Zumba class turns fitness into dance club

  • Published
  • By Tyler Hemstreet
  • Staff writer
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  For those who love to dance but aren't big fans of exercise, McChord's Fitness Center has the perfect solution -- Zumba class. Zumba offers people the chance to learn basic salsa dance moves while getting a good cardiovascular workout, said Charlotte Smith, one of the instructors. 

"It's mostly upbeat, energetic Latin dance aerobics," Ms. Smith said. "The Cha-Cha, the Mambo, the Samba and salsa ... we're going to do a variety of dances and you don't even need a partner." 

The class combines Salsa music, reggae tone and Latin hip hop styles of music with a variety of basic Latin dance moves. 

"Most people start off nervous, but once they learn the steps it's a ton of fun," Ms. Smith said. "If you don't get crazy out there, you're going to look silly." 

The class keeps participants on their feet and moving and delivers a full body workout without lying on mats, she said. Fitness center officials hope to spread the word about the class at the wing run on Sept. 21, as an instructor will lead a Zumba class at the pavilion near the base track before the start of the run, said Master Sgt. Robert Snyder, 62nd Services Squadron. 

"We just want to let folks know that this is something new that we started and we want to see if other folks will like it," Sergeant Snyder said. 

One major reason the fitness center started offering Zumba class is because of customer feedback, he said. 

"We're just trying to keep up the variety of classes we offer and keep things fresh," Sergeant Snyder said. "If people see something offered at a gym downtown or if they had it at their other base, then we will try and add it." 

Zumba class is taught at 5 p.m. on Thursdays at the fitness center annex. Fitness center officials may offer more classes in the future depending on the popularity of the Thursday class, Sergeant Snyder said.