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Zumba is an exercise fitness program created by Colombian dancer and choreographer Alberto "Beto" Perez during the 1990s.[1] Zumba is a trademark owned by Zumba Fitness, LLC. The Brazilian pop singer Claudia Leitte has become the international ambassador to Zumba Fitness.[2]

 

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Zumba involves dance and aerobic movements performed to energetic music. The choreography incorporates hip-hop, soca, samba, salsa, merengue and mambo. Squats and lunges are also included.[3] Zumba Fitness, the owner of the Zumba program, does not charge licensing fees to gyms or fitness centers.[4] Approximately 15 million people take weekly Zumba classes in over 200,000 locations across 180 countries.

 

There are nine types of classes, for different levels of age and exertion.[5]

  • Zumba Gold is a program designed for beginners and older people.

  • Zumba Step is a lower-body workout that incorporates Zumba routines and step aerobics with Latin dance rhythms.

  • Zumba Toning is for people who do their workouts with toning sticks. It targets the abs, thighs, arms, and other muscles throughout the body. This type of Zumba class provides participants with a cardio workout and strength training.

  • Aqua Zumba classes are held in a swimming pool. The instructor leads the class poolside while participants follow in shallow water. Moves have been specially adapted to combine the same dance movements used in a Zumba Fitness class with those used in aqua fitness classes.

  • Zumba in the Circuit combines dance with circuit training.[17] These classes usually last 30 minutes and feature strength exercises on various stations in timed intervals.

  • Zumba Kids[13] and Zumba Kids Jr. classes are designed for children between the ages of 7 and 11.[18]

  • Zumba Gold-Toning is a toning class for older participants with goals of improving muscle strength, posture, mobility, and coordination.

  • Zumba Sentao is a chair workout that focuses on using body weight to strengthen and tone the body.[19]

  • Strong by Zumba was launched in 2016. This specialty combines high intensity interval training with Synced Music Motivation

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