Zumba has captured American hearts and given them the desire to get up and dance, all in the name of health. The dance and fitness program, created by Colombian dancer and choreographer Alberto “Beto” Perez during the 1990s, has been a highly popular, exercise class at the Wilton Family YMCA (404 Danbury Rd.). Approximately 15 million people take weekly Zumba classes in over 140,000 locations across more than 185 countries; and on Friday, June 12, Wilton residents can help increase that number–and more importantly, raise money for the YMCA’s Chronic Disease Program, by partaking in a Zumba on the Beach Fundraiser!
This fundraiser benefits programs like the Livestrong Program, which “helps cancer survivors feel alive again”; the Diabetes Prevention Program, which assists people diagnosed with pre-diabetes or believe they have a high risk for diabetes, to live a healthier lifestyle and hopefully reverse the progression of the illness; the Cardiac Care Maintenance Program; and the Parkinson Disease Management Program.
“Zumba has such a sense of community…and what better way to enjoy a sense of community than by hosting something that has so much good, clean, fun,” explains the YMCA’s health and wellness director Mary Ann Genuario. “Whenever you see an advertisement for Zumba, it always says, ‘Come join the party!’ We want to put the ‘fun’ back in fundraiser!”
She hopes for a large turnout. “These programs are so important and we are so passionate about what we do,” she says.
The volunteer instructors–Rita Morgano, Jim Tomaselli, Lisa Lux, Nancy Owens, Karen Farban, and Pier Fitzenberger–will be on hand to get the party started and keep it going, Geunario adds.
Rain or shine, the Zumba Beach Party will go on, over the course of three hours on Friday, from 6:30-9:30 p.m.; it will be held on the Kiwanis pond beach. Participants can Zumba for one hour ($25 donation), two hours ($50 donation), or three hours ($100 donation) beginning at 6:30 pm.
For more information please contact Mary Ann Genuario at 203.762.8384, ext. 282.
Sign up information can be found online.