Zumba enthusiasts are now doing their thing up on the roof at Belmont Park.
Julia de Luca, an instructor in the popular, trendy dance fitness program, thought it would be a perfect locale for a workout with its panoramic views.
The dance instructor, having previously worked at Belmont Park, noted that its Coaster Terrace was frequently unused on Monday nights and some weekends. “So I asked if I could use the room for Zumba, and they said OK. So we do it outside when weather allows,” de Luca said.
The dance instructor noted Belmont is indeed the perfect, picturesque spot for aerobics up on the amusement park’s second-story roof.
“To the east, you’ve got the roller coaster, and to the west its the beach, sand and ocean,” she said.
Zumba is a dance fitness program created by Colombian dancer and choreographer Alberto (Beto) Perez during the 1990s that involves dance and aerobic elements. Its choreography incorporates hip-hop, soca, samba, salsa, merengue and mambo. Squats and lunges are also included.
Zumba Fitness, the owner of the Zumba program, does not charge licensing fees to gyms or fitness centers who use it. Approximately 15 million people take weekly Zumba classes in more than 200,000 locations across 180 countries.
“I’ve been dancing since the age of 4,” said de Luca, adding she’s done all the “usual” dance forms — ballet, tap, jazz, a little bit of gymnastics. But when it comes to exercise, de Luca noted, “I don’t like traditional workouts, running, jogging et cetera.”
She said she became a convert to the Latin dance form incorporating fitness elements after taking a Zumba class from her boyfriend’s mom. Though she found it strenuous, “I never sweated so much in my life,” de Luca pointed out. “You don’t notice that you’re actually working out because you’re mostly having fun and listening to music and trying to keep up with the moves.”
De Luca is now a certified Zumba instructor, having taken a required eight- to 10-hour course that teaches the basics in a manual.
De Luca’s classes are typically small, with 8 to 15 people participating. The cost is $10 a person per session.
The hourlong sessions start out with 10 minutes of warm-up dancing to songs then proceed into a “40-minute, intense workout” with different choreographed dances with a fitness element before concluding with a “cool-down and stretch song.”
A Realtor, de Luca noted Zumba is great because “it’s another way of connecting with people.” She added she loves seeing people “come into the class a little tired or depressed” and enjoys “watching them leave with smiles.”
She added that if you want exercise that’s entertaining too, Zumba is for you. “It’s just fast-paced, very upbeat music,” she said, noting that, though it’s not peaceful like a yoga session, it is something you can use to clear your mind.
“It’s loud, but it’s inspiring,” de Luca said, encouraging people to come out to Belmont and try it out.
“Wear comfortable sneakers,” she advised.
For more information, email [email protected] or visit juliadeluca7.zumba.com. Zumba Where: Coaster Terrace at Belmont Park.
When: 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays
Cost: $10 per session.
Contact: [email protected] or juliadeluca7.zumba.com.