Zumba: Ditch the workout, join the party

The Colorado College Zumba listserv has over 280 recipients—evidence of its extreme popularity with the student body. With classes that take place three times a week that are taught by three different teachers, CC Zumba offers a fun alternative fitness program with several different levels.

Zumba is a new trend in the world of dance-workouts. The official Zumba Workout website proclaims, “Ditch the workout, join the party.”

Combining the sexy rhythm of salsa dance with the high-energy fun of Dance Dance Revolution, Zumba is a fun way to burn calories and dance with friends.

Freshman Ellen Smith started practicing Zumba at CC. A member of the triathlon team, she was on the lookout for something fun that helps her stay in shape during the off-season.

“Sometimes just working out on the bike or going for a run can be boring,” Smith said. “Zumba is interesting dance moves that burn calories and go along with the music.”

Zumba has been growing rapidly worldwide since its inception in 2001, making its way from yoga and dance studios to fitness videos and Spanish classrooms. Instructor Audrey Wheeler is a sophomore who has been doing Zumba for five years and teaches the Monday class. Her mother introduced her to Zumba, which Audrey fell in love with because of the combination of aerobics, dance, and Latin music. She asserts that it’s nearly impossible to leave Zumba in a bad mood, a sentiment echoed by junior Penuel Bickley.

“There was one time where [instructor] Lauren [Schneider] held a Zumba class in Worner [on the] Monday of fourth week at 9 p.m. I had been studying since 12 p.m. that afternoon, and I went and it gave me so much energy to keep going. I ended up pulling an all-nighter but Zumba helped get me through it,” Bickley said.

Any exercise helps energize people by getting one’s endorphins pumping, but Zumba is inherently fun. Unlike Insanity workouts that are designed solely to burn calories and build muscle, Zumba strives to be both entertaining and effective.

Instructor Becky Twombly has an impressive list of Zumba-related credentials, including her own website. Apart from teaching at CC, she also works at  Springs Salsa and Dance Fitness.

“I love the Zumba family. All of us instructors are part of ZIN (the Zumba Instructor Network), and we all look out for each other. We support each other and help each other out. CC Zumba is great because everyone is way more in shape than the average Zumba class, so I get to teach more difficult routines,” Twombly said.

Just like the rest of CC’s athletic community, the Zumba-goers anxiously await the opening of CC’s new fitness center next year. Twombly said that she is a happier person because of Zumba and is excited for more opportunities to teach next year when the fitness center is finished.

For more information on CC’s Zumba community, contact instructors Lauren Schneider or Audrey Wheeler. Classes are held Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Cossitt Hall.

Kayla Fratt

Staff Writer