Zumba
Zumba is a Latin-inspired dance fitness program created by dancer and choreographer Alberto "Beto" Perez in Colombia during the 1990s.
Zumba involves dance and aerobic elements. Zumba's choreography incorporates hip-hop, samba, salsa, merengue, mambo, martial arts, and some Bollywood and belly dance moves. Squats and lunges are also included.
Origin
In the 1990s, Perez forgot his tape of aerobics music for a class he was teaching. He took the tapes available in his car—consisting of traditional Latin salsa and merengue music—and improvised a class using this non-traditional aerobics music. After the initial success in Colombia, he took the class to the United States in 1999. Zumba is considered exercise in disguise, with a typical class burning between 500 and 1000 calories.[1]
The Zumba program is recognized by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, IDEA Health and Fitness Association, and the American Council on Exercise.[2]
As of 2009[update] there were more than 20,000 Zumba instructors in 35 countries.[3]
Exercises
Zumba exercises include music with fast and slow rhythms and resistance training for fitness and losing weight.[3] The music comes from the following dance styles: cumbia, salsa, merengue, mambo, flamenco, chachacha, reggaeton, soca, samba, belly dancing, bhangra, hip hop music, axé music and tango. There are six different types of classes for different levels of age and exertion, including one based in the swimming pool.[4]
References
- ^ http://www.zumbacalories.com
- ^ Orange County Register, March 2009
- ^ a b Get fit dancing: Dance to a different beat with Zumba, Daily Telegraph, 30 March 2009
- ^ About Zumba Fitness on official website
External links
- zumba.com - official website
- Zumba - Zumba Gökçe
- Calories burned Zumba - Zumba Calorie Counter
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