Residents at a retirement village shake their stuff at Zumba classes

The popular dance craze, Zumba, which has taken the world by storm, has now found new converts in the shape of residents of a Cornish retirement village.

Residents at , in Tregony, near Truro are keeping fit to high energy Latin music, although the regular classes do feature a mix of old school Frank Sinatra and Nina Simone alongside tunes from some of today’s most popular acts, including Black Eyed Peas rapper Will.i.am. The classes have become not just a way for residents to keep fit but an entire ‘sensory experience’ where music is used to invoke memories.

Instructor of the movement to music classes at Roseland Parc, Clare Lawrence, a Zumba instructor, said: “It’s less about focusing on one particular routine and more about simply encouraging people to get moving. I try to make the classes a very rounded experience. The music is chosen to jog memories and sometimes I’ll add in a tango move or a little cha-cha shimmy which many residents are familiar with.”

As well as holding classes in the village’s function room, Clare also visits Roseland Nursing home on the same site and the dementia suite, Penlee.

“I’ve been a dancer all my life and I know how powerful music can be,” said Ms Lawrence. “Just seeing the smiles on residents faces as they recognise a piece of music and recall what it meant to them is wonderful.”

While some residents are able to carry out relatively complicated movements, even those with limited mobility are encouraged to take part in the classes.

“The benefit of the classes is that everyone can do as much or as little as they can manage. Anything that gets the blood pumping and generates a smile is a good thing,” she added.