Mayor Chan (back row, fourth right) with Sia (third right) and zumba instructors after a press conference to promote Zumba Fiesta.
KUCHING: Kuching South City Council (MBKS) is calling all fitness buffs to join the Zumba Fiesta at the Kuching Festival Food Fair at 8pm on Aug 19.
MBKS mayor Datuk James Chan pointed to the trend of major cities which were pushing its citizens into more healthy pursuits and the Latin dance-inspired fitness craze of zumba was no exception.
“People can dance and burn off calories to great music,” he told a press conference to promote the second edition of the Zumba Fiesta at MBKS headquarters here yesterday.
“But more importantly, this mass zumba party can help promote Kuching by capturing global attention through social media via sharing of photos and videos of the event,” he said.
Underlining the role of the zumba community in promoting unity and vibrancy, the chief minister’s wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Jamilah Anu who is the Association of Sarawak Ministers and Assistant Ministers Wives (Sabati) chairperson is expected to grace the occasion.
Chan hoped this annual event, led by Level Up Fitness in collaboration with seven other zumba studios, can break the record of 1,500 participants recorded last year.
Level Up Fitness executive director Kenny Sia led a delegation of zumba instructors from various fitness studios across Kuching to attend the press conference as well.
Sia highlighted that the event was to celebrate the influences of fitness dance, in particular zumba, for one night with support from MBKS and Kuching North City Commission (DBKU).
“The stars of the event are the zumba instructors and studios across Kuching. It will be a little bit different this year but with the same spirit as the Rainforest (World Music Festival),” he said.
Zumba, which originated from Latin America, Sia added, has picked up local influences and flavour as the fitness dance spread to different parts of the world.
“We also see that different studios incorporate their distinct flavour into their routines. So what we are trying to do is bring everything together like the Rainforest and celebrate our love for a common thing,” he said.
Sia said the Zumba Fiesta this year will incorporate poco-poco, a dance originated from Indonesia, into the routine.
“It will start off with poco-poco, and progress to SHBAM, which is a pre-choreographed fitness dance from New Zealand, and for the special treat, we are bringing a programme called ‘Latino Jam’ led specially by our own instructor from Columbia,” he said.
“The intention is to spread love for this dance sport to everyone for the greater good of the community,” he added.
The organiser and co-organisers welcome everyone to join the party. Admission is free and pre-registration to enter a lucky draw is now open.
Even first-timers can just walk in to join the Zumba Fiesta, Sia said.
Pre-registration can be done at all six Level Up Fitness centers at VivaCity Megamall, Wisma Everrise Petanak, MJC Pappillion Street Mall, BDC, iCom Square and Arena Sukan.
Alternatively, contact 012-8922886 or 010-5993705 or visit Facebook page ‘Kuching Zumba Fiesta’ or ‘Level Up Fitness’.