Zumba class raises money for local kids learning to dance

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Hundreds of people Zumba-ed in Chase Palm Park Saturday morning. They came to help raise money for a local dance institute aimed at helping kids.

Josette Tkacik led the large Zumba class overlooking East Beach. At the beach class, Zumba leaders asked for donations to help support the Santa Barbara Dance Institute or SBDI.

SBDI organizers said the institute was founded in the belief that the arts have a unique ability to drive children toward excellence.

The program puts this into practice by using dance as a vehicle to build children's self-confidence, standard of excellence and to develop their responsibility to themselves and others.

Before the class, SBDI students showed off some of their best dances moves to get everyone ready for Zumba.