After pulling off a successful Zumbathon –– a Zumba fitness and dance party for charity — in Bengaluru, it was dance instructor Sanjeev Khiara’s dream to host the event in Mumbai too. So he got three other teachers, Sucheta Pal, Tabitha Thomas and Hana Meshram, to help him organise the event. “As a concept, zumba has been around for a while now. So it was time that Mumbai had its very own Zumbathon, which is actually a property of Zumba Fitness LLC.,” says Khiara.

The event will be a fundraiser for two NGOs, Sneha, which caters to women’s health and well-being, and Aarambh, which works for marginalised families living in
urban slum communities and rural areas.

The organisers will associate themselves with one particular project each from those the charity groups are involved in. For Aarambh, the Zumbathon will help generate funds to further the Mid-Day Meals program which benefits children. And for Sneha, the funds will go to the project Break The Silence Against Violence.
“We have held workshops for the children associated with these NGOs or done flash mobs to help spread awareness about their cause. So, it was only natural for us to go back to them for this event,” says Thomas.