Patch Editor David Gurliacci Puts a Negative Spin on a Policy Promoting Client Safety.

Recently Patch Editor David Gurliacci posted about an incident that happened at Work It Dance and Fitness in Norwalk CT.  (http://norwalk.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/late-customer-confronts-strict-dance-studios-instr...)  The article was written in a style that implied that our policy, created for our client's safety and well being, in a negative light.   Work It is a small, family owned fitness studio that prides itself in creating an environment that is safe, welcoming, and most of all, fun.  Below is our official response to David's post.

To the editor David Gurliacci, Work It Dance and Fitness understands that it can be a challenge sometimes to get to the studio on time. I-95 itself is enough to make you want to scream on the top of your lungs. Please understand our policy is for good reason: safety, security, and respect.

Safety! People can get hurt. As a physical fitness studio, if the client does not arrive on time, they are not properly warming up their body. Each class uses a variety of muscles in various ways. If their body is not properly prepared, they can be risking an injury.

Security! Our doors are locked as soon as class is started to prevent anyone from walking in unnoticed. We want our focus on our clients, not on what is going on the other side of the curtains. Our client's safety is of our utmost importance.

Respect! It is disrespectful to the instructor and to other clients to expect them to wait or be disrupted by a latecomer. Consider it from the other perspective. If you left early, fought traffic, and arrived on time to your class, why should you have to wait, get a shorter class, or be disrupted because someone else didn't have the same courtesy?

We hope you understand that we are a studio that actually cares about our client's well being and wants everyone to share in a great experience. To imply with the words "A dance studio with an apparently immovable late policy" is a negative attribute, is unfair and misleading. All we ask is that our clients be safe, feel secure, and show respect.

 ~ Michelle and Tony Abbruzzese, Owners of Work It Dance and Fitness.