Community Corner

Zumba Class Raises Money for Japan

Inspired by a participant, instructors decide to donate proceeds from two days to the Red Cross.

Sometimes it's hard to stand out in a class of 40-plus students, but when a dedicated Japanese student began to miss her Zumba class, her instructor noticed.

After the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that destroyed the northeast coastal city of Sendai, Roger Yamat—who teaches the energetic Latin aerobics class every Monday and Wednesday at the in Mountain View—felt the absence of one of his gifted and frequent class participants, Junko Szymanski.

Turned out that Szymanski comes from the city of Sendai, and she felt too "devastated and depressed" and "it was even painful at that point to just listen to any danceable Latin music," she told Mountain View Patch.

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When she told Yamat her situation, he offered to host a "Zumba for Japan!" event, with 100 percent of net proceeds to be donated to the American Red Cross and matched donations from Bi-Lo Charities up to $50,000.

So if you go Wednesday night, admission is $12, $10 with punch card or $6 for first-timers. Payment will be taken at the door. 

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