Zumba Ey!

Zumba Eyyy!

Written on 5/27/2016

Since November, neighboring volunteers have been venturing to the Cultural Center once a month to do a one hour Zumba class. The GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) club always joins in the fun, as well as other members (mostly female) and, occasionally, a few boys.

When I am available to join in the Zumba fun, I always do. Whats better than a work out and learning some new dance moves? And everytime I’ve felt a special atmosphere in the room that I just couldn’t find the words to describe. But the last session, about two weeks ago, I was overcome with words to say - and then I forgot to write them down...until now.

The reason, I believe, these Zumba sessions are so special is because it has become a girl-dominated event. The girls, and women, get the chance to take over a space and fill it with their athletic moves and grooves. They are allowed to be strong, silly, shaking and breaking. Being athletic and breaking a sweat becomes cool.

There aren’t many spaces like this here in Madagascar. Boys dominate the soccer fields and often the basketball courts. It’s hard to find a non-domestic space that's dominated by women. It’s not so much that its not acceptable for women to be athletic - its just that men have more outlets available for athleticism.

But our one-hour-a-month Zumba class is full of athletic women and girls ready to work it. Unknowingly, they are being empowered one dance move at a time. They are taking up space and moving their bodies without any social barriers being put on how they should do so. It’s an inspiring event to be a part of.

I became especially inspired this last Zumba because we had more young girls than in previous Zumba sessions. At first, the little ones were shy to move around and jump and clap and make noise- but not for long. These young girls were watching older women be proud of their bodies and how they are able to move them and song by song, they became proud of their movements as well - and there is something undeniably special about that.

In a world where a woman’s body is too often subject to ridicule and young girls are told to hide their body and to be modest in movement - creating a space to be proud of your body and what it can do is important. And I am proud to be able to say I am able to witness the unleashing of female pride once a month, and so thankful for the volunteers willingness to come to my community and make a space where that is possible!