UTSC Dances to Beat of a New Drum

Photo courtesy: Jessica Lee

With the various dance classes offered at the UTSC Athletics and Recreation Centre, it may be hard to settle on just one.  One option is Zumba, a high-energy workout combined with Latin and international music. UTSC’s Zumba instructor, Andrina Stan, is a fourth-year psychology specialist, who uses her spare time after school to infect other students with her passion for Zumba. The Underground had the opportunity to catch up with Stan and find out what this specific exercise has to offer to UTSC students.

UG: First of all, how did you become a Zumba fitness instructor?

AS: It was an accident for me.  A year ago, I stepped into Heidi Calder, the Athletics and Recreation Interim Co-director’s office to propose a women’s-only dance club. She then asked me if I have ever tried a Zumba class. I had never heard of Zumba at the time, so I tried one class and completely fell in love with it. From then on, I went for my certification and started teaching Zumba.

UG: Where and when are you classes held?

AS: Classes are held every Monday at the UTSC Athletics and Recreation Centre from 6-7 p.m.  It’s for free!

UG: Does Zumba promote a healthy lifestyle for students?

AS: Zumba is a very fun sport. Students who are thinking about starting a healthy lifestyle should try Zumba because it is very easy to fall in love with it. The music is very inspiring and upbeat. Fitness programs like Zumba also benefit the brain much more than students realize.

UG: What type of music does Zumba involve?

AS: It is a variation of Latin rhythms. People often have a misconception that Zumba is a salsa class, in fact, it is more like a clashing together of different Latin music styles. Some rhythms that we play include merengue, salsa, belly dance and African beats.

UG: Do you need to have a good musical sense to take this class?

AS: No, most of the steps in Zumba are very basic. It is a workout for everybody, regardless of your age, race or ethnicity.

UG: How have students been responding to this class?  Do they come back for more?

AS: Yes, a lot of them do. Since the energy of the class is often extremely high, students enjoy themselves a lot and carry a happy mood with them throughout the day.

This article was originally published in the Underground (University of Toronto Scarborough Campus's official student news magazine) on Oct. 7, 2010.