Let's Zumba! Ask your questions of Beto, the founder of Zumba - chance to win one of ten Zumba DVDs! ANSWERS BACK.

[AngelieMumsnet]

You’ve heard of Zumba®. Now you can experience it at home with Zumba® being released on DVD and Digital Download on 7th December! To celebrate we have an exclusive Q&A with the creator of Zumba® himself, Beto Perez.

DVD available to order now here.

The team at Zumba say "Beto is the creative genius behind the Zumba® programme, the fitness formula that has revolutionised the way millions of people think of exercise. It’s fun, effective and best of all? Made for everyone! People from all around the world have joined the fat-burning dance fitness party and achieved amazing results - and now it’s your turn! In the new Zumba DVD, Beto takes you through the essential moves to get you dancing yourself into shape!

Beto began as a fitness instructor in his home city of Cali, Colombia, and upon arriving to teach class one day realised he had left his traditional aerobics music at home. In a moment of spontaneity, he unpacked his personal salsa and merengue tapes from his backpack, popped them into the sound system and taught his first Zumba® class. After a successful career as a trainer and choreographer in Colombia, Beto made the big move to the United States in search of the American Dream.

After several months, his talent and magnetism landed him a job as an instructor at a prestigious local health club. And with his catchy, easy-to-follow choreography, Beto’s class became the most popular at the gym. In 2001, his innovative style caught the attention of two entrepreneurs: Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion. Instinctively seeing enormous business potential, they wasted no time in teaming up with Beto to create Zumba Fitness, LLC".

Post your questions to Beto on this thread by 11th December and we will send 20 questions over to him for him to respond to. We will then post a link to his responses on the thread on w/c 14 December.

Everyone who submits a question will be entered into a prize draw where 10 MNers will receive a Zumba DVD!

thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

[WelliesAndPyjamas]

Ah, I love zumba! The secret is to just dance like no one is watching and really feel the music. Or pretend you are in a music video who, me?

My question - I don't know whether it is diffent in the US but in the UK zumba classes they seem to use a lot of 'Latin'/Miami pop stuff, often English language. Why not use more music from Latin AMerican artists?

[donajimena]

I love zumba but sadly I think its on the wane (judging by how many classes there used to be and there are definitely fewer)
Will you be doing anything to evolve it further or renew interest? Do you have any sort of progression in mind?

[Moltenpink]

I've booked my son (5) into children's zumba classes in January, what should I expect? Will all the other pupils be girls do you think?

[G1veMeStrength]

I am clumsy, I'd be no good at Zumba I can't even do the grapevine thingy. However I don't mind an excercise video at home as it doesn't matter. How much room do you need and does it involve jumping up and down? I have old
Floorboards. And old knees.

[Roundles]

Does all the laughing and smiling I do while i zum'b help maintain and work muscles around my face and neck, plus work my ribs and back??

[Wolfiefan]

I've seen people Zumba in dance shoes, bare feet and old trainers! What's the best option to avoid injury?

Also does the DVD have a tutorial section? Eg slow example of how to do salsa.

[Theimpossiblegirl]

I'd love to do Zumba but don't have much in the natural rhythm department. Could I still get fit through Zumba or would it be pointless trying?

[clopper]

I find it difficult to keep a rhythm so would like a beginners type of DVD for Zumba. I also find it a bit too quick. Does the choice of music used have any affect on level of difficulty I.e. Could a slightly slower tempo help a beginner like me?

[CookieDoughKid]

I have done Zumba in California and it is much more intense and fast. I think the Zumba instructors there are more serious about fitness.Zumba in UK well, majority I have been to have been crap. I would like to see a 'Body attack'/Insanity version of Zumba for the more fitter peeps like me. I can cope with more complicated dance steps so a dedicated class would be welcome. Ive been to a couple in London but outside London it's almost non existent.. I don't feel the really fit instructors take Zumba seriously which is a shame as I really enjoy it.

[FluffyNinja]

I'm completely unfit.
Would doing a Zumba DVD at home be a sensible starting point or should I try to find a fitness class with a qualified teacher who can correct me when I go wrong be the better option?

[Rollermum]

I love Zumba and used to go all the time - can't now due to pregnancy / childcare. I always felt a little too English to get fully into the whooping, however

My question is: what makes a good Zumba instructor? Is it being able to dance / fitness / etc?

[TaurielTest]

It's my weekly Zumba night tonight! My instructor is great. I find the steps just complicated enough to keep my mind off the fact that I'm exercising quite hard. I have had some hip and lower back issues, and as long as I am careful about engaging core muscles and posture, I find Zumba really beneficial for loosening and strengthening.

I like the routines with a bit of reggaeton or bollywood style mixed in, as well as the more classic salsa-ish ones.

Here's my question. I speak enough Spanish to recognise some lyrics, which really helps with steps when it's something like "sigue" or "vuelta" or "una vez mas". Have you ever considered adding some sort of glossary or useful word list to the zumba website, for non Spanish speakers?

[Teladi]

I would also love to know about difficulty levels. Do the instructors gear it to the particular class population or is there set choreography and the classes all are the same? I have the Zumba Xbox game and also like doing routines I find on YouTube, but when I went to Zumba at my gym, all the other women there were 50+ (I am 30 and fit-ish) and the class was a lot more sedate than what I'd already tried.

[sharond101]

Is Zumba safe in pregnancy?

[PetraDelphiki]

Why are so many zumba instructors incapable of staying on the right beat?

And YYYY to advanced classes with full on choreography please!

[Lulabellx1]

Do you think Zumba is OK for kids? If so, how old?

[Cheesecakefactory]

I'mthinking of joining a Zumba class will it help me lose weight and what are the health benefits?

[Laska5772]

Zumba has been around for a few years now ( i used to go to classes a few years ago and loved it, however move meant that there was no longer a class near me, so a home DVD could be good to get me back into it ) ..

But giventhat it has been around a while now, what is different on this new DVD? Have you relaunched or changed the programme and routines ? If so what are the differences?

Also do you have some 'older' people on your DVD? i.e over 40? (i'm over 50! but not ready for an older persons class! ). However, the lovely ladies with the very toned abs and revealing outfits can be a bit off-putting for us normal beings..

[PetraDelphiki]

Ooh I've got another...does it have to be so LOUD!!! Earplugs should not be a necessary part of my gym kit! Some instructors try to put energy into the class with too much volume!!!

[Tanaqui]

I love Zumba but someone asked about how cardio it was- I do one class with an instructor from a body attack type background and it is an amazing cardio class, and one with an instructor from a dance background, which has more interesting choreography but is much less intense. I also do Zumba toning, where I am the youngest by about 20 years (and I'm 44!) but it is still a fun workout, though quite gentle. So I would say try a few till you get one you like!

[user7755]

I love Zumba! For those of you feeling self conscious, honestly there is no need at all.

I have been to two classes, the first one the teacher was hilarious, she was not glam or anything and was very rude at times, it was like being at a hen night. The second, the woman barely smiled or spoke and just went through the motions. That said I still like the fun nature of it so would carry on going if i was well enough. My sister's Zumba instructor is a glamorous south american woman and my sister says that people feel a little intimidated by her even though she is lovely.

So, my question would be:

What are the qualities you think are important in a Zumba instructor?

[petalsandstars]

Is zumba safe if you've had joint issues or after spd in pregnancy?

[perrita]

I love Zumba! And I'm so excited to hear you're releasing a DVD. I love to do Zumba videos from YouTube as I love to do it to pop songs. My question is, do you encourage instructors to make up their own dances within the Zumba choreography to pop songs?

[MrsTrentReznor]

I love Zumba, but my heart is in rock music. I find some of the classes a little boring as the music is not always to my taste. Is there a rock offshoot? Could there be? Us old goths and metallers are interested in keeping fit too! Moshing burns a lot of calories...

[Miffytastic]

I like the idea of a rock offshoot, one of the best classes I've been to includes a really diverse mix of music from bhangra, to tina turner, abba, 80s hip hop and that hava nagila one. I found the instructor did much more varied routines when the music was so different.

My question is how can you increase the intensity when a class is not quite as hard as you'd like it to be?