Zumba originator entranced by haka

The creator of Zumba, Alberto Beto Perez, is in Auckland to lead a high-energy Zumbathon class to raise funds for the victims of the Christchurch earthquake. Photo / Steven McNicholl

The haka might soon be incorporated in one of the world's most well-known fitness programmes - Zumba.

The creator of the fitness/dance craze, Beto Perez touched down in the country this week.

It is the first time he has visited New Zealand and he says the Maori welcoming ceremony was something that had inspired him to look at incorporating Maori dance into his next routine.

Slapping his chest - imitating the haka - he said the warrior poses and traditional Maori dancing was something he loved.

"It's very new for me ... it's beautiful," he said.

"I want to use some of the movements of the haka in our Zumba classes."

The Zumba programme has become increasingly popular in New Zealand over the past three years, with dozens of classes up and down the country.

Mr Perez was at the ASB Showgrounds in Epsom yesterday to give special workout sessions to help fundraise for those affected by the Christchurch earthquake.

Among those in the crowd were a number of Zumba instructors from Christchurch, who were affected by the quake and who had been flown up to Auckland especially.

Mr Perez has been teaching his Zumba fitness programme for about 20 years, after stumbling on the idea in the '90s.

Rushing to teach his next fitness class, he had forgotten his regular aerobics music and had to improvise, using his own mix of tapes - salsa and merengue music - for the class.

Since then the Zumba fitness programme has expanded to a whole new business, with the creation of all sorts of fitness routines under the Zumba franchise, a DVD workout series and even a video game.

It is taught in up to 110 countries around the world and more than 10 million people attend a Zumba class every week.

Asked whether he ever imagined his fitness routine going worldwide, Mr Perez simply smiles and nods his head.

"Yes, I always knew.

"One of my philosophies is you need to dream big.

"If you believe in your soul, in your wish, then yes."