IF YOU have two left feet, do not fancy dancing with a partner and find traditional aerobics classes boring, a new dance fitness craze could be the answer.

Zumba began life in Colombia in the 1990s when a fitness instructor forgot his regular music and had to improvise with the traditional Latin salsa and merengue music he had in his car.

The dance craze spread to the UK and has proved so popular it is now being recommended by the Get Oxfordshire Active (GO Active) campaign.

Dance instructor George Martini qualified as a Zumba teacher in 2006, and is now running classes in West Oxford, Witney, Eynsham, and, from tonight, at The Regal in East Oxford.

Mr Martini said: “It’s more party orientated rather than a structured workout, and that’s why people get quite hooked on it.

“It just gives you mindblowing energy, it takes you onto another level and you come out so high.

“Ladies have come in and said they are feeling tired and down and then left really happy.”

When Mr Martini first opened a Zumba class at the West Oxford Community Centre a year ago, just a handful of people turned up.

Now, there are about 30 taking part each week, along with up to 30 at Bartholomew School in Eynsham and up to 45 at Pirates Gym in Witney, making it the most attended class they have ever had.

Go Active is a £1m Oxfordshire Sports Partnership campaign to improve the county’s health.

Margaret Eaglestone from GO Active helped set up the Witney class.

She said: “When I heard about it I thought it would be a great opportunity to set up a new class and it has gone from strength to strength.”

Mr Martini said he believed the workout, which incorporates simple dance moves performed to music, would suit anyone aged from their early teens to pensioners.

Kaye Everatt, who is in her 40s and lives in Carswell, near Faringdon, started attending classes last July.

She has dropped a jeans size since starting and said: “It’s just so much fun.

“I have tried most things — running, the gym, yoga and most sports — but with most of them you just get bored after a while. I would do this every night if I could.”

Tracy Millard, 42, from Kidlington, started learning Zumba two months ago.

She said: “I went to one salsa class with George, and absolutely loved the salsa and music but didn’t like dancing with partners I didn’t know. He suggested Zumba.

“It’s absolutely fantastic. It’s an hour’s really hard workout but it’s really good fun.”

For more information go to zumba.com fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk