Fit to be tried: Zumba
ONE minute you are squatting down, bum tucked to the ground, then you are swept up into a circle doing high kicks for a manic hip-hop style hokey-kokey, then it's sideways jumping, arms raised above your head waving in symmetrical bends.
It's a new exercise trend that leaves you breathless, smiling and a little bit sore the next day if you are a first-timer.
But zumba, a dance fitness craze that's huge in the US and gaining popularity here, is a challenging combination of Latin and international dance techniques that's part aerobics, part rhythm and part humility test.
"It's more like a workout than other dance styles such as salsa," says a breathless Hilary Clarke, a dance instructor who teaches both styles and is the organiser behind a recent Zumbathon, held in Dublin to raise money to fight breast cancer.
"My heart rate is up at around 168 beats per minute almost the whole time."
This means the dancer is well up in her anaerobic threshold -- a level that boosts fitness levels as well as burning calories.
She whooshes off into a crowd of women -- and the occasional fella -- who are now wearing scarf-style belly-dance belts with small bells attached -- all the better to collectively zumba your hips in a tantalising jingle.
But joining in the fray, I'm a bit lost trying to follow the stylised moves: "One-two-three jump to the side, bend your arms above the head in the opposite direction to your knees ... " shouts the instructor.
We trot behind in an ungainly imitation of her lithe moves, some performing perfectly, most not. We switch to a sort of Bollywood dance routine, with Indian-style music in the background.
If you forget looking cool, it's good fun, if a bit bewildering for novices like me. However, unlike other dance methods, you'd be unlikely to transfer your zumba skills to the nearest disco.
"It doesn't really work as a routine on a night out at a club," admits zumba fan Darren from Derry, one of the few men in our class.
"But it's a good challenge when you get the hang of it, and it's good exercise."
He says he can only master the zumba style so quickly because he teaches salsa.
A Frenchwoman attending the class says it keeps her coming back as the enjoyment factor means she's much more motivated to get to a zumba session than go to the gym.
"I find the gym very boring, but this is fun and I hate to miss my class," she says.
One of Europe's popular zumba instructors, Donna Giffen, who taught a master-class here recently to a big crowd, says the dance routine is good for reducing weight as well as improving your latin rhythms.
The routine has helped to melt the pounds and inches off 7.5 million people in 105 countries, she claims.
"Zumba is brilliant for toning, strengthening and cardio, targeting every major muscle group in the body all while having a great time," says Giffen, from Scotland.
The routine borrows Latin flavour and international zest from dance styles including salsa, samba, hip-hop, belly-dancing and tango.
It's the brainchild of celebrity fitness trainer Beto Perez who started it up in his native Colombia. The aim was to create a class using non-traditional exercise music, and the resulting fusion soon became a popular fitness trend.
Following his success in Colombia, Beto started teaching his technique in the US and later the global market. Soon a multi-national franchise was born, and there's now zumba for kids, aqua zumba and zumba DVDs.
Here, the programme is available across the country, and you can usually try out one class for free, without having to commit to a long-term deal.
If you do go along, here are some key moves you can expect to learn so you'll be in the know.
Beto shuffle: A double step to the side with a zig-zag arm movement above your head.
Reggaeton push: A bit like an abdominal crunch, but done standing up, looks quite sexy, guaranteed to improve your chances for a date on a Saturday night.
Samba lunge: Like a traditional lunge where you step out and bend one leg, but lots more hip movement.
See you on the dance floor.
The Verdict
Did it work? A good heart-rate pumper
Pluses: So much fun you don’t know you are exercising
Minuses: Can take a couple of classes to learn the moves
Cost: Trial class for free, standard fee €10
Contact: www.danzon.ie, tel: 087 917 2939 or visit facebook.com/Zumba and click on the classes tab
- Amanda Phelan
Irish Independent
