader for resilience no matter what size you are because all bodies are worthy of love exactly as they are right now!
