“Merging my love of dance – especially Latin dancing – with group fitness, Zumba is the perfect formula for me.”
I have been teaching group fitness classes since my sophomore year at NC State University in 1997. I became interested in group fitness because, although cheerleading was my passion in high school, I didn’t have the gymnastics and tumbling skills to continue to cheer at the college level. At a loss for what to do with my energy and desire to entertain, I discovered step aerobics. I found that exercising with others was more fulfilling and motivating than exercising alone and, in 1998, I trained and became certified to teach. In the beginning I taught all formats of group fitness classes, including Hi/Lo, Step, Kickboxing, Sculpting, and even Slide (does anyone remember this?!).
In addition to my love of group fitness, I have always loved to dance. I danced throughout middle school and high school as a cheerleader. I danced through college for fun as a “club rat”. I danced in Spain where I learned “Las Sevillanas” – a form of the flamenco. After college, I fell in love with my husband Daniel through dance when he taught me how to dance Salsa and Merengue. I also briefly trained with the Carolina Latin Dance Company in 2005 where I learned Cumbia and other latin folkloric dances.
In 2006, I discovered Zumba® and began teaching this format of dance fitness. The feedback to the combination of infections grooves with booty shaking was amazing, and I reveled in the idea that I could combine my love of group fitness with dancing! With time, I developed a proprietary class called DanceOut! that involves all genres of music and many dance styles. In 2008, I was happily rockin’ out 5 classes a week in Charlotte, Gastonia & Harrisburg when I became pregnant. I knew I couldn’t let my participants down by canceling classes or by letting just anyone take them over. So I started to train faithful participants to be able to take over my classes (and teach them the way that I would) while I was on maternity leave, and that is how QCDO began to grow. I am so proud of the QCDO family and truly appreciate each and every one of you. Read more in her Q&A.
CERTIFICATIONS
AFAA Group Exercise
CPR/First Aid
Zumba Basic, Toning & Zumbatomic PiYo
WHERE TO FIND ANGIE ACOSTA
Fridays, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Zumba
Ormaza’s Family Karate in Dallas, NC
All over!! I travel to all QCDO classes and do special events. Be sure to check the current calendar to see where to find me this month.
