A sweaty interview with Marcela Marano . Sweaty and not closed, because I danced the ZUMBA ® after the lesson of Olit. And how to resist? Yes, because Marcella enters quickly and attractively in the large room of the Unique gym, a movement paradise in Spoleto, in the green lung of Italy, Umbria; he enters with his computer full of ad hoc music destined to choreography ready to be run in the field, from time to time better and better.

And with a sudden smile that remains constant, Marcella churns out all the passion for the movement and transmits it to hordes of women who come in positions and come out neither empty nor discharged, but full of that thing that many would call vitality. Many women, yes, but I would not be surprised if we see some man, husband, son, nephew appear or what he is involved and not dragged under blackmail, of course.

We asked Marcella some questions about this overwhelming wave that she knows how to convey so well, also known as ZUMBA ® Fitness . And we discovered that there are various styles of this particular form of dance and we tried to understand its future potential.

When is the zumba fitness born and what is it?

The zumba was born in the 90s in Colombia thanks to Beto Perez . The ZUMBA ® Fitness program is the only one inspired by Latin American rhythms that blends sparkling music with very contagious choreography steps that transform a work class into a real party.

When does it spread and how?

In 2001 Beto Perez gave an incredible turning point to his life, spreading his style of dance-fitness in Florida, in Miami, where he met some entrepreneurs who helped him to strengthen the business side of the irresistible body training discipline; everything is organized in detail and defined with a purpose, starting from the name ZUMBA ® Fitness, from the registration of the brand, to the realization of CDs and DVDs and to the production of specific items of clothing.

In 2010 ZUMBA ® Fitness explodes.

The program spreads in gyms around the world; 14 million people are passionate about it. It is no coincidence that the owners of many fitness centers in Italy usually define the zumba as the "anti-crisis discipline".

When did the spark that made you fall in love with ZUMBA ® Fitness originate in you ?

Let's say that more work was born from the growing demand in many centers. as it has become my main activity.

How many styles of zumba exist?

There are 8 of them, differentiated according to the target of reference . Today there are:

• Basic 1 (the most taught);
• Acquazumba;
• Zumbatomik (for children);
• Zumba Gold (for the elderly);
• Toning (training, aimed at sculpting the body);
• Circuit (30 minutes of zumba followed by 30 of gymnastic exercises);
• Gold toning (toning);
• Sentao (with a chair)

What do you think is the future of zumba?

I hope they last over time, but I believe that very soon someone else will invent something else that will become fashionable.

In a recent article published in Performance, the official journal of the FIF (Italian Federation of Health) we learned that even the zumba has its detractors. It seems that an American neurologist, Dr. Orly Avitzur, has shown how zumba can harm ankles and knees. On the other hand, it is normal that, when a discipline takes on a global reach, someone goes to find the negative element. What do you think about it?

I must say that Dr. Orly Avitzur is partly right. These disorders can occur if the lesson is taught in the wrong way, but above all underestimated by the client himself and therefore performed incorrectly.