zumba dance

A local Zumba group participating in this year’s Canadian Cancer Society Relay For Life is holding a unique fundraiser tomorrow at the North Kildonan Community Centre. The 90-minute Mother’s Day Zumba workout will provide exercise and dance, with Latin and international music. The workout session begins at 1 p.m. and will be hosted by two professional Zumba instructors, Wendy Elias and Suelang Watson.

Zumba lovers from across Bay County came together Saturday morning to help support the local Autism Center, and the Center for Autism and Related Disorder (CARD) program. This Zumba-thon, hosted by the Wellness and Fitness Center, brought more than 150 people and five instructors together to Zumba for about two hours. A portion of the entry fees and the silent auction are being donated to the Autism center of Lynn Haven and the CARD program. The CARD program provides support for families dealing with a child who has autism.

A Latin-inspired cardio fitness workout called Zumba (pronounced zoom-ba) is one of the most recent hits, sparking national attention, especially in the Southeast and Midwest. Movements that resemble belly dancing, the tango, and the meringue are tossed into the mix. It’s a fun and exhilarating way to reshape the entire body. “Ladies, don’t be shy, come join us! Swing those hips and shake, shake, shake!” said Zumba instructor Susana Gonzalez.