Pony Weeklies: NEW TEACHER!!! Pony Prom, Feb Mixtapes!
One step closer every day at a time
Hey Ponies!
It’s February! We are introducing a new teacher, a new Pony Prom party, AND new mixtapes!!!
OMFG, NEW TEACHER!!! Introducing long time Pony MALIA MA! Malia will teach her very first official Pony Sweat class this Monday at 7PM (which happens to be our $10 community class AND Malia’s 59th birthday — rather epic). Her February mixtape includes Peaches, Killing Joke, Romeo Void, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Talk Talk, Gossip, Stevie Nicks, and MORE! We did a practice class on Sunday and it was fantastic. Malia taught aerobics in the late 90s and U CAN FEEL THAT!!!
We are truly ecstatic and so so lucky to now have both Jaquita and Malia alongside Emilia on the class schedule <3 Their energy is so positive, welcoming, Fuck the Moves-centric, and completely embodies the spirit and ethos of Pony Sweat!!! And now each month we all have the privilege of dancing to SO MANY AMAZING SONGS!! Genius!
If you’re a video subscription Pony, you may recognize Malia from the 30 minute video she was featured in alongside her best bud, Emely!
<3 <3 Q&A with Malia <3 <3
1. How and when did you first hear about/come to Pony Sweat?
I started Pony in 2017 with my Aquarian Twin bestie, Emely, who told me about it. I fell in love immediately. As a former dancer and fitness instructor during the toxic era of body perfectionism of the 80s and 90s, I never found a place of such belonging as I did when I arrived in the Pony space. I proceeded to spend 8 years in the back corner of the studio healing my angsty inner teenager. During my first class, I screamed waaaay out loud for Jane's Addiction's Mountain song. I later found myself casting spells while fucking the moves during Siouxsie's Spellbound. I was hooked on Pony for life.
2. What 3 adjectives would you use to describe your dancing style/personality?
Gothy, Butoh, and recklessly funky.
3. Tell us about one of your personal Pony Icons who inspires you!
I love Annabella Lwin of Bow Wow Wow. She is one of the very few hapa mixed Asian women I saw in the postpunk 80s. I LOVED her style and her energy and felt represented for the first time. While I identified as more Ska/New Ro in the 80's I would updo the Mohawk of my best friend and always wished I was brave enough to have one like Annabella. Her style and irreverence inspired me.
4. What have you gained from being a Pony?
I have made peace with my inner teenager, who was morose, felt outcast, and LOVED dance and music so much as a means of emotional release and catharsis. Pony has been pivotal on my mental health journey.
5. Can you give us a sneak peek of one song off your upcoming mixtape and tell us why you love it?
Killing Joke, Eighties. I actually taught aerobics to this song from a CASSETTE TAPE in my first stint as an aerobics instructor in 1987. That song has stood the test of time and brings me back to when mid class I had to flip the cassette over.
6. What do you do when you're not on the dance floor?
Besides actively looking for another dance floor to stomp on, I am a licensed therapist and use somatic based trauma resiliency model psychotherapy in my private practice. I also go to dance parties in the park and in small underground clubs, if I can stay awake long enough to get there.
PONY PROM!!!!! Saturday, March 1st 7PM at Pieter!!! Good goddess, I truly can’t wait for this. We’ve confirmed DJs Earthalittt (yes it's Jaquita <3!!) and Gay Felony (our pal Melody from dublab). We’re seeking donations for our raffle, to raise funds for a TBD mutual aid org!! Thank you for your early donations, dear Ponies Robert (Casita del Campo gift certificates) and Emily (art + OBGYN consult)! And thank you to dublab for sponsoring!
ICYMI event description: The PONIES UNDEAD live band is now PONIES UNWED and they will get you moving with some love + heartbreak pony favorites. We will have 30 minutes of aerobics with a live band, super DJs, NA drinks, a raffle, artful photo booth and a dance party! Inspired by Queer Proms all over the world, we want this Pony Prom to give you the opportunity to have the prom that you deserve! One that celebrates you being true to yourself, encourages fabulous outfits, has all your friends there, and plays the music you love! And if you need a re-do to your prom, maybe Pony Prom can be it! ALL PONIES ARE INVITED!!!!!
Emilia’s newwww February mixtape — we’re dancing to it Thursday 7PM and Saturday 2:45PM (+ Zoom livestream!!!) this week!! It’s very good, very sweaty, very fun. Join us either in person or across the internet!!! We recorded this mixtape on Monday night and will have it in our video library as soon as possible! xoxo
Jaquita will also have her own mixtape for February as well — the last version I saw included J.Lo, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Joy Division, Robyn, and more!! Hell yeah! Keep an eye on our classes page - each upcoming class will list who the teacher that day is!
Thanks so much for your support, Ponies! Can’t wait to dance with you soon!
With love,
Isabel