Whether you want to lose a few pounds or just have fun and burn calories, the Zumba class at Duluth’s Bunten Road Park is the place to do it.
“We cover a little of everything,” said Janice Davis Canty, Zumba class instructor for the class offered through the Duluth Parks and Recreation Department. For an hour class participants follow Davis Canty’s lead and groove to popular music as well as old favorites like Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary.”
Zumba is a fusion of primarily Latin dance styles that covers everything from hip hop to belly dancing in a high-energy group class.
“The Latin dance is all core activity. When you salsa or merengue you’re always working that core,” said Davis Canty. “You think we’re all just showing out, but we’re actually working our waists without getting on the floor.”
Zumba is a popular choice for women trying to lose baby weight because of the focus on the mid-section. “A lot of women come in saying they found their waist because they’re doing all of this,” said Davis Canty.
Classes run for six weeks, and the next session starts Feb. 22 at Bunten Road Park. If you want to drop in and take a class it’s $7, but if you pre-register it’s $30 for an entire session. Classes are an hour-long and offered Thursdays at 7 p.m. or Saturdays at 10 a.m. If you feel ambitious you may sign up for two classes per week for $50.
Davis Canty has been teaching Zumba since April 2010. “When Janice first started teaching she had about eight people and it’s really grown,” said Carol Miller, a Zumba student. “She’s the best in Gwinnett County. She’s fabulous,” said Miller about Davis Canty.
“You see me out there jumping all over the place, but I always show (dance moves) smooth and slow to begin with,” said Davis Canty.
“Everyone learns at their own pace, and once they strengthen their heart they can decide what all they want to do.”
Davis Canty’s class consists of a variety of ages 18 to 65, all of whom do the dance exercise with smiles on their faces the entire time.
“The class makes you feel really good, and it’s fun,” Miller said.
