Zumba, a Latin-inspired dance workout whose mottos all involve the word “party,” is growing in popularity worldwide and in Cairo. Unlike other fitness fads and celebrity workouts that quickly fade, this trend is still attracting participants 10 years after a Colombian fitness instructor introduced it to the US. Those who haven't had a chance to try Zumba can combine it with charity on Saturday 29 October, when Sawy Culture Wheel hosts an event to benefit the Breast Cancer Foundation of Egypt. “Pink Party for the Cure” will feature Zumba classes from 10 am to 4 pm as well as yoga, stretching and Pilates. “Zumba is a way to get people to think about women's health, or just health in general,” said event co-founder Emeline Lavender, one of five instructors who will each teach a 30-minute class during the fundraiser. Breast cancer accounts for more than a third of cancer cases in Egypt, according to a National Cancer Institute statistic cited in a recent Washington Times article. The “pink party” coincides with World Breast Cancer Awareness month and aims to draw attention to the issue in a non-traditional way. Those over 40 years old will also be able to book a free mammogram during the fundraiser. Lavender said she and fellow Zumba instructor Jessy Larsen teamed up with Egyptian fitness mogul Samia Allouba to “really make it a big deal.” Offering tickets at LE30 (Zumba classes normally run upward of LE50 here) will also help make the event accessible and introduce the fitness program to more people, she said. Tickets for the ladies-only event will be available at the door or in advance at the Culture Wheel, some Cilantro and Makani branches and online through ticketsmarche.com. Pink Party for the Cure, Sawy Culture Wheel River Hall, 26 July Street, Zamalek. Website: facebook.com/groups/ or facebook.com/event
