UOIT’s ACE stages world’s first Climatic Zumba class

They came to dance up a storm. And by the time it was over they had actually danced in a storm, in what is believed to the world’s first Climatic Zumba class.

The date: May 30, 2015. The scene: the ACE Climatic Wind Tunnel (CWT) at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. Running shoes? Check. Toques, gloves, sunblock and rain gear? Check.

Over two physically demanding hours, more than 100 hearty souls danced in the CWT, braving the cold, heat, wind, rain and snow. The Zumbaists battled a buffet of extreme weather conditions in support of the charity Nova’s Ark, which provides social and communication opportunities for people of all ages and abilities in Durham Region through interactions with gentle, therapy animals.

ACE’s CWT delivered all the elements, starting with a frigid snowstorm, shifting to tropical heat and ending with a high humidity rainstorm. The fun-filled class was hosted by talented Zumba instructors Jennifer Shand and Sandy Boucher and brought to life through the booming music of DJ Tony Sutherland.

“ACE is a place of firsts, where engineers and researchers come to test the extreme weather capabilities of brand new products,” said Don Toporowski, ACE General Manager. “It is fitting for ACE to establish another new first in such a fun and charitable way. We were blown away with the energetic response and the endurance of the Zumba participants. They withstood everything the wind tunnel threw at them and in the process they raised over $2,000 for Nova’s Ark.”

ACE congratulates everyone who participated in this memorable philanthropic event and cannot wait for another charitable opportunity to bring the arctic, desert and tropics to the community.

• Watch how participants dance up a storm in ACE's climatic wind tunnel (Youtube)

Have an idea for a charitable event in the ACE climatic wind tunnel? Let’s talk!

ACE media contact:

Colin Howard
Business and Marketing
ACE | University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT)
289.688.0930
colin.howard@uoit.ca

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