Zumba dance offers fun time and fitness
ZUMBA dance has garnered a cult following for its high- energy, Latin- inspired moves.
When it first hit the scene years ago, Townsville woman Lisa Albeiz saw a DVD package advertised on television and decided to try it out for herself.
“I bought it, fell in love with it and decided to become an instructor,” she said.
“I just love music and dance and I saw something in Zumba – it was a happy way to exercise. I just wanted to share that with other people.”
At the time there was an influx of Zumba teachers in Townsville and in 2010 Ms Albeiz decided she would cater to more mature dancers by teaching the lower- impact Zumba Gold.
Seven years on from her first Gold class, Ms Albeiz now instruct eights classes a week.
Zumba Gold is “a lot friendlier on the body” and appropriate for people who suffer arthritis, she said.
“In regular Zumba there’s a lot of jumping and faster movements. The Zumba Gold is a lot more grounded – more on your hips and knees,” she said. “Some people come to me after having heart operations ( because) it’s low impact but still gives you a good workout.”
The classes are appropriate for anyone aged 40 to 100. Ms Albeiz’s eldest client just turned 93.
“It’s really adorable because she comes in with her walker,” she said.
“When the music starts, she pushes the walker aside and starts dancing.
“She used to be a dancer. It’s amazing that she still gets up and dances at 93.”
Ms Albeiz likes to run classes to the soundtrack of a mix of modern music supplied tracks.
“It’s like having a party, not an exercise class. We all have a laugh and a good time and work a good sweat,” she said.
Zumba Gold devotee Donna Hay, 55, started going to classes four or five years ago after it was recommended to her by a friend.
“I got diabetes when I turned 40, so I have to exercise to keep my weight off. Zumba really helps with that,” she said.
Ms Hay is also attracted to the social aspect of the classes.
“The music’s good, you get and Zumba- to know everybody, and new people come in. It’s wonderful,” she said.
Norma Roberts, 78, has been attending the Zumba Gold classes for five years.
Ms Roberts – who used to tap dance rock’n’roll dance in her younger years – has loved getting back into dance.
“It’s just good fun, lovely dancing. The music is great, it’s all the latest songs, and she’s really a very good teacher,” she said.
For more information, contact Ms Albeiz through her Facebook page Golden Years Fitness and Wellbeing.