“Ditch the workout, join the party!” is the exuberant slogan of Zumba, a fitness craze that has been sweeping through U.S. gyms and the Connecticut College Athletic Center alike. Perhaps it’s because I’m from Baltimore, which at various points in its checkered past has claimed to be “The City That Reads” and “The Greatest City in America,” but I am typically pretty skeptical of slogans. But attend one of the Zumba classes offered at Conn and you will witness participants shimmying, swinging their hips, dancing to songs like “Move Shake Drop,” and laughing and clapping in appreciation at the end of each song. Let the party begin!
Zumba combines moves from several Latin dance styles with upbeat music to create a cardio workout that strengthens, tones and most importantly, is enjoyable. Bridget Byers ’13 first introduced Zumba to the Connecticut College campus last year and it has been growing in popularity ever since. There are now three sessions offered every week: two led by Byers and one by Amanda Florian ’14. Byers says Zumba is so well-attended because “shaking and jumping to Latin, pop and hip-hop rhythms isn’t your average routine at the gym; it’s a workout you can’t just get on your own.” Florian adds that the “positive, upbeat environment is more fun than a normal, boring workout.”
But it’s not all about having fun; anyone who has been to a Zumba class will tell you that it breaks a serious sweat. Florian says “when you’re dancing and having fun you’re not even realizing how much your body is working out,” and Byers designs her classes to be “a challenge for people of all fitness levels.”
If you’re worried that your cha-cha is sub par, or that your lack of grace on the dance floor doesn’t belong in a room full of people and mirrors, don’t let it hold you back from giving Zumba a try. Byers reminds participants that “it is not a performance class, no one’s watching!” The classes are free and all are encouraged to “join the party” Mondays at 5 PM, Tuesdays at 5:15 PM and Fridays at noon in Athletic Center Studio 2.
