Zumba-thon lets Saugus students dance for a cause

SAUGUS – The Saugus High School track team raised more than $400 Wednesday afternoon as close to 40 students danced for nearly an hour at the school?s first ever Zumba-thon.Guidance counselor and first-year track coach Bethany Larsen led the fundraiser in the high school gym, but the music and stomping could be heard throughout the hallways.?As a track coach we wanted to do some kind of fundraiser that was healthy,” said Larsen, who is also a certified Zumba instructor. “We decided to promote a healthy lifestyle by having a fundraiser that focuses on working out. Our track team is looking to get new jackets or shirts, anything to say, ?Great job this season, here?s something for you,? at the banquet.”Larsen said she was lucky to have such strong support from the school, noting that she even received donations from students who weren?t able to attend the Zumba-thon.?I think the kids had fun and that?s all that really matters,” said Larsen.Larsen described Zumba as a “high-energy,” Latin-inspired dance exercise, where participants can burn more than 600 calories an hour.?It?s a lot of salsa, jumping around, fist-pumping, merengue, reggaeton,” said Larsen. “I try to incorporate more recent music that?s on the radio. It?s really just a dance exercise and it?s a whole-body workout without feeling like you?re working out. The time flies by and we just have a complete blast.”Larsen had just become Zumba-certified when she was hired last year, and after receiving permission from the school, she started the school?s very first Zumba Club.Since then, she said, it?s been “a hit,” with about 20 students attending on average.?I hold it one day a week all year round,” said Larsen. “Usually we get from around seven kids up to 35. It depends if there?s a big exam or something going on. The kids don?t have to have any dance experience or athleticism, they just come to have fun and just work out.”When the Zumba-thon first started at 2:15 p.m., only about 20 students joined in, but as they danced, their ranks swelled to almost 40 as more students jumped into the action.Less than 15 minutes into it, just about everyone dancing was covered in sweat, including senior Keysha Panameno, who helps run the Zumba Club with Larsen.?You sweat a lot,” said Panameno. “That?s why we only do it once a week. It?s a lot of fun. It?s kind of like a sport because you exercise and you dance too. Me and Ms. Larsen help each other out.”Panameno said she was “amazed” at the turnout Wednesday, as even some male students joined in, which she said is rare in the Zumba world.?I?m very happy,” said Panameno. “We usually have just girls because the guys are shy and they say, ?Oh, that?s for girls.? But they?re having so much fun. It?s not only for girls. We?re probably one of the only schools that have a Zumba club. Kids come and they forget about the stress of homework and everything just for an hour. I think that?s a great therapy for kids. It?s free and it?s a great exercise party.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].