Many of you will have heard of Zumba® Dance Fitness by now, but did you know that there are 7 other ways we can all enjoy Zumba®, which include sitting, being in the water, using weights, so that all age ranges and fitness/physical abilities can take part?
Zumbatomic® is just one of these branches of Zumba® which is designed specifically for kids (ages 4-12).
It’s a high-energy, fun fitness party with specially choreographed, kid-friendly routines to all the music kids love such as hip-hop, reggaeton, cumbia and pop.
As a Zumba® & Zumbatomic® instructor, I was excited to meet the lovely Gina Grant from the U.S. Zumba.com at the London ZIN convention in February 2012 on behalf of the London Mums magazine and the equally lovely Akile Alexander from ‘Latin Vibes’ in North London at the Zumbatomic® demonstration at Harrods a couple of weeks ago with the aim to find out more information on this new, young dance fitness phenomenon.
ZF: Hi Gina, we’re all very excited by the Zumbatomic® program for kids, would you say there’s an equal ratio of boys to girls in the Zumbatomic® classes?
G: Well, yes, with the younger ones but I find I have to tailor the dances to include the boys if there are more as they seem to like rap, break-dancing, doing ‘the worm’ on the floor, that kind of thing.
ZF: I think it’s fair to say that most of us mums find it a battle to juggle kids, work, home-life and then throw in some exercise on top. Now, you’re a mum of 4 and you seem to be able to do all this effortlessly and without losing your mind. Really, how?
G: (laughs) Well my week definitely varies based on my work & travel schedule but I have a great support system at home. When I’m travelling, it’s their time with their father so I try to plan my travel around that. It’s taken years of modifying but I now just really try to make my time with them count and focus on them and normal family life when I’m not working.
When I’m home I try to be fully engaged, you know, with their homework or going to their sports events, school stuff. They’re all very busy these days.
ZF: Where do you all live in America?
G: The Bay Area in California.
ZF: Have you had a chance to enjoy any of the sights of London while you’ve been here?
G: Unfortunately no, I’m leaving on Monday so that I can get back to the kids.
ZF: Do your kids enjoy Zumbatomic®?
G: Oh yeh, the girls do and they help me come up with new, fun choreo. Their input’s very helpful!
ZF: Were you a dancer by training?
G: Well, I learned Jazz and street dance but not ballet. But I’ve always loved dance. I discovered Zumba® by going to Beto’s classes after the birth of my 3rd child and became more and more involved since then.
ZF: I asked Beto the same question: Gene Kelly or Fred Astaire?
G: Ha, I would say Fred Astaire. ..what did Beto say?
ZF: What do you think he said?
G: Fred Astaire?
ZF: Correct…
Ok, Grease or Fame?
G: Oh no! Not fair! Both! I loved them both. Great music in Grease, fabulous dancing in Fame.
Fair point.
Here is Gina’s Zumbatomic demo
ZumbaFunk, curious to know more about Zumbatomic, met with Akile Alexander of Latin Vibes
at Harrods, London, March 2012
The minute the music started to pump, Children (and parents) gathered round and Akile managed to enthral the audience with her easy to follow dance moves. Within moments, the kids were dancing along and happy smiles filled the room.
Akile Alexander of Latin Vibes
I asked Akile what the differences are between Zumba and Zumbatomic:
ZumbaFunk: What’s been the response by kids and parents to Zumbatomic?
Akile: Its been fantastic – most of them are just pleased to be able to get the kids up and active and for many of them its something parent and child can enjoy together. We have also been hosting Zumbatomic birthday parties, so parents are thrilled with the variety.
ZumbaFunk: Tell me, what are the benefits to kids by taking regular Zumbatomic classes?
Akile: First and foremost, it keeps them active. It works towards a healthier lifestyle, confidence, coordination and social skills. Now that its available on games consoles like the Wii and Xbox, they are not in a sit position all day, instead they are up and having fun
ZumbaFunk: How would parents or carers find a Zumbatomic class near them?
Akile: For a National or International search of a class local to you, log on to Zumba.com, through this you’ll find Zumbatomic classes near you.
For information on Zumba® or Zumbatomic® classes in SW London, you can also contact ZumbaFunk on 020 3286 4484 or if you’re in North London, contact Latin Vibes at 0845 539 0079.
Read our exclusive interview with Zumba founder Beto in the London Mums magazine.
Rebecca is a Zumba Instructor. For information on Zumba® or Zumbatomic® classes in SW London, you can also contact ZumbaFunk on 020 3286 4484. http://www.zumbafunk.com/
Hello! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone
3gs! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts!
Carry on the superb work!
Sweet blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News.
Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed
in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never
seem to get there! Thanks
Oh my goodness! Incredible article dude! Many thanks, However
I am encountering problems with your RSS. I don’t understand why I am
unable to subscribe to it. Is there anyone else getting similar RSS problems?
Anybody who knows the answer will you kindly respond? Thanks!!
With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright infringement?
My blog has a lot of unique content I’ve either written myself or
outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it
up all over the web without my permission. Do you know any methods to help protect against
content from being ripped off? I’d truly appreciate it.
Amazing! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a totally different subject but it
has pretty much the same page layout and design. Great choice of colors!
What’s up, all is going perfectly here and ofcourse every one is sharing information, that’s really fine, keep up writing.
Attractive component of content. I simply stumbled upon your
web site and in accession capital to say that I get
in fact loved account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing for your augment or even I
fulfillment you get entry to consistently rapidly.
I do believe all of the ideas you have introduced for your post.
They’re very convincing and will definitely work.
Nonetheless, the posts are too brief for newbies.
Could you please extend them a bit from subsequent time?
Thanks for the post.
fantastic submit, very informative. I’m wondering why the other experts of this
sector don’t notice this. You must proceed your writing.
I’m sure, you have a great readers’ base already!
Quality content is the key to interest the viewers to pay a visit the web
page, that’s what this website is providing.
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I’ve truly loved browsing your weblog posts.
In any case I’ll be subscribing in your feed and I am hoping you write again very soon!
I do not even know how I finished up right here, however I thought this publish used to be great.
I do not understand who you are but certainly you are going to a well-known blogger if you happen to are not already.
Cheers!
Hi, I do think this is an excellent site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may revisit yet again since
i have bookmarked it. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide other people.
Awesome article.
I was excited to uncover this web site. I need
to to thank you for ones time for this fantastic read!!
I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it and I have you
bookmarked to check out new things on your web
site.
Howdy are using WordPress for your blog platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create my
own. Do you require any html coding knowledge to make your own blog?
Any help would be really appreciated!
Definitely consider that that you stated. Your favorite
reason seemed to be at the net the simplest thing to take into account of.
I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while folks consider concerns that they just don’t know about.
You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest as smartly as defined out the entire thing with no need side-effects , other folks could take a signal.
Will likely be back to get more. Thanks
Amazing! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a completely different
subject but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Superb choice
of colors!
Undeniably consider that that you stated. Your favourite justification appeared to be on the web the simplest factor to
understand of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while folks consider worries that they just
don’t realize about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also outlined out the entire
thing without having side-effects , other folks can take a signal.
Will probably be again to get more. Thanks
Great web site. Lots of helpful information here.
I am sending it to several pals ans additionally sharing in delicious.
And naturally, thanks for your sweat!
Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve truly loved
surfing around your weblog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I am hoping you write again very soon!
I blog frequently and I genuinely thank you for your information. This article has really peaked my
interest. I will bookmark your website and keep checking for
new details about once per week. I subscribed to your RSS feed
too.
What’s up, all the time i used to check website posts here early in the break of
day, as i love to find out more and more.
Hey I am so glad I found your blog page, I really
found you by mistake, while I was browsing on Askjeeve for something else, Anyhow I
am here now and would just like to say thank you for a marvelous post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design),
I don’t have time to go through it all at the moment but I
have bookmarked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I
have time I will be back to read a great deal
more, Please do keep up the great work.
Amazing issues here. I’m very satisfied to see your article.
Thank you a lot and I am taking a look forward to touch you.
Will you kindly drop me a mail?
Spot on with this write-up, I actually believe that this web site
needs a lot more attention. I’ll probably be returning to read more, thanks for the advice!
This page certainly has all the information I wanted concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
I am not positive where you’re getting your
information, however good topic. I must spend a
while finding out more or figuring out more. Thank you for excellent information I used to be on the lookout for this info
for my mission.
I’ve been browsing online more than 2 hours today, yet I
never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me.
In my opinion, if all webmasters and bloggers made good content as you did, the net will be much more useful
than ever before.