On May 11, 2024, The IMAGE Center hosted our very first in-person Wellness Series: “Dance from the Heart: Adaptive Zumba.”
Instructor Sunshine King, with her infectious energy and dazzling smile, took center stage. With a quick introduction, she kicked off the session, and the room erupted into motion.
How did Zumba get its start?
Zumba was created by choreographer and fitness instructor Alberto “Beto” Perez in the mid-1990s. According to the Zumba website, it was the result of a “happy accident” – Beto was on his way to teach an aerobics class and realized he’d forgotten his music.
Sunshine led with enthusiasm, seamlessly transitioning between routines, keeping everyone on their toes. Her passion for Zumba was evident in every step, inspiring participants to push past their limits and unleash their inner dancers.
More about the instructor, Sunshine King
Ms. Sunshine’s life was turned upside down on November 6, 2004, when she was attacked by her husband who shot her four times. One bullet entered her right jaw and exited from the back of her neck. The other bullet entered her spine. She is now a survivor of domestic violence with a spinal cord injury. She later became a Hurricane Katrina survivor in 2005. As time went by, she gained more strength mentally, physically, and spiritually, allowing her to keep her spirits up. With great determination, she became an entrepreneur of Sunshine Project H.E.L.P (Healing. Educating. Loving. People), WheelPower Dance and Fitness, and Sunshine Models on Wheels. She is an advocate, certified Christopher Reeve Peer Mentor, motivational speaker, professional dancer, professional model, entertainment coach, and wellness practitioner licensed and certified in massage therapy, reflexology, iridology, 3rd-degree Reiki practitioner, Qi Gong instructor, EFT/TFT Tapping practitioner, Zumba, and Zumba Gold instructor.
Ms. Sunshine King’s mission is “Creating Wellness by Healing Through the Arts.” Her mission allows her to meet and support wonderful people during this journey of her life. You can reach out to her for more about her company and other classes she teaches at wheelpowerdanceandfitness@gmail.com.
As fun as this class was, we are looking forward to having Sunshine back sometime in the future.