Identity Danced Out: Zumba as a Means of Self-Expression

Abstract

This study investigates the cultural phenomenon of Zumba and its relation to self-identity. Zumba, a dance-inspired aerobic workout, is a popular exercise activity that has attracted many people and encourages regular attendance. Research questions asked why people with varying degrees of dance experience wanted to engage in this exercise and if being connected with Zumba affected an individual’s sense of self. Participant observations were made of the classes and interview subjects were specifically sought to answer the proposed research questions. Subsequent interviews were conducted amongst regular Zumba participants and through inductive analysis common themes and patterns were drawn from the interviews. The Communication Theory of Identity was used to explicate participants’ desire to attend Zumba and more specifically how participants’ identities were affected and transformed by the activity. The theory suggests that one develops identity through four frames: personal, enactment, relational, and communal.