Origins of Zumba
Zumba, a fitness program with cardio and Latin-inspired dance moves, was founded in 2001 by Colombian dancer and choreographer Beto Pérez. Today, Zumba has 200,000 locations, with 15 million people in 180 countries taking weekly classes. Zumba Fitness, LLC owns the Zumba trademark.
Pérez, an aerobics instructor, created Zumba in the 1990s in Cali, Colombia. He arrived to teach a class without his traditional music, so Pérez substituted salsa and merengue tapes from his car. The improvised dance aerobics class became a hit. Zumba Fitness, LLC now licenses instructors to teach classes across 11 Zumba class types, targeting different ages and exertion levels – from beginner to high intensity moves.
Inspiration for Zumba
The name Zumba comes from the Spanish word “Zumbar”, which means “to buzz”, demonstrating the fun, high-energy, fitness class that it is linked to.
Zumba Overview
Zumba is a style of aerobic workout, incorporating techniques borrowed from Latin dance styles, such as samba, salsa, and merengue invented by a Colombian dancer, Alberto Perez, in the 1990s.
Zumba is a fitness program joining international music together with Latin music and fun dance moves. Interval training features heavily alternating from fast to slow rhythmic songs, improving cardiovascular fitness. Zumba fulfills the recommended minutes for aerobics from the Department of Health and Human Services.