Meet Andrea Leon | Zumba Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Leon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from Caracas, Venezuela. Since I was a little girl I had the luck to have my mother teach me how to dance. I grew up in an environment where grandma, grandpa, aunt, dad mom sisters, everyone loves to sing and to dance. It runs through my vains. Also, thanks to my parents, when I was younger I had the privilege, to take ballet classes. Then, when I got older, I also complimented my dancing lessons with Flamenco classes. I never have done it as a Professional Dancer. I just simply love music and this ALL definitely has impacted my life. I remember always wanting to be on stage, I used to dance on stage choreos for SHAKIRA FEY – AZUCAR AMARGO. Also, I remember learning so many songs, and rhythms easily. It really does come as First nature. Learning lyrics to a song it’s really easy for me. I Thank God for that. I can learn the beat of a song really quick. I think that’s thanks to my dad too. My dad also loves music and plays the guitar and sometimes tambores. My dad is also really good with music. He loves to sing.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
What sets me apart, it’s my passion, and love, and how I do things. Definitely, My talent. I am a versatile dancer. I can dance from Venezuelan Tambores, Arabic songs, Flamenco, Cumbia, Bachata, Samba, Cha Cha, Reggaeton, Tropical, Salsa, Merengue, Old songs in English, Old songs in Spanish, Chayanne for example, House, Socca, Caribbean. Anything really, I simply love with a passion to dance.

Also, I make sure my students burn calories when coming to my class. I will make them sweat and put in the work. For me this is so important. I remember going to some classes sometimes, and when I walked out I was completely dry. No sweat. That is not a good feeling. A good feeling is when you walked out soaked in wet after working out. You feel so accomplished that you did what you came for.

And don’t worry I don’t stop in my classes. I make sure I sweat with you. I don’t like to miss any part of it. I’m always there working out with you.

How did I get to where I am today ? I don’t give up. Once I know this is what I want I hang tight on to it and never let go. I spent hours the last two years and half in the gym. Weekends, nights after work during the week Practicing learning choreos and creating choreos.

This all began, when I got diagnosed with high cholesterol. I had to make a change quick. I started doing Spinning, then got to know ZUMBA. When I learned about ZUMBA I just fell in love. I’m addicted to it now. I can’t live without it. It’s the best form to work out. It’s so much fun, so much that I never want my class to finish.

Was it easy? No, not at all. I remember when I started, it was so overwhelming. The whole process was complex. It really tests you to see if you really want it. And oh I wanted it, all I wanted to do was to pick up and run. Sometimes, I forget the baby steps. I wanted to eat the elephant all at once. I wanted to teach so many classes learn all the Choreos there are. But I was anble to push through I don’t know how, I guess all I had to do was begin annd I did just that. I started learning choreos little by little. Until this day I have been learning and keep learning new Choreos every week. I know now 300 plus choreos at the moment and I can’t wait to learn many more.

Also, There has been up and downs. Doubts I had to overcome. Sometimes I have stopped dancing completely then I remember how much I love what I do. And I go back to it. I just simply can’t live without it.

This is always a part in my career path that has being very challenging. I had to overcome people’s critics and understand that sometimes people don’t like to see others succeed.

The discipline piece has being key too. I also had to overcome me. When I was tired and didn’t want to make it to the gym, I had to simply just get up and get in the car and start driving. With any type of weather, simply, discipline. Lots of it. Rain or shine. I do what I love with or without. I don’t stop until I finish. I am fully Committed to this and I love so much what I do. If I say today I’m practicing 50 songs I just don’t go home until I finish all the songs I need to practice per day. I don’t go home until I have reached my goal.

Lessons? Many. I know for example I won’t teach on a Sunday ever again. I work so hard during the week. I need to be able to have a life work balance. I need to have that ME time. I need to be able to have breakfast with my dad, my mom, my sisters, my family. I need to be able to say today I’m going to the beach.

I train every day. In very rare occasions, I don’t. I don’t like to put excuses. I never not train but if I don’t , then I definitely make sure to make up what I didn’t do the day before. Also, I love that I control and dictate whether or not I’m going to train Sundays. I just love having my Sundays back.

Also, you need to be able to maintain a student / teacher relationship only. I definitely can’t mix that ever again. It doesn’t go well.

I also started learning which songs are best for my class, which songs can be used as group songs, and that I should use happy upbeat songs for the clases. Also, how to do my hair while teaching class. That I should take care of my body, since I work out so much I need to at least do one sports massage monthly. What moves could go better so people can still work out with a doable Step in class.

Also, I learned that ZUMBA helps you with so many things metabolism, Alzheimer’s, mental health, memory, keeps you in shape, gives you confidence in your body and confidente in general, and stress relief. I learned how to move better and I get better and better each time. You can come into a class with one mood and leave class in a total different mood. Happiness overload. It gives you so much energy that after a clsss you go home you probably would want to remodel your whole house lol.

I love what I do. I can dance for hours. I really can’t wait to meet all of you and dance with all of you….. lastly all I can say it has definitely being a lot of work I had put in and now it’s time to put it all to use.

All so worth it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Marco Island. I love that beach. It’s my peaceful place. A whole week there.

Drink – Malibu con pina

That’s it

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Definitely, my mom dad without them nothing. Also, God, without him nothing. I have to thank my friend Javier and my friend Joe. They both have been huge support in my life. And of course all my Zumba students who come to class. I have to say, Marcia for opening the doors to me when I was just a beginner.

Also, I need to mention my instructors who inspired me to do this. I used to be in the back of the room in their classes. Then, I started slowly getting closer and clóset until I Made it to the front.

Thank you, really to Cecilia, Celia, Noelle, and El Gino. All of them have been inspiration to me. Even in this very competitive environment I am in. I have to admit they simply have inspire me to do what I do today.

Also Loretta, who luckily was my teacher when I first got my ZUMBA License. This was a once in a lifetime experience.

I have been extremely lucky to have had these moments and lessons.

Instagram: Instagram.,com/andrearevolution

Image Credits
@luancho Instagram
Javier Herrera