Celebrating Four Years of Zumba in Dixon

For the past four years Dixonite Angie Pewitt and her students have gathered at old for some exercise with a twist.

Pewitt is a Zumba instructor who teaches the popular exercise program through the Recreation Department. On Saturday, Pewitt celebrates four years of teaching fellow Dixonites Zumba.

“I’ve been teaching for four years in Vacaville and Dixon and I was pretty much the one that brought it into the area,” Pewitt said.  “I started teaching in Vacaville and in Dixon in February of 2008.”

Zumba, Pewitt says, is an exercise program that incorporates Latin and international rhythms. It’s a workout that’s both fun and challenging for anyone who tries it.

“It’s good for your heart and … it’s the best workout I’ve had,” Pewitt said. “You can get your heart rate up (and) you can burn a bunch of calories.”

Pewitt said that everyone can do Zumba, but it’s mostly women who take her course. She said among the women, there are a handful of men who exercise alongside them.

“Basically, it should always be easy to follow, every song will be the same routine,” Pewitt said. “There is about 15 songs in a class and maybe 12 of them will be the same. There are different rhythms that people can get used to.”

As a young girl Pewitt, a native of Montana, was active in her local dance team she said.

“I’ve always loved dance,” she said. “My dad was a martial arts instructor, so I grew up in martial arts. Basically, just always loved to dance.”

Pewitt moved to California 14 years ago and began working in gyms, she said. She always enjoyed the group exercises that the gyms provided and around 2007, she started teaching step aerobics.

“I wanted to dance and I wanted to learn and then I took a Zumba class in Davis … and I knew that was it,” she said. “I wanted to do the training right away.”

She approached Gold’s Gym in Vacaville about beginning Zumba at the gym.

“They did a demo and a few people liked it, they loved it and they wanted it to be an hour,” she said. “They wanted more classes. I was doing them all.”

Pewitt then set her sites on Dixon and approached the city about doing the program in locally through the city’s Recreation Department.

That was in February 2008 and ever since then Pewitt and her classes have been dancing and exercising. Pewitt, - who is one of the many instructors under Zumba Fitness, an international Zumba program that certifies trainers – said Saturday’s Zumba four-year anniversary would be an international affair.

“A number of teachers are going to be on hand,” Pewitt said. “I have a lady coming in from Columbia, … all the dancing is from around the world.”

Dubbed “World of Dance Celebration” the fun begins at 7 p.m., Saturday, at the old Dixon High School. The first half hour of the event will be a warm-up Samba workshop. Then a variety of instructors from all parts of the region and as far away as Columbia will administer the Zumba Masterclass.

The event is free and is open to everyone. Zumba dancers who dress up will have the opportunity to win a $50 Zumbawear gift card.