This cross-cardio dance class gives the observant a safe spot to sweat

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Rachel Victor leads a cross-cardio dance session that caters to Orthodox Jewish women.

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

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The Zumba-inspired class is a combination of regulars and newbies.

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

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Rachel Victor, right, incorporates steps, jumps, twists and kicks into her workouts.

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

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Some orthodox attendees don modest head scarves or long sleeves and skirts, but others opt for more mainstream workout gear.

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

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Rachel Victor adds new bits to her Zumba-inspired sequences each week.

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

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Rachel Victor’s class tailored to Orthodox Jewish women meets twice a week.

(Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times)

By Natalie Shure

Dec. 23, 2016 7 AM PT

Religious law and mainstream fitness classes don’t always mix. So Rachel Victor decided to create her own workout.

Her cross-cardio dance sessions cater exclusively to fellow Orthodox Jewish women, giving observant students a safe spot to sweat. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy: Victor’s hour-long routines unfold with lightning speed, leaving newbies tripping to catch up. The Zumba-inspired choreography incorporates steps, jumps, twists and kicks. The twice-weekly class tests coordination as much as stamina, but the community support and pounding pop beats make it easier to power through.

Aura

The class meets at a second-floor dance studio in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood. Most attendees seem to know each other, but are welcoming to newcomers. Some don modest head scarves or long sleeves and skirts from their daily lives, but others opt for more mainstream workout gear in this private setting. Students range from younger teens to perhaps mid-50s, and more experienced dancers who know the steps from previous weeks volunteer to form a front row that might otherwise intimidate beginners. Victor weaves between rows during longer sequences for demos.

Effort

Victor adds new bits to an existing sequence each week, so regulars are rewarded for their persistence. Mastering the steps makes it easier to pack in the full range of movement, which means it’s harder to break a sweat early on. As a particularly lousy dancer, I had to concentrate hard to follow along, but the vibe was too positive to feel self-conscious. There was a range of abilities in the class, encouraging each woman to do whatever she could.

Style

By day, Victor also works as a “bat mitzvah motivator” who is hired by parents to get the dance floor started. One suspects she must be great at it -- she’s a bundle of energy, and every student I chatted with after class gushed about how much they enjoy dancing with her. The dance moves are set to secular pop and hip-hop, but Victor tries to stick with less vulgar selections.

Cost

$13 for a drop-in class, $10 per class with a monthly commitment. Email rachelvictor.com for details.

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