Zumba is a form of dance exercise that is popular in many fitness centers. It is cardiovascular exercise that incorporates Latin dance styles such as merengue, cumbia and reggaeton. Zumba was created by Beto Perez in the 1990s and has continued to gain followers across the country. If you want to have fun while working up a sweat, Zumba is a great option for doing so.
Merengue
Have fun with merengue moves. Dancing to merengue is similar to marching in place, except you have to keep your arms bent at your sides and sway your hips to the beat of the music. Keep your feet about 4 inches apart and bend the knees in as you step.You can also take the knees out about hip width apart for a wider range of motion and turn with each step.
Cumbia
Cumbia moves are performed by starting with the feet together and arms at each side, bent at the elbows. Tap the right foot behind you, followed by tapping the left foot in place. Bring the right foot back to starting position and repeat the same movements on the left side. As you step back, rotate your body to the side.
Reggaeton
Get funky with reggaeton, which is a combination of traditional West Indian reggae beats and Spanish lyrics. This a more urban, aggressive style of dance. It is a combination of stepping with the feet and rotating the hips and waist in a circular motion to counts of two.
References
- The New York Times: Samba at the Gym
- "Zumba: Ditch the Workout Join the Party! The Zumba Weight Loss Program"; Beto Perez; 2009
- YouTube: How to Cumbia



Member Comments