I confess I've never been very confident on the dance floor. But when the music starts up in the Montclair YMCA's Zumba class with Irisha Brown, I lose my insecurities and start to move and groove! Surrounded by women (and a few brave men) of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and sizes, I have so much fun I forget I am getting a good workout too.
I learned that Zumba began in Miami several years ago, when a fitness instructor named Beto Perez forgot to bring his regular exercise tapes to class. On a whim, he substituted the Latin American salsa and merengue music he liked to listen to.
"You don't have to be a dancer to feel good about moving to the music," said Brown,
who has been leading this exercise class for the past three years at the Y. "There's a
sense of community, and of synergy, when you combine dancing with exercise as we do."
This certified instructor told me that she has a dance background and a "respect for dance and professionally trained dancers." She said preparation for the popular sessions is challenging. "I do prefer freestyle to a strict routine," she explained.
Her choice of music includes Latin American, Middle Eastern, and African sounds that encourage participants to keep going. It was the beguiling music that first drew me into the gym to try my hand (and feet) at Zumba last year.
Brown, a Montclair-based entrepreneur, also offers a "Taste of Zumba" through the
Montclair Adult School for people who want to learn about it without making a long-term commitment. "If you're a little leery, just give Zumba a try," she advised. "More than half the people around you felt the same way in the beginning! Jump in, don't worry about every step, and have a good time!"
During the class, Brown often singles out a particularly good student to join her at
the front of the room to demonstrate the moves. As the set ends, everyone in the
room claps loudly to show their admiration for an example of terrific Zumba dancing!
Zumba is good exercise for men as well as women, Brown noted. "But I do want to
recognize, acknowledge, and celebrate the spirit of being a woman through Zumba,"
she explained. "That's important to me personally."
When I'm in her class, I definitely feel this sense of "woman power" myself. And if I'm not the best dancer in the room, or the most coordinated in step with the beat, I feel the joy of Zumba every time!
