Sometimes great ideas are born from accidents. In the mid-'90s, no one could have predicted the success of the Zumba^® program, not even Alberto "Beto" Perez, who created the Zumba^®experience, after what many have called a true "happy accident."

The Original "Fitness-Party"

As a fitness instructor in his native Cali, Colombia, Beto's life took an unexpected turn one fateful day in the mid-'90s when he darted off to teach an aerobics class and forgot his traditional aerobics music. He improvised using his own mix of music from tapes he had in his backpack (salsa and merengue music he grew up with). He created a new kind of dance-fitness, one that focused on letting the music move you (instead of counting reps over the music). Energy electrified the room; people couldn't stop smiling. His class loved it! A revolutionary new fitness concept was born – the Zumba^® Fitness-Party.