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Zumba & Shake Franklin is a community-based Zumba class that provides a fun way for participants
to get moving, fit and healthy. We run weekly classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for a gold-
coin koha in Tuakau Townhall. Our Zumba class is so much more than a class. It’s the gateway to a
loving, supportive and healthy community. We love the community that we’ve built and believe that
we have a sustainable model with the potential to continue to positively impact Tuakau.
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As active members of the Tuakau community, our Zumba instructors are passionate about getting
the community moving. We identified that Tuakau needed a fun and accessible way for members of
the community to get active fit and healthy. Many individuals in our community are unable to afford
or commit to sports teams, gyms or other forms of regular physical activity; others lack the
confidence to engage in physical activity; and, others are searching for a sense of belonging.
We designed our twice weekly Zumba classes to meet this need. This means our classes are
affordable, require no regular attendance commitment and include options for individuals of with a
variety of physical abilities. As a result, we have participants aged from five years to 65 years old;
participants who are regularly physically active and those for whom our Zumba class is their only
exercise; and, participants whose disabilities usually exclude them from attending mainstream
recreational activities.
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We’ve intentionally removed as many of the barriers to participating for potential attendees. At
Zumba & Shake, participants can exercise at their own pace in a welcoming environment where
there is no judgement. We encourage people to bring a friend or come with a group to help with
their confidence. We approach movement in a holistic way which means participants experience
benefits throughout their bodies. Classes are financially accessible and located in a central part of
the town for easy access. As a result, our classes are the largest exercise classes in Tuakau.
We regularly review our approach and provide opportunities for participant feedback – both
formally via survey and informally through conversations with participants. This ensures that we’re
continually improving our offering and ensuring we’re meeting the needs of our participants. Recent
changes and initiatives include applying for funding so we can waive the gold coin koha for
particularly financially struggling participants, training local youth centre leaders to enable them to
engage a greater number of youth in healthy movement, and, changing our class sign-in process to
reduce admin for regular attendees.
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We are regularly seeing classes with 40+ participants.
The results of our approach are quite remarkable. Not only do we see our participants improve their
fitness and physical wellbeing, but we also see them grown in their confidence and we see their
sense of belonging within this community grow. Participants are regularly incited to join the
instructors on the stage to perform one track (regardless of their ability level). It’s hard to describe
the transformational effect of this invitation on all participants: those on stage embrace a challenge
and are positively rewarded, and, those watching share in the sheer joy of watching a fellow class
member perform (against the odds in many cases!).
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Across the last 12 months we’ve seen a significant increase in participation in Zumba & Shake
classes. We are regularly seeing classes with 40+ participants.
The results of our approach are quite remarkable. Not only do we see our participants improve their
fitness and physical wellbeing, but we also see them grown in their confidence and we see their
sense of belonging within this community grow. Participants are regularly incited to join the
instructors on the stage to perform one track (regardless of their ability level). It’s hard to describe
the transformational effect of this invitation on all participants: those on stage embrace a challenge
and are positively rewarded, and, those watching share in the sheer joy of watching a fellow class
member perform (against the odds in many cases!).
A recent participant survey revealed wonderful feedback from participants:
“I'm really loving and enjoying our Zumba Classes Tuesday and Thursday because it's what I look
forward to on these days. Having the opportunity to grow and learn has been a real highlight for Me
its good for my mental health too makes Me feel happy afterwards just what i need Zumba & Shake
Is my Happy Place For Sure Thanks”
“I rave about you guys to everyone i know but i would do it 3 times a week if it was on. Great great
job.”
“I love the music, the vibe, the fact that it's for everyone no matter what. I love that it's cheap,
means it's accessible to everyone.”
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Waikato District
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Community Connection
