You watch the pitch, you see the hugs, and you hear, We’ve got a deal! But don’t get fooled—what happens on screen is just the start. Take Dance With Me for example. They hit Shark Tank, made Daymond John chase them behind the scenes, and then faced the real test: could they turn that TV moment into a moneymaker? Let’s cut through the hype and get into how Dance With Me really played out, on and off the stage.
Quick Look: What Is Dance With Me?
Dance With Me is a dance fitness brand built for real people—no ballet shoes or perfect rhythm required. Billy Blanks Jr. and his wife Sharon Catherine Blanks walked into Shark Tank with this concept: fun, high-energy classes on DVD and in real life, all about getting communities of every age and skill level moving.
What made it stand out? Unlike the cookie-cutter workout DVDs, this program wanted to scale big, certifying instructors everywhere and building an empire like Zumba—but cooler, more inclusive, and personal. If Jane Fonda did home exercise, Dance With Me wanted to own the live group fitness hustle.
Who Are the Founders?
Meet the Blanks—Billy Jr. and Sharon. This isn’t your usual corporate desk job to disruptor story. Billy Jr. grew up in the shadow of Tae Bo legend Billy Blanks and lived for the hustle. Sharon? She’s a Broadway pro and certified fitness instructor, straight up—a performer with grit.
They were down, and I mean really down. Before Shark Tank, they’d dealt with homelessness, gigs drying up, and banks closing in. But nobody watching their pitch missed the fact that these two had nothing to lose, except maybe their last shot.
Walking Into the Tank: The Pitch
Their Shark Tank moment was pure theater. Season 3, Episode 14. They walked in with charm and nerves but didn’t just talk—they got Mark Cuban and the other Sharks to dance. That’s how you own a pitch room.
Billy and Sharon asked for $100,000 for 20% equity. What were they selling? An instructor training empire and a brand they could scale up, not just DVDs gathering dust under your TV. Some founders trip up here, asking too much or offering too little. The Blanks understood the money, the hustle, and the vision.
They laid it all out—past pain, future dreams. And that emotional honesty? It cracked through the usual Shark poker faces.
Shark Tank Deal: What Really Happened
Here’s the truth: not everything goes clean in the Tank. Barbara Corcoran, Kevin O’Leary, and Robert Herjavec bailed first. They didn’t see the model, or couldn’t vibe with live fitness scaling.
That could’ve been the end. But Daymond John—always tuned to the street and the scalable—moved in. He teamed up with Mark Cuban, offering $100,000 for 50%. But Daymond wanted a Zumba partnership angle, maybe playing it safe, maybe hedging his bet. Billy worried about selling out his brand’s soul.
Result? No deal. The Blanks said no thanks, and started walking. Most would fade to black here.
But what happened next? That’s Shark Tank history. Daymond literally chased them backstage. No cameras, no script. He cared enough to lay it out—support, not just syndicate. That authenticity won Billy and Sharon over, and they agreed to the deal, 50% for $100,000. You could tell Daymond saw not just a product, but the people.
Who Invested and Why?
Let’s clear up the confusion: Daymond John is the real power here. Mark Cuban was in, but Daymond drove the deal—and he made it personal by stepping outside the Tank.
Why did only Daymond stick? He knows the difference between trend and tribe. Billy and Sharon weren’t just riding fitness waves; they were fighting for every inch, planning to scale not just with DVDs, but with real instructors building local audiences.
For anyone reading who wants that Shark Tank moment—learn from Daymond. He doesn’t just see numbers, he sees fighters. That’s who he backs.
Net Worth and Brand Momentum
Here’s what most blogs won’t say: not every Shark Tank deal turns into silly money. Dance With Me, now Dance It Out, didn’t become the next FUBU overnight.
Are they rolling in cash? No public figures tell us they’re at eight figures, but they scaled. Billy Blanks Jr. spun that Shark Worth moment into real credibility. Media hits, new classes, global reach. Maybe they don’t post profits like Scrub Daddy, but they’re not flash-in-the-pan.
Let’s be real—net worth numbers are private. But you don’t rebrand, expand, and train certified instructors worldwide unless the money is talking. For anyone watching Shark Tank for lessons, this is the real play: use the show, use the Shark, build the empire.
Rebrand and Expansion: What Came Next?
After Shark Tank, Billy and Sharon went back to execution mode. Dance With Me morphed into Dance It Out—and that pivot was smart, not just cosmetic. They wanted a brand with broad appeal, not tied to one TV pitch or a single format.
Here’s how you know they did it right: instructor certification popped up everywhere. Trainers from the U.S. to Europe started building businesses under the new banner. If you’re in fitness, you know certification is where the recurring revenue is. They weren’t tied to DVD sales; they played the long game.
Billy became a regular on talk shows, fitness magazines, and even digital platforms. They chased global brand equity, not just quick Shark Tank cash grabs.
Where Is Dance With Me Now?
So, did the hustle last? Absolutely. Dance It Out classes still run in gyms, studios, and online. You can find their programs internationally—and more importantly, you can get certified to teach it yourself.
They expanded not just with workouts, but with business models: instructor licenses, programs for seniors, virtual sessions, and even franchising. For all the GymSharks and Peloton-wannabes out there, note: Dance It Out went grassroots, built from real demand, and didn’t just bet everything on a flashy subscription.
If you want to buy in, you can. If you want to teach, the door’s open. They made Dance It Out into a movement that survives trends.
Key Lessons for Entrepreneurs
Now, let’s get raw. What can you learn from Dance With Me and the Blanks?
First, your backstory matters—but it can’t be the whole story. Nobody gives you money for hardship alone. Billy and Sharon’s pain opened doors, but their business plan kept those doors open.
Second, the deal you see on TV isn’t the only deal that counts. Sometimes it happens off-camera, through grit and real talk. Don’t be afraid to walk out if the terms suck. But if a partner wants in and believes for the right reasons—maybe that’s worth a reconsider.
Third, don’t fall for quick wins. Instructor certification, live classes, and partnering with the right Shark (not just the one throwing cash) built lasting value. They didn’t just ride the Shark Tank wave—they turned it into a springboard.
Fourth, rebranding isn’t failure; it’s chess. Dance It Out wouldn’t have gone global without the pivot. Stay ready to change, but do it for the right reasons.
Fifth, exposure is fuel, not a finish line. Too many businesses blow up on TV and then flame out. Billy and Sharon used every ounce of publicity to build relationships, partnerships, and community. Results follow grit—not just press.
This isn’t make-believe. On SharkWorth, we see it all: some brands blow up, some get crushed. Dance With Me went through the fire and came out a global contender. Keep your eyes on real outcomes, not just big moments.
FAQs
1. Is Dance With Me (Dance It Out) still in business?
Yes, they rebranded as Dance It Out and are still growing. Classes, certifications, and programs are active worldwide.
2. Who really invested on Shark Tank for Dance With Me?
Daymond John is the main investor. Mark Cuban was part of the pitch but Daymond made the real deal happen.
3. What was the final deal Billy Blanks Jr. accepted?
They took $100,000 for 50% equity—after a rare backstage negotiation.
4. What happened after the show—did the business take off?
Yes, they rebranded, expanded globally, and built strong instructor certification and licensing revenue streams.
5. How much is Dance With Me or Dance It Out worth now?
Exact figures are private, but SharkWorth estimates show strong global brand impact and multi-stream fitness revenue.
6. Where can I take a Dance It Out class or get certified?
Classes and certifications are online and in-person. Check the Dance It Out official site or major gyms.
7. Why did Daymond John chase the founders backstage?
He saw the heart—and the business model. He didn’t want to miss out, but he also wanted to support their vision directly.
8. Do they franchise or license the brand to other instructors?
Yes, a big part of their post-Tank model is instructor licensing and franchise partnerships worldwide.
Bottom line? Billy and Sharon from Dance With Me left their mark—not just because they got a deal, but because they made the deal count. That’s how you play the Shark Tank game for real.
