Zumba in 180 countries around the world, now in Flagstaff

When Beto Perez forgot his music for an aerobic dance class he was teaching in the late 1990s, he had no choice but to bring in his personal music collection to the class.

That turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to him, and perhaps to the fitness world, as it marked the beginning of a new kind of dance class, Zumba.

Perez walked into his class that day with salsa and merengue music, and improvised movements based on the fast and slow rhythms in the songs, mixing in dance moves from salsa, merengue, mambo, flamenco, cha-cha-cha, and even hip hop.

He travelled around South America teaching this new style of aerobic dancing, but when he got to the USA in 2001, that’s when it really took off.

Zumba is now practiced by 15,000,000 people every week across 180 counties.

For local Zumba teacher Jodi Kimball, her fitness career started after she gave birth to twins, and was looking to get back into shape.

She took an aerobics class, in Newfoundland.

“It really clicked for me. I thought, ‘I could do this!’” she says. “But I thought the teacher was a bit mean. I remember thinking I would be a better teacher than her because I’d be friendly, and make the class fun for everyone.”

Kimball found out that she could get licenced to teach aerobics through the YMCA, and when the family was transferred to Ottawa months later, she enrolled and got her certification in no time.

“It was great when the kids were little, I could make a little money on the side and still be with them.”

Kimball says many times she brought her children to her classes, where they’d quietly play or keep themselves entertained during the class.

Kimball also does other forms of fitness training, she started the original Curves in Camrose, and managed it during startup.

She’s been working as a fitness teacher since 1994.

She said that she first heard of Zumba when one of her clients returned from a trip to Portugal and told her about seeing it there.

She looked into it right away, and thought it looked and sounded like a lot of fun.

Kimball soon got in touch with the Zumba organization to seek out training to hold her own Zumba classes, and got herself certified. “Only licenced Zumba teachers can offer the real Zumba classes,” she says.

“Once you are certified, they really support you. You can use the name, and their official symbol, and they even set up a website for you.”

She says she likes Zumba because there’s no need for special equipment, there’s no talking or counting down movements, and that the moves are based on the music; on the beat as well as the lyrics and chorus.

“It’s easy for participants to follow the moves,” she says. “I want the moves to flow with the music.”

The very first time she offered Zumba classes in the area, she had a lot of people ask her what it was. Most people now know, but there’s many people who are still intimidated.

“I love it because you can do it to any type of music with a strong beat, even country — and I have!”

Kimball uses anywhere from 15 to 18 songs in a session, and has to learn all the moves for each new song. She says she’ll try to introduce one or two new songs in an eight-week session, to keep things fresh.

Zumba is good for people of all fitness levels.

“Officially there are beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, but you just do what you can do.

“Lots of people think they can’t do it. They think ‘I can’t move like that,’ or ‘I can’t shake my hips like that.’ No one can at first, but it’s fun to try.

“Everyone has their own personal fitness level. If you’re moving and still having fun, I’m happy.”

She’s taught Zumbatronic (Zumba for kids, choreographed to kid’s music) to Lougheed Playschool, and recently worked with both the Killam and Sedgewick Playschools, too.

She says that many of her women clients ask to bring their daughters to the class, one woman brought her three little girls to a class, and they loved it.

“I like to be involved with people and interact with them, so I really enjoy my classes.”

Do you need special clothing for Zumba? Kimball says no. “Wear some comfortable, old shoes without a lot of grip,” she adds, “and some stretchy and comfortable pants, and you’re good to go.”

Of course if you’re so inclined, there’s an official line of Zumba clothing available too.

She typically runs her classes all year except from the end of May to the end of August. “I run classes in the fall and the winter to give people something to do to keep fit.”

Kimball says that it’s been her experience that people in Flagstaff area really like to do a variety of things to keep fit, including fitness swimming, yoga, and, of course, Zumba. “We’re lucky to have so much here to do.”

She encourages people to give it a try. “You won’t find yourself in the middle of a Russian fitness class, and you’re not competing with the person next to you.

“Zumba class is a non-critical, safe place to practice some moves and have fun.”