Grooving to the beats of salsa, flamenco, and merengue music feels more like a dance party than a workout, which is exactly what makes Zumba so popular. The Latin-inspired dance workout is one of the most popular group exercise classes in the world. The high-energy classes are set to upbeat music and feature choreographed dance numbers that you might see in a nightclub. You don’t need to be a great dancer to feel welcome in a Zumba class. With the tag line, “Ditch the Workout, Join the Party,” the classes emphasize moving to the music and having a good time, no rhythm required. There are several different kinds of Zumba classes, from Aqua Zumba workouts to classes like Zumba Toning that incorporate weights for additional calorie burning and strength training. There are even Zumba classes for kids. Working up a sweat in the 60-minute classes burns an average of 369 calories -- more than cardio kickboxing or step aerobics. You’ll get a great cardio workout that melts fat, strengthens your core, and improves flexibility. ~WebMD~
Belly Dance
We do not regulate what belly dance looks like, we rather encourage ongoing discussion within our community on topics such as the various styles and categories of belly dance, the pros and cons of labels, and ethical fusion in dance. Around the world, belly dance is practiced by people of all types- men, women, genderfluid, all ages and body types imaginable, alter-abled folks, and people from a huge spectrum of cultural backgrounds. It is a wonderfully inclusive dance form. 'Belly Dance' itself is an umbrella term coined as a way to describe hundreds of separate dance styles rooted in/originating from a variety of cultures in Middle East, North Africa, and surrounding areas such as Greece and Turkey. Most of the originating styles are of course much, much older than the term itself. ~Portland Belly Dance Guild~
Come Dance
Belly Dancing Class is offered Saturdays at 9a. Zumba classes are offered Tuesdays at 6p. Class price is a $12 or you may use your class pass. Part of the proceeds go to Cultivating Sacred, a non-profit helping support our community of women through art, healing, and recovery.