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South Bay Accent - Feb/Mar 2015

SLOW AND SMOOTH, the music pulses throughout a dance studio in San Jose where I’m waiting with about 50 other visitors. Usually, the room with its wood floors and mirrored walls is occupied by elegant couples gliding through graceful ballroom dance steps. On this Saturday morning, though, the scene is about to change dramatically—into a raucous, footstomping gear jumping to the rhythms of a much different drum. ¶ “We have a new warm-up for you this morning!” exclaims ebullient Suzy C. over a headset. The co-founder of U-Jam Fitness is a petite powerhouse, sporting braided pigtails under a black trucker’s hat and a red tank that reads “Changing lives one beat at a time” in black, glittering letters. ¶ “If you’re new to U-Jam, raise your hand nice and high!” I put up my hand with about six others, and all the veterans applaud us. ¶ Outside, the dreary weather puts no damper on these spirited U-Jammers, clearly ready to work up a sweat while hustling through routines that combine dance moves from around the world—hip hop, Bollywood, Latin and more. In the back of the room, Suzy’s husband and U-Jam co-founder Matt Marks, aka D.J. Makaio, manages the music for the session’s globally inspired gyrations. ¶ After the instructor’s welcome, the pace quickly picks up, and we’re off at a fast clip, collectively stepping offering encouragement and giving me high fives. » TEP IT 66 South Bay Accent TK TK TK TK TK TK TK TK TK TK TK TK mass of high energy, with exercisers clad in workout S back and forth and across, raising our arms, moving our hips and occasionally clapping our hands. I’m in the back, and it’s a good thing because I’d only be in the way of my nimblefooted classmates. Within minutes, however, I’m working up a sweat. I recognize some of the dance moves from Jazzercise, like chasse and grapevine, but not being the most coordinated person, I stumble through most of the hour. Despite my clumsiness, however, veteran students come by between routines


South Bay Accent - Feb/Mar 2015
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