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If you hate the gym or running – then DANCE FITNESS is the class for you. It’s one of the most enjoyable ways to improve your overall health and fitness! If you love dancing – this is definitely the class for you!
Our classes are for all shapes, sizes and ages and are suitable for beginners – and even if you think you’ve two left feet and no sense of rhythm – you just have to come along and move to the music. DANCE FITNESS is one of the easiest ways to tone up, get fitter and have fun – all at the same time. Just let out your inner Dance Goddess!
I’ve now been teaching these classes for almost 15 years – and I am proud to say, I still have some dancers who have been coming along regularly since I started! As these are established classes, many of the dancers who have been coming regularly over the years, know a lot of the routines we do – which means that as a newbie – when you first come along – it can sometimes feel like you’re the only person in the room who doesn’t know what to do – but honestly? Don’t let that stop you! Just keep moving and smiling and within a few weeks, you’ll be picking up the dances with ease and as I introduce at least one BRAND NEW ROUTINE a month (sometimes two) and they then go on to the playlist, you’ll soon have a bunch of routines that you know pretty well.
In my classes we don’t just dance to Latin music either – we do the odd CHA CHA and CUMBIA – but a lot of the routines are POP based – and I love JIVE and CHARLESTON – so most classes always include these rhythms too! The class is structured so we start with a warm up (three or four tracks) at the beginning of the class before we move into the main section of the class. We use a cardio fitness style called Interval Training – combining slower dances with faster upbeat tracks that have dedicated toning movements (for arms, abs, legs etc)…so that along with improving your cardio-vascular fitness, you are also working your core muscle groups. Interval Training has been proven to work faster at helping you get fit than traditional aerobic type workouts. We finish the class with a good sing-a-long STRETCH and we guarantee that you’ll know the words to some of the music – so we don’t mind if you sing along as well as dance.
DANCE FITNESS IS EASY to do – just follow along! AND IT WORKS!
Come & try out a class! All classes are £8 PAY-AS-YOU-GO. Or if you prefer to buy a block of classes as an incentive to come – you can buy a FIVE CLASS PASS for £40. You can pay with cash, bank transfer or Paypal.
There is no need to book. Please wear loose comfortable ‘work-out’ style clothing, and bring a drink (water is best!) Be prepared to shimmy, smile & sweat 🙂 All our Instructors are fully qualified & experienced IDTA dance teachers and ZIN Members We are fully insured and hold current DBS checks and First Aid Certificates.
If you have any questions – please email – maria@dancegeneration.co.uk or phone/text/message on 07811 823467
Click below to download a PDF of ALL the ZUMBA ROUTINES MUSIC/DANCE LIST (That’s virtually EVERY routine we have done since I started teaching back in 2011 – with the music artists too)
CHOREOGRAPHY
I do the majority of my choreography with my old friend Steph (she’s not old, but we’ve know each other a long time!) We both met on the dance floor and we discovered both loved Country music and we both taught freestyle dance to children too! Since then (about 25 years ago) we have worked together, choreographing routines for our kids classes, helping out at all our dance shows and IDTA dance exam sessions as well as enjoying holiday’s together in the USA.
Even though we now no longer teach children’s classes, we continue to choreograph together regularly. Steph lives near Chelmsford and her classes are aimed at the over 50’s (sometimes known as Zumba GOLD). She always does a little video of the dances we choreograph for her ladies to practice – so here is a link to her You Tube
Channel link: https://www.youtube.com/@
You’ll see LOTS of the dances we do on there – although bear in mind that her classes are Zumba Gold – which is a bit slower/gentler than the Zumba Fitness we do, so you might notice slightly different arm movements and less or no turns and no jumps in some of the videos – but essentially they are the same routines choreographed to be suitable for both Fitness & Gold.
Getting to the class is the HARDEST PART! Once you’re there – relax and don’t worry about ‘getting it right’. There is no such thing as a ‘wrong move’.
Some of my class members have been dancing with me for years – this means that they know a lot of the routines – which can make you think you’re the only person in the room who doesn’t know what the moves are. Again RELAX! Just smile and move!
The first three weeks might be super confusing – until you get the hang of how the routines are choreographed – which is to the phasing of the music.
The phasing of most songs we use is: VERSE 1, VERSE 2, CHORUS, VERSE 1, VERSE 2, CHORUS, BRIDGE or INSTRUMENTAL/SLOW SECTION, CHORUS, CHORUS
Moves that we do in each section are repeated with the phasing – so every time the CHORUS comes round – you’re doing the same moves (or a variation of them – there might be a turn instead of a grapevine) We also make sure we work BOTH sides of the body – so whatever we do with one leg or arm – we will do the same with the other too.
You WILL get a bit hot & sweaty. Enjoy it – sweating is GOOD for the skin. Bring some water with you and wear layers.
Investing time in your Health & Fitness is NEVER wasted.
Learning a new skill is good for the BRAIN as well as the BODY.
I use a lot of cross crawl movements in my classes – these are movements that use opposite sides of the body at the same time – such as right arm/left leg. Cross crawl movements are really good for BRAIN HEALTH.
I also often use similar tempo/rhythm routines with similar moves – but in a different order – this is also super challenging for the brain as well as muscle memory.
If you enjoy dancing – you’ll DANCE FITNESS!
Movement is beneficial and healing to the body – when you least feel like dancing – that’s when it has the most benefit!
Dancing and physical exercise can help you feel less stressed – I guarantee you’ll sleep much better on a dance night!
Exercise supports your immune system.
Dancing will help increase your Cardio Fitness.
Dancing uses lots of different muscles in the body.
Dancing improves your balance & stability.
Dancing can even help lower blood pressure!
Dancing releases those ‘Happy Hormones’
DANCING MAKES YOU HAPPY!
Dancing – as you already know – is now proven to be one of the best ways to get fitter and what could be more fun that just grooving away to some great tunes? Dancing releases those ‘happy hormones’, making you feel better and more confident, it improves your mental health and can even help you sleep better.
WARNING! Only works if you actually come to a class!
For a FREE CLASS – https://youtu.be/_8-C–hjMcI
LIKE our FACEBOOK PAGE – https://www.facebook.com/zumbawithmaria
The DANCE SECRETS PAGE can tell you more about this.
Your instructor usually dances in front of the class, while students follow along. Each song normally repeats the same steps and movements, so that it’s easy to pick up. But it’s not about getting the steps right. Classes are about having fun and letting out your inner dance Goddess! It is most definitely the most fun way to tone up, lose weight and get fit!
Dance Fitness & the Zumba programme as a weight-loss and fitness regime really does WORK – but you have to get off the sofa and down to a class! You won’t get fitter and slimmer sitting on the sofa eating chocolate and drinking wine…. (sad though that may be!) If you put in the effort at classes – then you WILL see rewards. Twice a week works at least FOUR times as fast!
CLICK HERE – Why Zumba Fitness is INSANELY good for you!
For more information on Zumba see: www.zumba.com
International Dance Teachers' Association