Zumba - the dance craze taking over the nation ? has finally come to Cardiff. Catrin Shi goes to one of the new classes on offer to see what all the fuss is about
The latest dance fitness craze to reach the UK has finally made its way to south Wales - and now Cardiff council have pulled out the stops to give the people of Cardiff the opportunity to jump on the trend.
Zumba is a Latin-inspired dance workout which vows to help you burn fat and sculpt your body, while leaving the slog of your bog-standard exercise class behind.
Since it arrived in the US in 1999, the Zumba craze has become something of a global phenomenon, with an estimated 10 million participants taking part across the globe each week.
And with Zumba classes now available at Cardiff council leisure centres across the city, I decided to go and see what the fuss was about.
I originally had my doubts - can you really get a good workout without feeling the burn? Secondly, even though I am no stranger to a dance class and am aware of its benefits, I was intrigued to see how Latin dance could be incorporated into an aerobic routine, without leaving those taking part feeling completely incompetent.
Within five minutes of the class starting, any doubts I had were immediately pushed to one side. Zumba routines consist of simple aerobic steps with a Latin edge - a flamenco-inspired arm or a salsa hip movement for example - and are danced to modern remixes of Hispanic tunes. Routines are built up gradually, starting from the basic footwork and adding Latin elements as the track goes on.
A combination of high-energy moves with slower, feel-the-burn sections ensures participants are getting a fix of both cardio and resistance training - a workout for the whole body.
The appeal of this class is clear - the dynamic combination of hypnotic rhythms and undulating dance moves really get you into the Latino spirit, and what's more, there is a fantastic energy about the class. Any inhibitions you may have of wiggling your hips in front of a room full of total strangers are completely dismissed by the sense of fun and enjoyment shared by all participants.
As cheesy as it may sound, the Zumba slogan "Ditch the workout, join the party!" could not be more apt.
Tracy Cushing, 40, is a regular Zumba dancer.
"I think the instructor is brilliant," she said. "He is a fantastic dancer and easy to learn with."
Cushing has recommended the class to several of her friends, who have also become hooked on the craze.
"I tell everyone about it," she said, smiling with a post-workout glow. "I always see a familiar face. I absolutely love it, and I have two left feet!"
Yonier Garc�a, 24, from Columbia - the birthplace of Zumba - has been teaching classes in the UK for the past four years. He currently teaches at Maindy Leisure Centre on Tuesday evenings.
"I think Zumba has become popular because of the way it is taught," he said. "The moves are very easy and people love the rhythms - Zumba uses mainly Latin rhythms, but also uses some international ones as well.
"You never hear a bad word about Zumba. People who take part never grumble when they come here, because it's fun."
Cardiff council leisure centres have now joined the list of 90,000 locations worldwide to provide Zumba classes. Executive member for sport, leisure and culture, councillor Nigel Howells said:
"Cardiff council's leisure services are always keen to provide the latest fitness trends.
"We recognise it is important to offer new and exciting activities in order to attract new people into exercise as well as providing new challenges for existing customers. These activities are essential in promoting healthy and active lifestyles as well as helping people to achieve long term fitness benefits and goals."
To find out more and to get involved in the latest fitness craze, contact your local Cardiff council leisure centre.
Catrin Shi is a trainee journalist at Cardiff University School of Journalism. See her dance blog here.
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