ZUMBA – Latin dance workout growing in popularity

Zumba is a Latin-American based dance workout that started gaining popularity at Albion last fall.

Haley Gitre, Commerce Township sophomore runs zumba classes from 12:00pm to 12:30pm in the dance studio in the basement of the Kresge Center on Mondays and Wednesdays and 9pm to 10pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the KC Stack.

“Well I had to get in shape for volleyball and I hate running so my mom took me to her Zumba class at her gym,” said Gitre.  “I fell in love with it and wanted to bring it to Albion.”

Zumba is based off of four basic steps: salsa, cumbia, reggaeton and merengue.  Almost all of Haley’s songs have at least a little bit of Latin flair, a popular artist in her routines is Pitbull.

Gitre started teaching Zumba last fall with one, half hour meeting per week and has expanded to four meetings per week.  It’s popularity has been growing ever since.

“Haley and I were studying for chemistry one day and we took a study break and she showed me a little preview of what Zumba is,” said Haley Plasman, Comstock Park junior.  “It’s really grown a lot since I’ve started; it stated with around eight people per meeting and now there’s something like 20 to 30 per meeting.”

Zumba requires no experience what so ever, and new participants are strongly encouraged.  It is a fun and exciting way to stay in shape and the classes are growing every week.

“It’s definitely a great supplement as a strength and cardio workout,” said Plasman.  “It’s fun and sexy and you don’t even realize that you’re working out when you do it.”