Zumba master class supports youth soccer

Music, dance and fitness came together in Brandon this past weekend as about 100 participants took part in the city’s first-ever Zumba master class to support local youth soccer programs.

Organized by Brandon Zumba instructor Lucia Bravo, the event at the Ukrainian National Hall on Sunday evening featured more than two hours of high-energy aerobic dance routines led by Vancouver-based certified Zumba specialist Cyd Charisse.

Event board member Rodrigo Riquelme said the class combined exercise with entertainment, creating an atmosphere in which participants could stay active while enjoying themselves.

“Zumba is Latin rhythm and songs aerobic exercise, which is focused on keeping people happy and doing exercise at the same time,” Riquelme told the Sun. “It’s like you are part of a party, but you don’t notice you are doing exercise, aerobic exercise, different movement, different parts of your body, and you are working in that way too.”

He said the interests of Brandon and Winnipeg residents exceeded organizers’ expectations, with tickets selling out ahead of the event.

“About 60 participants came from Brandon, while another 40 travelled from Winnipeg, including a bus organized for attendees making the trip to the city,” he said.

The event was designed to be more than just a dance class.

Participants took part in a variety of fitness activities and routines over the course of roughly two and a half hours before gathering for a meal afterward, he said.

Riquelme said organizers wanted to create a complete experience for participants, noting the lengthy session can be physically demanding.

“When you are dancing for two and a half hours, at the very end you need some boost of energy,” he said. “Most of the time in master class, you have something to eat at the end, so in this case, we are prepared for that as well.”

To help support the event, organizers received a $1,500 grant from the City of Brandon. Riquelme said the funding helped cover meals for participants following the workout session.

Beyond promoting health and fitness, the event also aimed to support youth sports in the community. A portion of proceeds from the master class will be donated to Brandon United FC and its “Every Child Can Play” program, which assists low-income families with soccer registration fees for children, he said.

Riquelme, who is also involved with Brandon United FC, said the fundraising aspect was an important part of the event.

“We kept ticket prices at $20, significantly lower than similar master class events in larger centres, where admission can cost about $40,” he said.

Riquelme said affordability was key because organizers wanted to introduce the concept to Brandon residents and encourage strong community participation during the inaugural year.

“We will focus more on making a successful event than a profitable event,” he said.

Even so, organizers estimate the event will raise between $1,100 and $1,500 for the youth soccer initiative.

Following the strong turnout, Riquelme said organizers are already planning to bring the event back next year.

“The idea is to try to make this one every May long weekend,” he said. “Try to make people use that long weekend for the Zumba event in Brandon.”

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