"Everybody Dance Now..."

Dancing has always been the best workout, stress-relieving, and fun activity for me. My husband and I dated during the Disco era and for the first time in my life, I could actually eat what I wanted to and burn off the calories dancing at night! When we go to weddings, parties and celebrations, I’m rarely at my table when the band or DJ are playing upbeat music. My parents loved to dance and my kids do too, so finding a workout class that involved dance made a lot of sense to me!

In the 80s and 90s, aerobic dance classes were the rage and I went whenever I could go; sometimes in church basement halls, sometimes at school gymnasiums. I would search for the classes that fit my schedule. Then I’d drag my kids with me and let them play on the playground while I got in good sweat with other like-minded moms, dancing away the stress of work and family!

With so many new types of fitness classes, equipment and routines, I kind of got away from the dance aspect of fitness, but over the past few years, that feeling of fun is back.

And it’s not just me who feels this way! Dancing serves as a great form of aerobic exercise, providing cardiovascular conditioning which the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) says lowers risk of coronary heart disease, decreases blood pressure, and helps with weight management.

Dancing is also a weight-bearing activity, so it can improve bone density (reducing the risk of osteoporosis), as well as improve muscle strength, coordination and balance. Dancing also helps to reduce stress and chronic fatigue, improve energy and mood, and increase self-esteem and confidence. A study done by the New England Journal of Medicine found that dancing can play an important role in successful aging by improving memory and lowering the risk of dementia.

Anyone who has been in a gym in the last few years has heard of Zumba. Beto Perez created this Latin-based dance workout quite by accident, as the story goes. One day as he rushed out of this house to teach his aerobics class he forgot his regular music tapes. As soon as he realized this, he grabbed some Latin music tapes that were in his car and began teaching the class to this music. The class exploded and became the most popular class in Colombia. He named this class "Rumbacize. The hour-long classes alternate easy-to-follow fast dance moves with slower ones for an interval-training workout that tones muscles and burns hundreds of calories. When the music starts pumping salsa, merengue, reggaeton beats, people forget they’re exercising.



Zumba has certified instructors all over the country and you can probably find a class in most gyms or studios. Many gyms also offer their own versions of Zumba and many also have instructors with very strong dance backgrounds who teach a variety of Latin, fusion, and dance based workouts. If you’ve ever tried a class, I’m sure you have your own favorite teachers. I go to a gym where I’m lucky enough to take classes from two amazing instructors; both of whom have a dance background that would rival Beto’s!




Kim Bolourtchi, who teaches Zumba and Salsa dance classes at Lifetime Fitness West County, is a competitive ballroom dancer and currently competing in International Latin. She and her partner have won competitions in Chicago and Nashville, placing first in all five Latin dances. She’s also an attorney and a mom, but when she teaches her classes, she’s all dance. Her classes combine different steps in Latin dance, Hip-Hop and even some disco moves. Each segment is easy to follow and she changes things up with every song. Her classes have a devout following because she makes everyone feel good being there! She has even hosted Salsa night at the gym with all members learning the dances together in a party-like atmosphere. Kim is currently teaching at Lifetime, but check back for other events she may be working on!(Kim just told me that she is going to host a Salsa Date Night at Lifetime on May 13th, 7:30-9:30 pm. $35/couple for members, $40/couple non-members. If you're interesred, email me at hkraus52@gmail.com and I will get you the information)



Joe Elvis Alway-Baker also teaches Latin Fusion dance at Lifetime. His style is different from Kim’s, but just as infectious. He has worked in over 500 shows, either as an actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, director or producer; including Paul in A Chorus Line , Bernardo in West Side Story, FOSSE, Kenekie in Grease, Jose 'Joe' Vegas in Fame,and Angel in RENT. His classes use a combination of all Latin dance styles such as Salsa, Rumba, Tango, Samba, Cha Cha, and Merengue as well as African Rhythm, Bollywood, Hip-Hop, Bomba, Jazz, Jive, Ballroom and Musical Theater choreography. The name of his dance company is FUEGO4Fitness, which means Feel Ultimate Energy & Great Obsession For Fitness. He teaches a more choreographed style where each move repeats and adds on to the previous moves. The result is a dance routine that he has had his students perform in a group. he even has his class perform the routines at a variety of community events. In november of 2010, his whole group of different dance classes performed "Thriller" (And, by the way, Joe was actually in the original "Thriller" video!)

After having cancer in 2003, Joe looked for ways to stay healthy and that’s when he began to add fitness, positive thinking, good nutrition, cardio, aerobics, and fun choreography to his life. Today, he travels to different schools and gyms demonstrating the Fuego4Fitness technique. In his classes, he motivates people to think positively. He helps them with their weight loss effort while teaching them to believe in who they are. After every class, Joe stays for a group or one on one talk, or just to help someone review a step they didn’t quite get because he believes his classes are also about companionship and friendship.


You can check out his classes at Lifetime Fitness or other classes and events on his website:

http://joealwaybaker.webs.com/fuego4fitness.html




I do my best to make it to a few classes each week and always have fun (along with burning LOTS of calories!) Check out Joe and Kim at lifetime Fitness West County. If you’re not a member yet, contact Mary Dye at 636.591.2617 for a pass to see the facility.

Or just check out the schedule at your gym. I’d be surprised if they didn’t have some form of Zumba or Latin dance on the group fitness schedule.
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