Meet Our Team

For more info about your instructors please click on their picture 

CARLOS HENRIQUEZ

Born and raised in the Dominican Republic. In 2007 I moved to Canada to start a life with my new family and my baby daughter Mya. At the age of 15, I started dancing and very quickly my passion for dance grew, loving and enjoying every step, and every move that I was able to do. 

My dedication to dance and fitness made me a natural fit for Zumba® so one year after being in Canada I became a licensed Zumba® Instructor. I am currently a Zumba® Jammer (independent Zumba Fitness Choreographer). Zumba fitness has changed my life and has given me the opportunity to share with others my passion and love for dance, music, and fitness. I love to encourage class participants to shake it and I find it very rewarding to see people smile!

During my professional career as a Zumba® Instructor and dancer in the National Ballet and folklore of Dominicana Republic, I’ve had the pleasure to work with International artists such as Celia Cruz, Juan Luis Guerra, Shakira, Pitbull, Daddy Yankee, Mark Anthony, Luis Fonsi, Thalia, Paulina Rubio, Mara, Vanilla Ice, Lil Jon, as well with the wonderful Canadian & US ZES teams including Beto Perez, Jani Robert, Tanya Beardsley, Gina Grant, Tony and Jessica Witt, Maria Browning and others. I also appeared in the ZIN live 42, Zumba® Toning Volume with Jani Robert and the “one-on-one” choreo in the ZIN 44.

stephanie dean

In August 2007 as I was flipping through pictures I couldn’t believe what I saw. My weight had somehow got away from me and I barely recognized myself. I decided that day that I needed to make a change. I went home and weighed myself and I was over 200 pounds. Desperation took over and I decided I needed to drop the weight fast so I spent the next year charging get slim fast diets to my credit card. Before I knew it, it was a year later and my credit card bill had grown as much as my waistline! My weight had not changed so it was time to try something else.

In 2008 I was living in Guelph and joined the local YMCA. My first day at the gym I noticed that they had Zumba Classes, I didn't know what a Zumba class was but I convinced my mom to come try it with me and I fell in love instantly! I began attending every class I could and with the proper diet, the weight started shaking off! I finally found something that REALLY worked and that was fun at the same time.

By 2012 I was taking lots of Zumba classes with my instructor Carlos, who also had his own classes outside of the gym. In the same year, Carlos was selected to participate in the Fitness Concert at the Zumba Fitness Convention but this meant that he would have to leave Guelph for a Month for training. A MONTH WITH NO ZUMBA CLASS NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

But wait, Carlos had an idea, I had attended all his classes and was starting to memorize his routines, what if I became an instructor and covered for him while he was gone! WHAT ME………TEACH………… NO WAY…… OK, I will do it! In April 2012 I was finally licensed to teach the class that I loved doing so much. I went from being the quiet shy girl in class to the energetic outgoing one at the front of the room. I saw this as my chance to help other people who have struggled like I have to reach a healthy weight. Zumba® has changed my life for the better and I will be eternally grateful to the people who gave me a chance to prove myself as an instructor. Now I look for every opportunity I can to do what I LOVE TO DO….ZUMBA®

Jenny orellana giron

Born to Central American parents, dancing has been part of my life since I was born. Growing up, my parents couldn’t afford professional dance classes so I went to community centre classes and around the age of 13, I found out about Zumba. I attended classes here and there but then I started to grow up and life got busy. Fast forward to the end of university, and I wanted to start my fitness journey. I attended a local Zumba studio and I went 3x a week for a year and I fell in love. I later had to leave the studio and attend a gym due to my changed work schedule, but I still attended Zumba. I attended one instructors class regularly and one day, I thought “hmm it would be fun to be an instructor... but I could never do it”. The next week, after class, that instructor came up to me and asked if I ever thought about being an instructor! My life motto is “everything happens for a reason” so I took this as a big sign from the universe. I still waited around a month to fully decide if I wanted to did to this and I finally did in 2018. Funny thing, Carlos was actually at my training but I would not realize this until I met him in 2019! (Cue the life motto). 

I am a very introverted and shy person but Zumba helps me come out of my shell and I become a different person when I teach! I hope I can bring out that same feeling for those that I teach! I’m so glad that Zumba is a part of my life and brings a smile to my face, even on the rough days.

our TEAM MEMBERS

Our support team THANK YOU for sharing your love and passion!!!

Chloe

Jess

Carolynn

Deanna

Rocio

Thea