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

Hi Loretta, how does your business help the community?
It has been proven that there are positive endorphins released in your body when you dance, but when you dance in unison with other people around you, those benefits are actually multiplied! According to a recent study by UC Berkley’s Greater Good Science Center the combination of chemicals released when you dance are good for your brain! Daybreaker CEO and co-founder Radha Agrawal coined the acronym DOSE to help remember them (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins) and stated dancing “uniquely benefits health and happiness.” Doing it as a part of a community, as in a ZUMBA class, only multiplies these benefits!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a naturally an introvert, so never imagined that I would travel the world teaching fitness, speak to thousands, and become an inspiration to so many, and it all started with a class.

As a young mother still hanging onto baby weight, I knew I needed to workout, but just wasn’t feeling it. I had to drag myself to the gym, and let’s be honest, it was a chore! Any reason for not going was good enough for me!

Until I came in one day and saw a poster on the wall that said “ZUMBA-JOIN THE PARTY” Now, this was 2007, so I didn’t know what Zumba was, but I knew a party sounded a whole lot better than what I was doing! So, I gathered my nerve and went to the class.

I was blown away!

For the first time in my life I actually ENJOYED working out! The hour flew by, and when it was over, I wanted more! Fast forward a few months, and the instructor approached me after class one day (on the back row of course) and suggested, “you should become an instructor”. Here we are, over 15 years later, and I still get the same feeling as the first day in a Zumba class, but there has been one major change: Me. I am more confident, more outgoing, more social, less worried about what others think about me and more worried about how I can share this amazing feeling with others.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Itinerary for a week spent with me!

Of course we would have to hit the beach so our first trip would be to South Beach for Breakfast at one of the iconic hotels lining Ocean Drive. Then for lunch we would head over to Lincoln Road Mall and do some people watching while we have lunch. Our second beach trip would be to Hollywood Beach with some biking on the Boardwalk.

Of course we would definitely head to my own Zumba Class on Tuesday at Dancer’s Gallery in Cooper City, and Wednesday night we would hit up Havana 1952 in Pembroke Pines for some great Cuban food and live music and dancing.

On Saturday Morning we would head down to City Zero and take a class with the creator of Zumba, Beto Perez and stroll down Calle Ocho and learn about the Cuba’s unique history in the building of modern day Miami. Of course, this would include a stop at the Ball and Chain for drinks!

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?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to Beto Perez, the creator and co-founder of Zumba® Fitness for believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.

Website: www.lorettabates.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorettabates/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loretta-bates/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLorettaBates

Youtube: www.youtube.com/lorettabates

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lorettabates

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.