Dancing in high heels is boosting these women's confidence exponentially'

"But instead, they find their way to a small studio, where they join 27 others in strapping on a pair of high heels and throwing themselves into two hours of dance moves. This is the beginners heels class at Vibe Dance Studio, which was started by Izzy Gonzales and her dad Ed four years ago. It's a place where people can show up exhausted, but end up with so much energy they don't want to go home."

"Gonzales, who owns the studio and teaches the class, had a rich history in dance, performing competitively as a child until she began her undergraduate studies at Saint Mary's College in Moraga. Finally unshackled from the commitment of competitive dance teams, she quit the sport. She thought she'd love all her free time. But my sophomore year, I hit a lull, she says. I wasn't feeling myself."

On a cold Wednesday night in Martinez, 30 people gather for a beginners heels class at Vibe Dance Studio, trading couches for two hours of choreography and high heels. Participants include exhausted professionals who leave work to dance, and they report leaving energized and uplifted. The class emphasizes confidence and empowerment and creates a party-like social atmosphere. Vibe Dance Studio was founded four years ago by Izzy Gonzales and her father Ed. Gonzales performed competitively as a child, later quit during college, and rediscovered dance through a heels class that felt freeing and expressive. The heels style reignited her passion and shaped the studio's focus.

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