South Ayrshire Council News

Councillor Margaret Toner joins Zumba instructor Gillian Gebbie as she leads the Zumba class at Ayr Town Hall.
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Hundreds of residents across South Ayrshire have found the ideal way to get fit, have fun and make friends at the same time thanks to the latest dance and fitness programme introduced by South Ayrshire Council.

The Council launched its first Zumba programme in July and more than 200 people attended the first classes in Coylton Activity Centre, Mossblown Activity Centre and Ayr Town Hall.

Created by Colombia's Alberto Perez, Zumba is inspired by salsa, samba and merengue music and fuses pulsating Latin rhythms with easy-to-follow dance steps that not only give you a great work out, but make sure you have fun in the process.

And with a new Thursday evening class due to start in Muirhead Activity Centre from Thursday 19 August, the fun and excitement is set to spread even further.

Councillor Margaret Toner, South Ayrshire Council's Portfolio Holder for Leisure, dropped in to the Ayr Town Hall class – which is regularly attended by almost 100 people – to check out the Zumba craze for herself.

She said:"We have been blown away by the response to our Zumba programme and it is great to see so many people come together to take part in this fun, fitness activity. Zumba epitomises everything that working out should be – fun, exhilarating, exciting and something that you actually want to do rather than just think you should".

"It's estimated that some 7.5 million people in 105 countries take part in Zumba classes each week and I'm delighted South Ayrshire is now well and truly on the Zumba map."

South Ayrshire Council's Zumba programme costs £4 per class, with classes, which last one hour, as follows:

• Ayr Town Hall (01292 269793) – Mondays at 7.30pm
• Citadel Leisure Centre (01292 269793) – Fridays at 6pm
• Coylton Activity Centre (01292 571235) – Mondays at 10am and 6pm
• Mossblown Activity Centre (01292 520998) – Tuesdays at 8pm
• Muirhead Activity Centre (01292 318541) – Wednesdays at 1pm and (from 19 August) Thursdays at 8.30pm.

Further information on the Zumba programme is available directly from the facilities or from the Council's website, www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/leisure.