about tanya

DANCE BACKGROUND I was born with a passion for dance. My lolas taught me the Tinikling, a Filipino folkdance, when I was three. My first ten years of training were in ballet, modern, jazz and piano; performing in productions and recitals. Growing up in the diversity of DC, I was drawn to the rhythm of latin, hip hop, r&b, gogo and reggae music. I joined the school dance team; PACAS (Philippine American Cultural Arts Society), and varsity cheerleaders in highschool (YHS!). Then came college and career, and dancing was pushed from practice and performances to partying at the clubs and then step class all throughout the 90s. After a decade of juggling work and kids, I needed something more motivating than the treadmill and Denise Austin.

HOW I FOUND ZUMBA: A year after my youngest was born, I decided it was time I do something about my extra mama pounds. I checked out my old Bally’s gym, and found DC Master Trainer Asuka’s Zumba class. I felt like a door had just opened, and I found what I had been missing all these years. I became so hooked on Zumba I went to classes all over the city, played the DVD workouts everynight after I put the kids to bed and became involved in every Zumba event I could find. I became certified in June 2006 and made it my long-term goal to incorporate Zumba into my life professionally and personally. Because Zumba is so fun, I made it my priority to work out several days a week and lost all nearly all my “mama pounds” —32 lbs. and counting!

WHEN I'M NOT DANCING: I'm raising three kids, kayaking and kickboxing with the husband (practicing of course!), art directing magazines full time, painting, going to Yoga and Pilates class and any other dance workshops that come to town.