Dance instructor Alexandra Hirsch teaches Zumba, a Latin exercise dance class, to a group of enthusiastic students Thursday, April 14. So many people showed up for the class that participants were standing shoulder to shoulder throughout the dance session. — photo by Mitch Olsen

But with the motto, “Ditch the workout, join the party!” that is exactly what Zumba was created to be. Zumba, a dance fitness program, is sweeping gyms and dance studios in Bellingham and around the globe, and is earning high praise from Western students.

“It’s a trick. You don’t even realize you’re working really hard,” said Western freshman Emily Stokes.

Zumba is a combination of Latin, hip-hop and belly dancing that, according to the Zumba Web site, can burn 800 to 1,000 calories per hour. Set to energetic Latin and international music, classes more closely resemble a dance club party than a body-sculpting workout.

Developed in the 1990s by celebrity choreographer Alberto Perez, Zumba was designed to make traditional aerobics more fun. The key ingredient is the music, as the score is designed for an interval-based aerobic workout, that alternates high intensity and low-intensity exercise.

“It really works your sides and abs,” said Western freshman Anna Mueller, who tried Zumba last week for the first time.

Alexandra Hirsch, the Zumba instructor at the Wade King Student Recreation Center, said she has practiced Zumba for four years. The program is especially unique because the atmosphere is comfortable and the moves are easy to follow, she said.

“Everyone does the steps at their own pace,” she said. “It’s not choreographed.”

There are several types of Zumba to cater to all ages and fitness levels.

In addition to the original Zumba, there is also Zumba Gold, targeted to older adults. Aqua Zumba fuses the dance and music with water aerobics, and Zumba Toning adds weight resistance for a harder workout.

All classes feature elements of salsa, merengue, mambo, flamenco, reggaeton, belly dancing, tango and hip-hop.

Indeed, the twice-weekly Zumba classes at the rec center are popular, with lines forming down the banks of lockers 45 minutes before the class begins. Hirsch said all people are welcome because the more people doing it, the more fun it is.

The overnight popularity of the Zumba classes is thanks to enthusiastic word-of-mouth recruiting by those who have tried it and gotten hooked, such as Western sophomore Julie Manners.

Manners said she started going to Zumba at The Blue Moon Ballroom downtown earlier this year, and was ecstatic when the rec center began offering the class for the first time spring quarter.

“Zumba is good for your mind, and good for your body,” Manners said. “The more you shake it, the more fat comes off.”

Zumba is also offered at Bellingham Fitness, Gold’s Gym, the Bellingham Athletic Club and La Vida Dance Studio.

Ron Arnold, the fitness director at the rec center, said he was impressed with the huge following Zumba attracted during the free trial week at the beginning of the quarter.

“It’s very popular with the ladies,” Arnold said.

The classes have been exclusively women so far, but it doesn’t mean men aren’t welcome, Hirsch said.

“Zumba is for everyone,” Hirsch said. “All ages and abilities can do it. I’d love to see some guys in there.”

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