David Snodgress | INstride Ijah McCulley participates in a zumba class at the YMCA.

It’s like going to dance in a bar without the smoke and liquor,” instructor Nancy Parker tells the class.

Not every offering at the Monroe County YMCA could get away with this comparison. But Zumba is not your typical fitness fare.

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The Cardinal Court comes across as club night meets Carnival on this sunless Thursday morning—but with more comfortable footwear.

Some 25 women, and one man, shake, rattle and roll to Latin music. Zumba is a blend of merengue, mambo, samba, salsa, and cumbia with some hip-hop tossed in.

“Are you here for Zumba?” Parker asks as they shuffle in. The first song starts and Parker, like a cheerful hostess, gives an important reminder before stretching: “Enjoy the party.”

Parker demonstrates the steps, and everyone follows. It starts with the feet whether it’s a march or side-to-side, then the arms join in. “C’mon, let’s get some attitude,” Parker advises during some serious Shakira-style hip-shaking.

“Now let’s stop traffic on the other side,” she says as everyone moves to rotate their hips like winding a clock in the opposite direction.

After 45 minutes of this constant motion, most leave the hardwood court sweating, smiling and ready to return.

“It’s a lot of fun,” explains Parker, adding that once people try it they’re often hooked.

Since the cardio-dance craze arrived at the Y in September 2008, popularity has soared. Three instructors grew to five as did the demand for more Zumba classes. Malke Rosenfeld was recruited to become an instructor after enrolling in one of Parker’s classes. Parker and the instructors also bring the workout to local teachers and administrators as part of an outreach program. What better way to unwind and work up a sweat after a school day than jumping around with colleagues?

The Zumba tagline is as fitting as your go-to pair of jeans: “Ditch the workout, join the party.”

The party started more than a decade ago by complete accident. Aerobics instructor “Beto” Perez forgot his class music one day. The back-up plan: Improvise with his personal collection of Latin American dance music. It sparked and the blaze spread from outside his homebase in Columbia — not even oceans couldn’t extinguish it.

The Zumba program is being taught at over 40,000 locations in 75 countries, according to company Web site, with five million participants taking classes every week.

Herald-Times reporter Laura Lane is one of them. She has attempted to stay physically fit throughout her life. She finally gave up aerobics after a lot of years, spandex outfits and a nagging knee injury. But she found that long walks, yoga and 25-minute stints in the weight room just weren’t enough.

Missing was serious heart rate-increasing, cardiovascular exercise.

Enter Zumba.

She describes it as “high energy, sweat-producing, heart-pounding dancing in the guise of exercise. It’s fun, easy on the knees and a great workout option for anyone with a sense of rhythm.”

First-timer Gayle Stuebe decided to give it a try during Parker’s Thursday class. Stuebe loves her Monday and Wednesday PowerPump, a strength training and balance course at the Y, but wanted to try something new. She’s glad she did.

“I liked it,” she said afterwards. Stuebe had heard about the Zumba class and saw it on television. She’s also a fan of Latin American dance and music.

When Stuebe couldn’t do a particular move, she said she just danced.

There’s no such thing as a misstep. You can’t be lost if you’re enjoying the journey and keep moving along.

David Snodgress | INstride Ken Lott participates in a zumba class at the YMCA.