‘Shaking it’ to help shaken

• What: Zumba party benefiting Haiti relief efforts.

• When: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26.

• Where: Luepke Senior Center, 1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd., Vancouver.

• • •

• What: Masala Bhangra party benefiting Haiti relief efforts. Masala Bhangra is an exercise dance program combining bhangra, a folk dance from the northern Indian state of Punjab, with Bollywood moves. Masala means “spicy” in Hindi.

• When: 8 to 9 a.m. Saturday, March 6.

• Where: Evergreen Dance Academy, 2100 S.E. 164th Ave., Suite C-102, Vancouver.

• • •

• Cost for each event: $5 minimum donation. All proceeds go to Catholic Relief Service’s efforts in Haiti. Pay at the door. No advance registration.

• Information about both events: 503-703-7187, http://www.zumbanize.com.

Dance-fitness parties will raise money for Haitian quake victims

Rachelle Wish had a visceral reaction watching news coverage of earthquake-ravaged Haiti. Now she’s doing what she can from afar to help the country she loves.

The Vancouver fitness instructor spent time in the Caribbean nation growing up and still has family there. She’s been to some of the now-destroyed churches pictured on news broadcasts, and knows people who lost children and friends when an earthquake hit Port-au-Prince on Jan. 12, killing an estimated 230,000.

“That whole week I was sick to my stomach. I couldn’t believe it,” Wish said of the days following the natural disaster. “It was just horrible. I couldn’t sleep.”

Wish’s aunt and uncle who live in Haiti were unharmed, but shared haunting stories. Her uncle was staying in his car when she spoke with him because he was afraid to go back into his house while the aftershocks continued.

“He was telling me that what you see on TV, it’s even worse what’s really happening there,” she said.

Wish, a 48-year-old mother of three, can’t go to Haiti to help with the relief efforts, so she’s putting her passion for fitness and dance to work here.

On Feb. 26, Wish will host a two-hour Zumba event benefitting Catholic Relief Service’s efforts in Haiti.

“It’s going to take a long time for Haiti to get back on its feet,” Wish said. “I love to dance. The Haitian people love to dance. So I can be dancing for my country and making money for them at the same time.”

Wish was born in New York, but she lived in Haiti from ages 3 months to 3 years. She spent summers there with her grandmother and cousins while growing up. Both Wish’s parents were born in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti.

World movements

Zumba marries her interests in dance, fitness and cultural diversity. It’s a Latin dance-inspired workout that draws on movements from throughout the world, with classes set to African, calypso, Latin American and other music. Her class is geared toward people ages 10 and older of all skill levels.

For this weekend’s benefit, Wish will include a routine to a song by Haitian-American musician Wyclef Jean. The event also will include a performance by kids in her Zumbatomic class, a program for youngsters.

People needn’t be intimidated about trying Zumba, Wish said. The moves are fairly simple and the routines repetitive.

But don’t mistake simple for easy. People can burn up to 700 calories an hour in a Zumba class, depending on how much they move around, Wish said.

“You’re shaking it the entire time,” she noted.

Wish has been a Zumba instructor for two years, though she’s taught fitness classes for 11 years. Owner of Zumbanize, she currently teaches Zumba at Marshall Community Center, Evergreen Dance Academy and the Columbia Tech Center 24 Hour Fitness in Vancouver.

“I’ve loved to dance from the time I could walk,” Wish said of her career path. “I listened to (the music used in Zumba classes) growing up.” Wish offers special Zumba events at Luepke Senior Center every other month. After the earthquake, she decided to make the February one a benefit. But even though the cause is serious, people can expect to have fun.

“You can just have a good time when you’re dancing,” she said. It’s like a party.”

Mary Ann Albright: maryann.albright@columbian.com, 360-735-4507.