Zumba dancing is new fit craze (From Gazette)

Zumba dancing is new fit craze

10:00pm Tuesday 24th November 2009 in

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KEEP fit fanatics can blow away the cobwebs with some red hot African and Latin beats, as the latest dance craze comes to the county.

When it is cold and blustery outside, sometimes the last thing anyone wants to do is put on their trainers and exercise.

However, Zumba is set to change all that, by making aerobics fun.

The dance sessions are currently popular in America and it is fast becoming popular worldwide. Created by Columbian born Beto Perez, the workout incorporates music and dance moves from all over the world and burns around 500 – 700 calories per class.

Now Zumba has invaded Essex thanks to Gill Light and Michelle Harkes, dance teachers with backgrounds in ballet, Latin American, salsa and jazz among others,.

They have bought it to several venues across the county.

Feeling in need of some brightening up on a cold and rainy evening, a friend and I decided to go along to a class and see what all the fuss was about.

As soon as the music started, it was clear it wasn’t going to be a run-of-the-mill aerobics class.

For a start all of the music was authentic, which made a change from the usual Beyonce and Shakira pop tracks, and secondly, the dance moves were varied and were indigenous to the countries they originate from.

Luckily for us, the routines incorporated high and low impact which made it suitable for all abilities.

I particularly enjoyed the belly dancing routine and because the dances were challenging and fun it meant the hour-long session was over in a flash.

Afterwards, I was suitably energised from the whole experience and counting down the time to my next class.

Zumba is now running in various locations including, Monday at Markham’s Chase Sports Centre, Markham’s Chase, Basildon, from 8pm to 9pm. Thursdays at the Women’s Institute Hall, St Ediths Lane, Billericay, from 9.30am to 10.15am.

Entry to both classes costs £5, or £2.50 for students and children.

For further information, phone Gill on 07931 370544 or Michelle on 07845 494644 or visit www.gilllight.co.uk