Make Way, Zumba, For New Fitness Dance Routines

Building on the popularity of television shows like Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, the fitness industry has expanded its focus on exercise classes that include dance steps and dancelike moves.

"People are seeing that dance is a fun way to stay active, and it doesn't really feel like exercising," says Kathie Davis, executive director of IDEA, the international association of fitness professionals. "As we know, the key to sticking with any exercise program is to find something that's fun to do, and dance seems to fit the bill for many, many people."

Zumba ignited the passion for dance in 2008, but now Timba and Batuka fans want a piece of the action.

Zumba and Timba have foundations in Latin dance moves such as salsa, mambo, merengue and cha-cha, set to Latin-tinged music. Batuka offers what it calls "World Moves" -- Bollywood, hip-hop, disco and jazz. All welcome every dance level and age group. And all claim they can energize you and help you lose weight and shed stress.

Zumba is well-established at gyms and community centers across the country, while Timba and Batuka are just getting started. The classes should be more widely available in 2012.

Let's take a look at these fitness programs, so you can decide which one might fit your footwork.

Batuka
Music: Original music written by Kike (pronounced Kee-kee) Santander, the program's creator. Santander won the 2002 Latin Grammy award for Producer of the Year. He has produced and written songs such as "Let's Get Loud" by Jennifer Lopez.
Workout: Petra Kolber, the creative director for Batuka, describes the program as "a balance between gymnastics and aerobic dance, where every movement is perfectly synchronized with the music. The Batuka instructor is taught when to do every move in time with the music."
Difficulty: People at any fitness level should be able to participate. I like the way instructors show the easiest moves first. Beginners can stay with those moves, and advanced participants can learn movements that are more complex.
Benefits: Cardiovascular and core muscles
Find a Class: Batuka was introduced at the World IDEA conference in Los Angeles in August. Master instructors are training teachers in Puerto Rico, Miami, Ontario, Quebec, Pasadena, Calif., and Charlotte, N.C., to start. Look for Batuka at a gym in your area by early 2012.

Timba

Music: Latin-based
Workout: This is a fitness and dance program that combines physical conditioning (such as lunges and squats) with dance movements. Creator Eddy Zayas, a dancer, choreographer and fitness instructor, says he originated Timba in 1997 in Juarez, Mexico. He brought the system to El Paso, Texas, two years ago. "I've been dancing since I was a young boy in Cuba," Zayas says. "Timba not only helps you burn calories, but you are actually taught the moves so you can learn how to dance."
Difficulty: Timba is an all-fitness-level type of class. The people I saw taking the class were having fun. It's an easy-to-follow workout that targets specific muscle groups.
Benefits: Cardiovascular and major muscles groups, such as arms, legs and core
Find a Class: Zayas is conducting Timba workshops in Miami, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio, and his DVD will be out soon, he says.

Zumba

Music: Latin
Workout: Each hour-long Zumba dance class features moves such as salsa, mambo, merengue and cha-cha.
Difficulty: The class alternates between fast dance moves and slower ones for an interval-training workout that tones muscles and burns calories. The moves are simple and repetitive.
Benefits: Cardiovascular and core muscles
Find a Class: There are more than 60,000 locations in 105 countries. The Zumba website shows where classes are held.

SecondAct contributor Gary Metzker is a journalist and also teaches group exercise classes including step, spinning, boxaerobics, TRX, FitBall and muscle sculpting in Southern California.

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