Dancing for a living

Magicmike during a session. (Photo: Courtesy)

Michael Byola Aka Magicmike, 28, is a zumba instructor. He tells TRICIA WANJALA what this type of dance entails 

Is dancing your profession?

I am a dance instructor by profession and I am a licensed zumba, zumba toning and zumbatomic instructor.

For how long have you been doing this?

I have always danced. I started doing it professionally at 18. Shortly after that, I learned salsa and other Latin dances from a great Cuban instructor who was visiting. I also went to Argentina and learned to tango. By 2009, I was already teaching salsa, tango and other Latin dances. When I learned about zumba fitness, it was a natural progression. I travelled overseas and got a license, which allowed me to teach it professionally.

What is zumba fitness?

It is a series of trademarked dance workouts created by Alberto ‘Beto’ Perlman. Beto is from Colombia, where he worked as an aerobics instructor. One day, at the start of a class he was teaching, he realised he had forgotten his music tape. He grabbed a random Latin music tape and improvised a dance routine. His students loved it and when he moved to the US, he and some of his partners formed a company to patent it. It is now a world-wide phenomenon with over 10 million participants weekly in 105 countries. In Nairobi alone, there are over 60 classes a week.

What are some of the benefits of zumba fitness?

I have seen a number of my clients lose weight very easily with these sessions. This has increased their confidence and their overall health. It is fun so they do not feel like they are training. The zumba programme not only helps you slim but it also tones your body. It is a dance fitness party. It makes you happier and healthier.

Is zumba fitness difficult do to?

With zumba fitness, you do not have to worry about not being a skilled dancer, and you don’t have to struggle to learn the steps. It’s just like clubbing. When you come to the zumba programme, you are coming to a party. If you can walk, you can dance. Zumba fitness class participants range from age five to over 65, so it is something everyone can do.

How rigorous is the process to become a licensed zumba fitness instructor?

It is quite a strict process to ensure quality control globally. I had to travel to a country where the company representatives were holding licensing workshops to get ?my training and license. Licenses expire after a year and you must renew it in order to keep using the name zumba. As a member of the Zumba Instructor Network, I have access to specialised information to keep my classes fresh and current. I buy my DVDs directly from Zumba Fitness, and they send me choreographed routines and new music. They keep me updated with regular newsletters. I pay a monthly fee to be a part of their network, and my class schedule and contact information is on their website.?

How can we find a licensed ?zumba fitness instructor near us?

The zumba fitness organisation recommends that if you are interested in taking a class, look on their official site for instructor information. If the name of an instructor does not appear on their list, that person is not a zumba fitness instructor and should not be teaching zumba fitness classes.

How much do zumba classes cost?

Each instructor has his/her own pay scale. Some are dictated by the venues that we hire out for the classes, but the classes are affordable.

Describe the music you use to choreograph your zumba classes:

The list of dances employed in zumba routines reads like a world-music radio show. Included are salsa, merengue, cumbia, reggaeton, mambo, axe and hip-hop. There are also nternational sounds like bhangra, Afro-Brazilian, quebradita, (Mexican cowboy music), belly-dancing, calypso, tango, flamenco, cha-cha and of course African rythms. The zumba founder, Beto, has collaborated with big names such as Pit Bull, Wyclef Jean and other stars to create urban music, especially for zumba.

What career advice would you give youths?

Whatever you do, follow your dreams. It should come from within you. If you are planning to do this because of money or just to follow other people’s steps, you will get burnt out easily and you will not excel.

It is all about patience, hard work, and lots of talent and passion. If you are patient, the money comes later. I love my job and it enables me pay my bills. I always say you should never waste talent.