As most of my close friends and family know, I've become a little bit of a Zumba addict in recent years. Like, I attend a bunch of different ones, at different gyms, and even if I'm traveling, I have to get a temporary membership to a local gym that offers a Zumba class.
In almost every single Zumba class I've attended, I've noticed a trend of the same different characters. I don't know which one of these I fall into, but take a look at this list and tell me if any of these seem familiar to you.
The Performer
This is the girl you swear is trying out for her own fitness video. She's super high energy, staring in the mirror, throwing in extra steps that even the instructor doesn't know, and just overall doing THE MOST. She does get the best workout in the class, though.
The Space Invader
This is the girl who more than likely has never taken a formal dance class in her entire life because she clearly does not know what it means to stay on your X. She starts out standing too close to you and knowing that you're going to want to swing an arm or two, you politely move over -- only to find her back under your armpit two minutes into a routine.
I get it -- sometimes a Zumba class gets pretty crowded, but there's no reason for us to be nearly dirty dancing after every turn. In fact, an actual quote from the movie "Dirty Dancing" is appropriate here: "This is my dance space. This is your dance space. I don't go into yours, you don't go into mine!"
The Girl Who Is Clearly Dancing to Another Song
I think it's mean to say that someone has absolutely no rhythm, so we'll just say she's dancing to another song... in her head... while making up her own dance moves... You get the point.
You have to purposely avoid looking at her during Zumba class to keep from getting off beat too. However, you can't help but respect her for bravely sticking through the class and showing that it's all about having fun.
The Hype Girl
Not be confused with the Performer, this girl is not about doing all of the moves perfectly. Rather, she is the one who has made it her personal mission to keep the Zumba class hyped up and energetic.
She is fun and outgoing with loud bursts of "Yeah," "Uh huh," "Get it, girl," and "Owww" sounds throughout every routine. She keeps you motivated and dancing harder than ever. Plus, let's face it, who doesn't need a hype girl in their life?
The Sexy Seductress
This girl could take or leave the actual cardio aspect of the class, but she absolutely nails every hip roll, gyration, or booty shake. There's a part of you that wants to be catty and remind her that this is not a pole dancing class, but that's really just the same part of you that's secretly wondering how great her sex life must be.
The Girl Who Didn't Realize This Was a Cardio Class
Now, this could be the Sexy Seductress, but it could also be the girl who's a little out of shape and thought a Zumba class was not going to be a real workout. Five minutes into the class, she's complaining about how hard it is and asking the instructor to take it easier on the class.
You feel her pain because you haven't always been in such great shape, but you're also annoyed because you're there to work. So, when she packs up and leaves halfway through the class, you feel relieved that you're finally gonna break a sweat.
The Only Guy in the Class
You still haven't figured out this guy's deal. He's the only guy in the Zumba class and he doesn't actually know anyone there. He does most of the steps, except for the sexy ones. You wonder if he's just a guy trying to get in shape or if he's there to pick up girls. Only time will tell.
There you have the seven different characters you're sure to find in a Zumba class. Can you think of any I've missed?