Nice Moves

By Latisa Pacheco

Editor

When the music started, they all knew what to expect. Men stopped to peek through the glass opening of the double doors to catch a glimpse of her. They would watch all five feet of her

slender body, and their eyes would move in the direction of her swayed hips.

She played salsa, pop, and hip hop on the radio as she danced in front of the mirror. Her attitude displayed confidence and her smile filled the room. She brought everyone alive, making them feel comfortable when she showed them her ‘“twerk, dip, and drop-it-low” moves.

Yes, Shamika Paul was an energetic Zumba instructor, according to her students.

The room was normally off limits, but not when she was there. People would line up at the front desk to sign up for one of her sessions in hopes of trying something new.

“Zumba isn’t a 1-2-3 workout routine,” said Marlene Kinchen, Theater major at Housatonic Community College. “It’s a chance to breathe and be free to have fun without restraints.”

She also remembers the sparkling belly-dancing-skirts that glowed in the dark, the bracelets, that made sure each night was different and filled with excitement.

"I enjoyed the class a lot," said James Willis, a graduate of HCC. He elaborated on how Shamika helped him learn some new dance moves.

"She was very helpful correcting me if she saw me doing something in a way that could lead to an injury."

Kelly Hope, Director of Student Activities, rehired Shamika for the fall semester because of her creativity, remembering the joy attending her classes brought her.

“She was great!,” Hope, who noted that she is also used to being the life of the party, said.

With the motto “ditch the workout, join the party,” it’s no surprise this calorie-burning-technique became a big hit. It’s estimated 15 million people around the world currently take  Zumba classes.

“I was able to lose over 47 pounds,” Paul said.

She said that she decided to teach Zumba classes due to her passion for dancing.

Zumba was created by a Colombian born Aerobics instructor named Alberto “Beto” Perez. It is for everyone, and for people of all body types. Using a salsa and merengue CD, he developed this cardiovascular workout.

Currently, classes are free to all HCC students. If you aren’t shy about shaking what God gave you then these classes are for you. They will be held every Wednesday at 5pm inside the Wellness Center located in Beacon Hall. Students do need to obtain an HCC ID and will be required to watch a one-time safety DVD in order to participate.