It’s been such a lovely month - classes have been absolutely flourishing, and it’s been wonderful to see our new dancers settling in so well. You’ve all been as welcoming and supportive as ever, which makes such a difference 💛
I’m still booking in new people almost every week, which is amazing to see! I know quite a few of you are away at the moment, but I have a feeling that once holidays are over, booking early will become essential if you’d like to secure your space in class.
Just a little reminder - you can cancel your booking for a class credit, as long as it’s done before the class starts. I do kindly ask, though, that you give as much notice as possible now that classes are getting fuller. That way, if you can’t make it, someone else has the chance to take your spot.
I hope you’re all enjoying the sunshine and feeling that extra spring in your step!
Here’s everything happening this May…
Dates for Your Diary
Annoyingly, Mondays are getting the brunt of the closures once again… darn Bank Holidays!
Monday 4th May – No classes (Bank Holiday)
Monday 25th May – No classes (Bank Holiday)
I’ve also been summoned to attend our company’s Graduation event on Friday 15th May (well… I do kind of run it! 😅), but the good news is…
Sarah will be there to cover the class for you! 💃
So everything still runs as normal that day - you’re in safe hands!
Just make sure you have paid in advance as there are no payments on the door!
💃 New Choreography & Golden Oldies We’ve got some great routines in the mix at the moment - thank you for embracing them all so brilliantly!
Our newest addition is Get Ready by Pitbull and Blake Shelton - a bit of a last-minute slide from April into May! Thank you for your patience with this one… it’s been a slightly slower rollout this month while I’ve been busy with the marathon and giving my body a bit of recovery time.
I’ll be sharing a video of this routine below so you can have a little practice (or just enjoy it!) at home too.
We’ve also been reviving Lamento Boliviano, which has been going down really well, especially on Mondays, where it's a NEW routine as I don’t think I have ever taught it before on a Monday. I have a video of this one now too - it has not been recorded for my Youtube channel before either!
And of course, we’ve been revisiting some absolute favourites - because we all love a throwback! Zumba Fuego has made a welcome return, and I’ll be adding another classic into the Wednesday classes next month as well to keep things fresh, fun, and familiar all at once. And if you come on Monday - this will be ANOTHER new one for you!!
As always, it’s about enjoying the music, moving your body, and having a good time - whether it’s brand new or a golden oldie 💛
Coming Soon: “Learn with Steph”
This is a big one… and something I’m really excited about!
Over Easter, I spent time recording loads of training videos specifically to support our newer dancers (and anyone who just wants a little extra practice and confidence boost at home). I’m currently building out a brand new section on the website where they’ll all live - and I’ll be sharing it with you very soon… how exciting!! 💛
Learn with Steph will be your go-to space to:
Learn the basic steps and see them broken down slowly
Pause, replay, and go at your own pace
Build confidence with steps and transitions
Feel more comfortable coming into class
And of course… just enjoy a bit of Zumba whenever you fancy it!
I can’t wait to share this with you - watch this space… it’s coming soon! 💃
Book & Jigsaw Exchange
It’s grown… and I love it! We now have a Book and Jigsaw Exchange at Great Baddow 💛
Don’t forget our little community sharing corner - if you’ve got books or jigsaws you’ve finished with, bring them along and swap them for something new.
It’s such a simple idea, but a really lovely way to share, chat, and connect with each other outside of the dancing too.
ParkWalk & Helen’s Parkrun Achievement
Our ParkWalks continue to be such a lovely part of what we do — fresh air, chats, and moving at your own pace 💛
Our last ParkWalk was on 18th April, and although there were just a few of us (with lots of people away), it made for a really gentle, relaxed walk and talk around Maldon Prom. The weather was beautiful, and it was one of those simple, feel-good mornings that reminds you how important these little moments are.
And now for something really special…
Last week I met up with Helen from the Monday 11am class — who has quietly been working her way through Couch to 5K. We met to run Parkrun together for the very first time… and what a moment that was!
Helen had never run before joining us, and was inspired to start through walking at ParkWalk — and there we were, completing our first Parkrun together in just over 38 minutes!
Honestly, so inspiring. Helen, you should be incredibly proud — what an amazing achievement. Well done!! 💛
Marathon Update, Fundraising & What’s Next
I’m still taking it all in… completing the Brighton Marathon was such a huge moment for me. Especially after being so unwell on the lead up - I'm really proud of myself!
Thank you all so much for your incredible support, encouragement and messages - it meant more than I can say. Having you all behind me made such a difference every step of the way 💛
Together, we’ve raised an amazing total of: £1240. Absolutely incredible - thank you for being part of that.
And…
On 17th May, I’ll be running again - this time taking part in the Baddow Races 10-mile event, starting from our very own Millennium Hall in Great Baddow.
If you’re around, it would be so lovely to see some familiar faces as I come across the finish line. One of the rare occasions you’ll see me properly sweaty and an absolute red-faced mess - a very different look from Zumba class!! 😅
Your support genuinely keeps me going, so if you fancy a cheer squad moment, I’d love to see you there!
There's lot going on during there during the day to keep you busy - race starts at 10 and I am hoping to be back in around the 1:28 - 1.32 bracket.
Zumba Socials – Next Event!
Our Zumba Socials are such a lovely way to spend time together outside of class — and here’s the next one coming up… 💛
The next Witham Operatic show is: Great British Bake Off – The Musical!
Those of you who’ve been before will know just how brilliant WAOS shows are — the tickets are affordable, the bar is cheap, and the entertainment value is always so high!
I’ll be backstage on props all week for this one (it’s a very props-heavy show!), but I will be watching one performance: 👉 Saturday matinee, 31st October
I’ve already reserved a block of seats and would love for you to join me! We can even make a proper day of it with a nice lunch beforehand at Valero Lounge - how lovely does that sound?
If you’d like to come along, just let me know how many seats you’d like me to reserve for you, and I’ll be in touch with full details and pricing in due course.
It’s going to be such a fun day - I’d love to share it with you! 💃
Google Review Reminder
Google reviews really do make a huge difference when people are searching for classes online. My classes are all 5-star rated (thank you so much! 💛), but it’s recent reviews that really help keep that visibility going.
So, if you have a Google account - or are happy to create one (you can use your existing email address and it’s completely free) - I’d be incredibly grateful if you could take a couple of minutes to leave a review.
You can leave a review for either Great Baddow or Heybridge using the links below:
Thank you so much for your continued support — it really does help the classes grow and reach more lovely people like you 💃
And Finally.....
As always, thank you for being such a special part of this community. Whether you come every week, join us when you can, dance at the back, the front, or somewhere in between - you all bring something unique, and it truly wouldn’t be the same without you 💛
I never take for granted the support, kindness, laughter, and energy you bring into the room. It’s what makes Zumba so much more than just a class.
