Christchurch’s annual Body Festival of dance and physical theatre will wrap up with the biggest Zumba® party in New Zealand on 10 October at the Christchurch Art Gallery.

Christchurch’s annual Body Festival of dance and physical theatre will wrap up with the biggest Zumba® party in New Zealand on 10 October at the Christchurch Art Gallery.

“The closing of The Body Festival will be a celebration of dance, art, fitness and of course life! A Zumba® party is a great way to celebrate those things because everybody is invited - the dance addicts, the newbies, everyone,” Zumba® Party instructor Maria Teresa Stone said.

High-energy Zumba® dance only arrived in Christchurch in 2008 but has already proven hugely popular. Zumba® workshops at the 2009 Body Festival were full to capacity.

Mexican-born Stone has 14 years experience in the fitness industry, but is particularly excited about Zumba® and has now trained some 4,000 instructors in Mexico, China, Australia and New Zealand. “Zumba® is extremely popular in New Zealand. We have 830 Zumba® instructors across the country, 72 of those are from Christchurch,” she said.

 “The reason people choose to go to a Zumba® class is because it is fun and easy to do! Zumba® is party! And we all love to party! “

 While Zumba® Party participants burn the floor with sexy Latin moves from 2 to 3.30pm, they will also be supporting the Heart Foundation with their gold coin donations. New Zealanders love to dance, and the Heart Foundation supports dance as great way to improve fitness and have fun. 

 The Body Festival opens on 24 September with Speed Dancing in Cathedral Square. The festival offers some 50 have-a-go dance workshops, ranging from Urban Dance to Salsa and of course Zumba®, as well as a performance programme of some of New Zealand’s best dance companies. This year, The Body Festival also features international guests, the Argentine contemporary tango company ladoCiego. 

Christchurch City Council is the Body Festival’s core funder and has supported the event’s growth since the first Body Festival in 2002.

Zumba® Party: 10 October, 2 to 3.30pm, Christchurch Art Gallery – gold coin donation appreciated. The Body Festival: 24 September to 10 October. See wwwthebody.co.nz for full programme details or contact The Body on 03 366 7709.