Zumba founder in Abu Dhabi for fitness party

Beto Perez will be conducting his first-ever class in the UAE. Getty Images / Ben Pruchnie

Time to grab your neon crop tops and cargo pants – Zumba founder Beto Perez is teaching a masterclass at du forum on Yas Island. The dance-y aerobics fitness regimen is a global phenomenon with 150 million weekly participants in 180 countries.

The craze has not missed the UAE and there are currently 300 weekly Zumba classes to choose from in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, according to a search on the official website.

“I was surprised anyone knows me here,” Perez says. “I was on the TV channel today and all the technical guys told me their wives do Zumba and took a picture with me to send to them.”

The Zumba Fitness Party tomorrow is part class, part show. “But not so much of a show that people sit and watch,” Perez says. He wants people up and exercising.

The Zumba concept was born in Cali, Colombia when, the story goes, Perez forgot to bring his regular aerobics music to a class and instead popped in his personal salsa and merengue tapes from his backpack. Shortly after, in 2001, the fitness instructor moved to Miami and hooked up with entrepreneurs Alberto Perlman and Alberto Aghion to transform the business.

This is a big production that has taken 18 months to pull off and Perez has five other dancers and two percussionists in tow. So far, 800 tickets of the 1,000 available have been sold.

So what is the secret of Zumba’s success? “Ninety-five per cent of the population of the world hate exercising,” Perez says. “But I think 100 per cent of the world loves partying. I put the party in the fitness world. That’s why its so popular and easy to follow.”

Classes are taught without verbal instruction and many of the steps are repetitive, making it easy for even the less co-ordinated enthusiasts to enjoy. Participants can burn hundreds of calories per class. This is Perez’s first visit to the Middle East and he is looking how to incorporate Arab tunes into his music ­repertoire.

“It’s a great way to exercise,” says Nadia Sehweil, the owner of Bodytree Studio in Abu Dhabi. “It’s like having a little dance party for an hour.”

The Zumba Fitness Party is from 6-8pm; Beto’s Zumba Master Class is from 8pm onwards. Both events are at du Forum, Yas Island. Tickets cost from Dh275 at www.ticket­master.ae