Ye Seul Noh

Ms. Noh, the founder and president of S.J Dance, is said to always have a smile and a positive attitude, no matter how early in the morning or late in the night her dance classes are. She talks about why she became a dance teacher and redefined exercise in her classes for many adults regaining their physical health, who confidently say they now dance for fun.

Interview by Hayeon Kwak

Ms. Noh's responses (Detailed* English)

**English translations are also captioned in the video!

What is the best part about being a dance teacher?

The best part of being an aerobics dance teacher is when my students who struggle with health complications such as diabetes or high cholesterol, come and tell me their health improved after starting my classes. Many people were able to take less medicine and felt happier and more confident overall, and that warms my heart. The smiles I see on my students remind me of why I started this career as a dance teacher and inspire me to work hard every day.

When did you first know that you would like to be a dance teacher?

I have always loved exercise. When I was very young, I would follow my mother to aerobic dance classes too, and since then I have always dreamed of starting my own business. My dream came true when I first became a dance teacher at 27 years old; I have been pursuing my passion for 11 years now!

How has being a woman in dance changed over the years for you?

Being a woman in dance has changed me from focusing on just technique and styles to gaining a deeper sense of empowerment and leadership. When I first started dance, aerobic just meant exercise to me. But trying new styles and genres, from Zumba, pilates, and flying yoga in my classes helped me discover a newfound love for aerobic dance in its diversity. I now embrace my unique style and appreciate the diverse styles my students bring to my classes.

How do you keep a positive mindset while working? What inspires you?

There are always times when I am feeling under the weather, or unmotivated. At times, especially early in the morning or very late at night, I want to take a rest, and the hour of dance lessons ahead of me can feel long and painful. However, everything changes when the music begins and I see the reflection of all of my joyous students through the mirror. It’s very motivating when I see that my students are really putting in the effort during my classes. Even though I have been teaching for a while now, what inspires me is looking back to the past when I first started. I was younger and fired up with energy, and I want to keep that same energy going towards the future.

Do you have any words of advice for young girls? 

(Laughter) There is so much I want to say. In any situation, so many factors are out of our control. So many hurdles in life come our way as we get older. My advice to young girls would be to prioritize health and exercise. I believe moving my body and being healthy is what helps me keep a positive, open-minded, and have a can-do outlook on my life, no matter what the world throws at me. To be healthy and happy is the most important thing in life both mentally and physically. You only have one body and one life; there are situations in life you cannot control, but always take care of yourself and things will work out. Stay healthy!

Behind the Scenes!

A sneak peek into Ms. Noh's 8 pm class at Ridgefield, New Jersey

A clip from Ms. Noh's youtube channel: SJDanceNJ