Biography
David W. Roberti–fitness professional, former dance studio owner, DJ and Performer; integrates his passion for music, movement and entertainement into every aspect of his life. Fitness and music has always been a part of his life. Based on his profession as an upbeat dance and fitness instructor and accomplished musician - David plays the drums and percussion as well; he built a strong know-how in both exercise and music and has also gained valuable knowledge about health, nutrition; and the human body and mind as a result of his own struggles and triumphs that he encountered throughout life.
Born and raised in Santa Monica, David discovered his passion for music at age 10 and began playing the drums. From age 11 to 17 David was also practicing Marshall Arts and studied tae kwon do. He competed in full-contact karate for seven years under Master He Il Cho and also has gained practice in judo, and many different types of yoga and meditation. Through his involvement with exercise, he discovered his interest in teaching and found his first calling in the fitness industry in 1982. David taught dance exercise classes at Great Shape & West. He became a professional AFAA certified trainer and he enthusiastically pursued his musical talent during high school and college as well.
David's next endeavor was DJing in clubs and drumming and recording with local bands in Los Angeles. In 1985 he started teaching dance exercise at “California Shape” in Westwood, where he was discovered to teach master classes. Clients weren't the only people inspired by David. A Japanese company hired and sponsored David to teach master classes internationally. After teaching for 4 months at “Sports Connection”, an extravagant fitness club in Tokyo, as well as playing the drums in a Japanese Pop-Music band, David returned from Japan and attended the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles. In 1987 he attended the Musicians Institute, P.I.T., in Hollywood, CA where he graduated from in 1989. During those years he has studied with Joe Paccaro, Ralph Humphrey, Cassy Cheral, and Efrin Toro among others such as David Garibaldi, Louis Conte, and Peter Donald. David credits this diversity of experience for his unique performances.
Over the years David played with local bands such as Masquerade, Soul Shakers, Wow & Flutter, the Sun Dogs and many others. He has played and recorded their songs at well known venues such as the “Temple Bar” in Santa Monica, “WHISKY A GO GO”, the “Roxy”, “Gazzari's” in Hollywood, the “Sand Hotel” in Las Vegas and at several other locations in Los Angeles, Orange County and Santa Barbara. Internationally David performed in Japan, France and England. David created original music and mixed, edited, and arranged music for dance concerts. He played percussion and drum kits at concert performances for dance companies and he taught dance classes at different venues such as Jane Fonda Workout, Paradise Dance Studio, Crunch Fitness, Jeff Marten Fitness Center, Marten Henry Fitness Center, City Dance Studio and Anatomy of Fitness. He worked with children between the ages of 5 and 12 at LA FIT Public Schools to teach physical fitness and he was a key player in the founding of the famed Main Street Dance Studio in Santa Monica.
In 1991 David became the artistic director and owner of MAIN STREET—Fitness & Dance.
Under David's ownership, “MAIN STREET” which was also one of the first clubs in the area to offer spinning classes, was recognized as one of the top exercise and dance studios in the United States and was covered in many national and international publications. Among other well known teachers he worked together with choreographer Russell Clark and Bryan Kest. David's approach to teaching includes different forms of movement such as ballet, modern, jazz, boxing, as well as African, Latin, and Brazilian dance, step, body sculpting, and spinning. Some of the classes he developed in his 26-year teaching career are Body Rock, Yoga Lites, and his signature class, Rave with Dave, which incorporates highly infectious music and his personal mixes.
One of his biggest accomplishments is a program called “Special Aerobics”, that he created in 1992 to teach mentally and physically challenged people to get regular exercise and most importantly to develop cardiovascular and muscular endurance. Most participants noticed a significant increase in alertness and a positive mental attitude.
After five years of great success David sold MAIN STREET, but he continued teaching master classes and seminars at local dance studios like Bus & Revolution and Santa Monica Dance Studio. His excellent reputation as a dance instructor reached out all over the world and he started getting invitations to dance conventions. David has traveled to Japan, France, Spain, England, Germany, and New York to teach his master classes. After several years of traveling he returned to his true passion: music.
On one of David's travels he had the honor of teaching a drum workshop at the Kenyatta University of Nairobi in Kenya, which was an extraordinary experience. An African-American musical fusion was created during his visit and students and teachers were very impressed and David was invited back. This cultural exchange inspired both, students and David.
Besides playing the drums and percussions David has been focusing on his DJ career and as a highly skilled and gifted artist he has performed for all kinds of functions, organizations, occasions, and clubs. He played for several years as a Radio DJ on Groove Radio and other independent Radio stations and has performed for HBO, Lucky Entertainment, HerbaLife, Seven Seas, The Beverly Club, The Jonathan Club, The World Café, Rebecca's, The Palace, Keith Edwards Entertainment, The Oar House, O'Brien's, The Century Club, Sofitel Hotel, Hilton Hotel and many others.
David's music collection is immense and he is always building on it. He has everything from disco to Russian tango, as well as Brazilian flamenco, hip-hop, funk, house, techno, ‘60s, ‘80s, current songs and is expanding his repertoire daily. His style of music varies from deep soulful house to a bumpy techno/ electro set, ethnic music, standards, and contemporary tunes. He maintains a large client base and performs at a diverse range of events including weddings, bar mitzvahs, birthdays, anniversary parties, corporate events, beach parties, holiday parties, Fundraisers and other private functions and can naturally blend into any population.
After a few years of focusing on music only David returned to his originals roots as a Movement & Fitness Instructor in 2004 and is presently teaching “Rave with Dave” at Burn Fitness and “Spinning” at Equinox in Santa Monica and “Yoga Lites” at the Spectrum Club in the Pacific Palisades. David is also developing a dance class with live percussion and he is looking for a new home for his “Special Aerobics” program to help the community of mentally, physically and socially challenged people to bring joy into their lives.
One of his next projects is to be founding a cultural arts center to make everything he has to offer about music, arts and movement more accessible to the public. He raises the bar and continues to pioneer new concepts in fitness, well being and happiness. At present David is working on a solo project for a documentary and he is writing music in his home studio with different musicians and he is playing the drums again with different local rock bands as well as at the SMC Jazz Ensemble in Santa Monica to practice his drumming.
David's other area of interest and expertise is working as an Alcohol and Drug abuse Counselor which he has been doing for over 4 years. He has pioneered the concept of incorporating exercise and music into his therapy. To prevent relapse, David believes that he can assist his clients at best in their recovery with improving the patients' physical, mental and social well-being, which for most of his participants has become a Body and mind changing experience. His musical skills and knowledge about exercise enhances his work as a counselor. He put his full attention on getting people to dance and evoke emotions to accentuate the experience of their life with the combination of music and exercise.
David resides in West Los Angeles with his wife, whom he met during his travels in Germany in 1997 and who is also very supportive. She helps him pursue his vision of giving people a life-changing experience, whether that involves dancing, improving overall health and outlook on life or making a special event as memorable as it can be.
To contact David, please e-mail him at contact@davidroberti.com