Dance fundraiser needs 1,224 people to beat Texas
The record, currently held by Brownsville, Texas, is 1,223. The record was initially broken by USC in partnership with Palmetto Health on Feb. 19 with a total of 1,145 participants. Shortly after the Gamecocks' record-breaking performance, Brownsville then took them down on April 30, and still hold the record today.
The event is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Aug. 27 in the parking lot at Columbiana Station in front of the Regal Cinemas Columbiana Grande Stadium 14 on Bower Parkway.
"In order to break the record we need 1,224 people," said Cassandra McCarty, co-owner of Studio Z Columbia. "Getting the USC kids out to participate is really important [to breaking the record]."
Zumbathon is sponsored by Le Bleu bottled water, KWE Group, Bi-Lo and Dick's Sporting Goods. According to a press release sent by McCarty, "sponsors will provide swag and free water for participants," who are encouraged to "save the earth" by bringing their own water battles to the event.
Along with trying to recapture the world record, Studio Z Columbia and Bubble Tea Café are trying to raise as much money as possible for Palmetto Animal Assistance Life Services and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Participation in the Zumbathon is free, and the organizers are asking that in lieu of a registration fee participants donate to one of the two organizations.
"The goal of the event is not only to set the new world record and bring the title back, but to introduce Zumba fitness to newcomers and to support PAALS and JDRF," said Eddie Sharon, co-owner of Studio Z Columbia, in a press release. "We want everyone to come out to heat up with Studio Z Columbia and other instructors from Zumba Fitness and cool down with Bubble Tea Café."
Participants must register in advance at www.studiozcolumbia.com or beginning 8 a.m. the day of the event. A warm-up and a Zumba demonstration will begin at 8:30 a.m. At 9 a.m. official timekeepers will blow the whistle signaling the start of the event. Everyone must Zumba for 30 minutes, and anyone who fails to meet the time requirement will be disqualified from the official tally.
The organizers ask that participants park in areas around the lot at Columbiana Station in order to keep the space free of cars.
"We're hoping that USC kids will come out along with families in the community," McCarty said. "I called all the [Zumba] instructors who I could think of to bring their classes. Let's get this record back in South Carolina where it belongs."