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Witness History

Beto Perez: 'I created Zumba by accident'

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.41.6K Ratings

🗓️ 6 April 2023

⏱️ 9 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In 2001, Colombian born choreographer Beto Perez created Zumba, a fitness craze which would go on to become a global phenomenon. The aerobic workout was inspired by Latin dance moves including Merengue and Salsa, and it was all created by accident. Now classes are held in 185 countries from Indonesia to Iceland, and 15 million people take part each week according to the company. Beto Perez shares his story with Reena Stanton-Sharma. (Photo: Beto Perez by Daniel Perez Garcia-Santos. Credit: Getty Images)

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello, and thank you for downloading the witness history podcast from the BBC World Service

0:10.5

with me, Rena Stanton Sharma.

0:13.3

Today, we're going back to 2001 to the start of a fitness craze which would go on to become

0:21.9

a global phenomenon.

0:23.7

90% of the people hate their size.

0:26.8

I don't think the exercises start through, how, diet, the hair, you know, and I create

0:35.3

something that is fun, easy, like a party and people forget this exercise.

0:43.0

That's Colombian-born choreographer, Beto Perez.

0:46.0

He's a founder of Zumba, an aerobic workout inspired by Latin dance moves, including Merengue

0:52.2

and salsa.

0:55.6

He recently flew into the UK to lead a masterclass for Zumba teachers.

0:59.8

It's a rare chart of fans like Kurt to see the man who started it all in person.

1:05.5

Being here today is extremely special and of course seeing the creator of Zumba, which

1:12.8

means so much to everybody to create such a movement, it's awesome, it's really inspiring

1:21.3

and uplifting just to be here.

1:23.9

Everyone here has got a smile on their face, you can hear them tapping in the background.

1:28.5

They're just so excited to be here today to get to meet Beto Perez and other Zumba instructors

1:34.9

from all over the world.

1:36.6

It's a bit like being at a daytime rave and a massive out of town warehouse with 600

1:45.3

people all dressed in bright light-cruff, getting high off the music.

1:51.4

You can't help but sway your hips to the beats and the energy is infectious.

1:57.2

Classes are held in 185 countries and 15 million people take part each week according to the

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