Zumba In The Library?

Book worms also can get exercise at the , as evidenced by a Zumba fitness class being taught there Monday. This special offering reflects the growing interest in the Latin-inspired dance aerobics program, both internationally and locally.

Mary Dougherty, of St. Peters, MO, instructed the class in Eureka. As a trained dancer in ballet, tap and jazz, she said she is used to just moving with the music for Zumba, but for this introductory class, she stops and teaches the steps in-between different songs.

Zumba's choreography weaves in hip-hop, samba, salsa, merengue, mambo, martial arts, Bollywood and belly dance moves. Squats, track lunges and yoga-like breathing techniques also are included.

Sisters and Zumba class participants Sarah and Rachel Funke just moved to Eureka from Cincinnati, OH. Rachel, an incoming freshman, was a competitive dancer in Ohio. Sarah, 18, never had dance.

Rachel said she has been wanting to learn Zumba for a long time, so she jumped at the chance when she saw it offered at the library.

"Everyone should definitely try Zumba," said Sarah. "I still can't move my hips like that, but it was fun."

Zumba was created by choreographer Alberto "Beto" Perez in Colombia during the 1990s.

Dougherty said she recently taught a Zumba class at the Daniel Boone Branch Library in Ellisville where the mothers who had driven their daughters to the class wanted to join in. "That was really fun, because Zumba is for all ages," she said.

also recently were taught at the Daniel Boone Library by a Wildwood teenager.

Dougherty said the repetitiveness of Zumba moves are key to why it works as an exercise program. Zumba fans around the world tend to refer to their workouts as parties, however, rather than exercise!