Tomasita Elementary Zumba Family

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I wrote the following article last spring for a NM magazine that will remain nameless. The article was never published and I never was able to find out why. I think it was just an oversight. However, because it was never published, a lot of kids at Tomasita Elementary School were disappointed. I thought about this for a while and then realized all I need to do is blog about it. It may not reach the same number of people the magazine I refer to does, but at least it would be something. 

So here is the story of the Tomasita Elementary Zumba Family and the difference they make in seniors’ lives. Please Like and Share to help me make this oversight up to the kids and their sponsor CJ Mays.
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What started as an after-school club to help Tomasita Elementary School kids get into better shape and be happier turned into something much more. A year and a half ago, Cynthia (CJ) Mays, secretary at Tomasita Elementary School in Albuquerque, encouraged students to make better choices to live healthier, happier lives. A certified Zumba instructor, she decided to sponsor an informal Zumba club. 

The Zumba club, also known as a Zumba family, met three days a week after school. “We started Zumba to exercise and lose weight at first,” said Sofia Gallegos, 5th grade. Getting in shape and losing weight led to other benefits. Students, both boys and girls, had a safe place to be after school, and most importantly, “It makes us happy,” said Amira Lewis, 4th grade, “and it makes other people happy."

When asked what he likes most about being in the Zumba club, second grader Micah Mays, CJ’s son, said, “We dance the best dancing ever -- and you feel the music.”
The club, now 20 strong, started performing at school assemblies, dances, and they marched in Albuquerque’s Twinkle Light Parade. Then they decided to branch out into the community at large so they could contribute in an even more meaningful way. 

These days, the club no longer meets at Tomasita at all. With the help of Angel Mays, CJ’s husband, who packs and hauls all the equipment they need, they go to one retirement community on Tuesday afternoons and another on Saturday mornings to dance and spread the Zumba energy. The kids love it, their parents love it, and the seniors love it, too! 

“After we dance, we always go around and thank them (senior citizens) for coming,” explained Sofia. The kids and their parents do this on their own time and usually stay two hours each visit. They enjoy teaching seniors Zumba moves. 

Since they began dancing at senior living facilities, they have put in more than 400 hours of service. They were recognized for their contribution to the Albuquerque community at the last Martin Luther King, Jr. Multicultural Celebration with a Dream Endures Youth Project Community Service award.

They have also danced during halftime at a UNM basketball game, and in coming months, they plan to spread the Zumba word to New Mexico legislators to remind them of the importance of providing funding for after-school clubs and activities in schools. 
This Zumba family supports other causes that are important to them as well. Recently, they collected teddy bears to donate to the Guardians of the Children Motorcycle Club to use in the fight against child abuse. 

Giving to the community is rewarding but these kids also recognize how important it is to keep learning and growing as they Zumba their way through the world. They plan to incorporate skills they study in the classroom into their Zumba time, starting with reading. 
The club remains true to its overarching mission -- to Zumba their way to a healthier, happier life and help others do the same. 

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