Michele Winters Observation One Commented Draft

0bseivation Assignment
Site Location: Stuuent Activity Centei Winteis

1

Michele Winters
Assignment One
5 February 2014
Observation One
Monday, January 27, 2014
Time: 5:30PM-6: 30PM

Description of the Location: Zumba is a dance-exercise program held every Monday
and Thursday from 5:30pm-6: 30pm, held in the Student Activity Center at the University
of North Carolina at Charlotte. The Student Activity Center is a large fitness center is
built to attract the Students and Professors at the University to come and work out
without the hassle of leaving campus. After showing your id card, you enter the Aerobic
Fitness room. In this room there are mirrors for people to watch themselves and nice
upbeat Latino music playing in the background. There is no specific seating arrangement,
people just come in, find a stop, and get ready to dance. The doors are closed for no
distractions and then the party begins.

Figured World: A figured world is large social communities that are enacted through
artifacts, help the actors transform overtime, and consist of appropriate terms.

The figured world that I will be observing is from a fitness classes called Zumba. This
figured world takes all over the world, but I will observe on campus in the Student
Activity Center where college student go to blow off some steam and get their bodies in
shape for Spring Break. In this figured world, students come to get in shape without
feeling that they are working out because most of their time spent is focused on dancing,
and making exercising fun instead of dreadful. In this figure world there are certain rules
that college students are to follow. The first rule is that you must come dress
appropriately; meaning that your shirt should not be off or you should not come to work
out in your sports bra. The second rule is that you must come with appropriate shoes,
meaning that you should not have on flip-flops or Toms on while taking this class. The
third rule is appropriate behavior. When one attends this class they should come with a
positive attitude, meaning that they should come to interact with people in class as well as
an attitude that is willing to do the work. Inappropriate behavior consist of wearing the
wrong thing, not coming prepared for the class, and have a negative attitude or vibe that
would make others uncomfortable. Communication is also used in this figured world. For
instance, if one were to take this class, they would use their mouths to give positive
feedback and to motivate other. Communication is also important because if someone
gets hurt or sick in this figured world, it is also important to notify the instructor
immediately. Zumba is a type of exercise that creates a party like atmosphere, so it does
not really feel like one is exercising; instead it feels like you are just dancing. For
instance, the classes consist of salsa, cumbia, merengue, reggae tone, and many more.
The mission of this figured world is to make exercising fun; to attract all people and
culture to a big fitness party.

Michele Winters 2/6/14 10:08 AM
Comment [1]: Auu moie uetails about the
Stuuent Activity Centei. People neeu to be
able to pictuie the scene.
Comment [2]: Put takes place ovei the
woilu. Wheie uoes it take place in the
woilu.
Comment [3]: When stating the iules, put
why foi all of them anu explain why it is a
iule.

2
Actors: An actor is explained as a human that is a part of a figured world that benefits
the figured community.

! Instructor Tamera: Tamera is student at the University of North Carolina at
Charlotte who teaches Zumba on Mondays and Fridays. She instructs the class every
week and also tries to get to know everyone in class and make them feel comfortable. She
also makes the routines and determines the pace of the class as well.
! Recreational Services: The Recreational Service are the people who made it possible
for Zumba to become a class in the first place, as well as provided the class with the room
and equipment to have the class.

Artifacts: These are any items, whether physical or emotional, that are culturally,
socially, religiously, physical, or emotional important.

! Mirror: The mirror serves an important service because it helps to the people in the
back of the class see the motions and the instructor. It also helps people fix themselves
when they are doing it wrong.
! The students: The students are an important artifact because without the students or
people there would not be a big dance party, there will only be music.
! Music: The music sets the tone and the beat of the class, as well as the movements
to be used.

Discourse Communities: These are groups of people who share a common interest.

! The fit people: The people in this group give it 100%. Fitness is their life, they eat
healthy and work out daily with intense workouts and see Zumba another way to get in
shape. They take every movement and routine seriously. They come here on a mission
and focus.
! The people who want to be fit without all the work: This group of people workout
frequently and see Zumba as another way to get in shape without putting in all the work.
! The Just for Fun people: The people in this group take the class simply because it
is something fun to do.

Literacy Practices: Literacy practices are ways that the discourse community
communicates.

! Mouth: Communication done by the mouth is used encourage each other in the class,
to let the instructor know that you are participating, and to let off some stress.
! Hands: The hands are used to left the instructor know that you are tired and that you
will catch up later.
! Legs: The legs are used to walk away and to get water and rest. This let the instructor
know that you need to rest your body

The Observation:

Comment [4]: Besciibe the chaiactei anu
hei peisonality .
Comment [5]: Inseit the people who
come to uance anu paiticipate in Zumba.
Comment [6]: Put the equipment that
they biing
Comment [7]: Noie uesciiptions about
the liteiacy piactices

S
5:30PM- The Instructor introduces herself to the class and tells everyone to sign in as
they come in. Nice Latino music is playing and everyone is talking to each other and
getting to know each other.
5:35PM- Tamera instructs everyone to start clapping. Everyone claps for 30 seconds and
then the clapping leads to a salsa. Tamera then gets everyone to clap and then Salsa. This
movement alternates for the whole two songs.
5:40PM- Tamera describes the last routine as the warm-up and asks if anyone is tired?
The class screams and says NO! The next song is a song by Daddy Yankee, called
Gasoline. The class steps to the right, steps to the left, steps forward, steps backwards,
shimmies to the front, shakes their booty and salsas all in one. This routine is done for the
whole song.
5:45PM- Tamera offers a water break for those who need it (a few people get some,
others stay jogging in place ready for the next routine). Another dance song comes one.
This time the back switches with the front. This gives everyone a chance to be up front
and to challenge him or her to keep up instead of giving up. So far everyone is keeping
up. The next routine consisted of a lot of moving. The students had to step in all
directions, then run back their spot and hold a squat for twenty seconds. This lasted for
half of the song. The rest of the song consisted of a salsa to squat pulses.
5:50PM- By this time, more people are getting tired and in the last routine some students
started to give up, but Tamera spoke motivational words to get some to push themselves.
She did this by asking students if they wanted that Spring Break body. The whole class
screamed YESSSSSS, without hesitation. More people are also getting more water;
others continue to jog in place.
5:55PM- the next routine is a circle one. The class got into a circle and shimmied, and
then they rotated and went in the opposite direction. Then the students will pause and
strike a pose. I could tell that the students were having fun and you could see some of
their personalities come out. It also brought some of the students out of their comfort
zone. They did this routine for the whole song.
6:00PM- everyone is comfortable with each other and the next routine consist of dancing
with a combination of a little jumping jacks and squats. Tamera yells to the class
WORK THAT BOOTY.
6:05PM- this consisted of Squat pulses and salsa dances. People are starting to get tired.
Some start to get water. The students are feeling the burn.
6:10PM- the music is slow, and the movements are too. Most of the students were tossing
their bodies around and balancing themselves.
6:15PM- the music is still slow and so are the movements. Tamera says that this is
working the muscles in the body
6:20PM- the class started to stretch to the music. Tamera calls this the cool down. After
stretching for five minutes the class is over
6:25PM- Stretching/Cool off is over
6:30PM- People pack up and leave. Some students go up and ask Tamera some questions.
Some students talked to their friends, discuss the class, or just left.

Observation Two
Monday, January 30, 2014
Comment [8]: Besciibe the music, was it
fast, slow, upbeat. Bo this so that people will
unueistanu why the music is so nice, how
uiu it make you feel.
Comment [9]: State the ieason why they
jog in place.
Comment [10]: Say in a ciicle
Comment [11]: Inseit the song anu state
that it was a new ioutine
Comment [12]: State how the class is still
stietching . What muscles aie they
stietching. Is eveiyone paiticipating.

4

The Observation:

they come in. There is music is playing by Pitbull and everyone is talking to each other
and getting to know each other.
5:35PM- Tamera instructs everyone to jog in place. She then instructs the class to step to
the side, jog in place, and then step in the side. After doing that for a couple of eight
counts, the class then started moving in circles and rolling their bodies.
The majority of the class says no, but there are some people who look tired already! The
next song is another Pitbull song. Its him and Christina Algelaria.The class starts to clap
and step. The class then moves into a salsa. When the chorus hits they run in place. This
action goes on for the whole song.
5:45PM- Tamera offers a water break for those who need it. At this moment a few people
get up and get some water but for the most part the other students dance in place. Another
dance song comes on. It is more upbeat. The students trade places by running and
shaking there bodies. This action takes place when the chorus comes on. For the rest of
the song the student crump and salsa.
5:50PM- the song is over and Tamera offers a water break once more. The next song is a
Reggae song. To this song, the students step forward and switch legs. While they are
doing this movement, they are tightening their abs and crunching forward. When the
chorus comes on the students run in place. This was a new routine, Tamera told the class.
She asked if they liked it and they said Yessssssss.
5:55PM- Here Tamera Asks the class are he or she comfortable, is everyone having a
good time. The class responds yes and Tamer goes into the next routine. The next routine
consists of the circle one. The class gets into a circle and shimmy in opposite directions.
When the chorus comes on, they strike a pose. Like the class before, the personalities
came out in the students and they looked like they were having a lot of fun.
6:00PM- Tamera instructs the class to clap. The class then goes into a salsa. When the
chorus comes on, the class then does high knees. This last for the rest of the class.
6:05PM- the song last for five minutes. Once the song is over Tamera offers the class
some water.
6:10PM- the next routine consists of squats. The class squats to the Song Im a be, by the
Black Eyed Peas. Tamera announces to the class that if they give it their all, they can
leave early. The students push each other to do well, and for the most part everyone gave
it theyre all in the routine. But there were a couple of students who gave up
6:15PM- Tamera gives the class a break and the class gets some water. She then
announces that the class is almost over and that they are going to do a cool off session
6:20PM- the class started to stretch to the music. After stretching for five minutes the
class is over. Tamera announces that since the class did really well, she is going to let the
class leave early.
6:25PM- the class is over. Students pick up their things and leave
6:30PM- A Pilates class enters the room

Observation Three
Comment [13]: To the siue insteau of in
uiammai eiioi
Comment [14]: Inseit what they aie
iolling. uo into uetails so that people can
pictuie what is going on.
Comment [15]: That's not how you spell
hei name. Look it up anu possibly finu the
song. 0nce you finu the song uesciibe the
beat
Comment [16]: Inseit a quotation heie.
Theie is an eiioi.
Comment [17]: Inseit what kinu of
stietching that aie taking place foi five
minutes. What muscles aie being stietch.
Why aie they stietching.

S
Monday, February 3, 2014

The Observation:

they come in. There is Reggae music is playing and everyone is talking to each other and
getting to know each other.
5:35PM- Tamera instructs everyone to start clapping. Everyone claps for 30 seconds and
then the clapping leads to a salsa. Tamera then gets everyone to clap and then leads the
class into some jumping jacks and makes them jog in place. The beat drops and the class
do salsa, moving left, right, front, back. Everyone is laughing and smiling.
The class screams and says NO! The next song is another salsa song. The class steps to
the forward, steps backwards, shimmies to the front, shakes their booty, and touches all
over their bodies all in one. This routine is done for the whole song. Everyone is keeping
up, even the professors and the boys are laughing but they are still doing the motions full
out
5:45PM- Tamera offers a water break for those who need it (no one uses it, everyone says
that they are good). Another dance song comes on. Daddy Yankee calls the song
Gasoline. The routine has changed. This time the class is starting off with a booty pop
and then going into a salsa, and a little bit of crumping. Tamera tells the class that she has
added some new material to the routine. She asks if the class like it, and they reply yes!
5:50PM- by this time, more people are getting water and taking breaks. At this time I
notice that there are some people who were in the class last week, but for the most part
there are new faces. A new song comes on and its kind of soft but upbeat at the same
time. The routine consists of a couple of high knees and lunges to the side, and body
rolling
5:55PM- Tamera does the circle routine again that was done in Observation One. The
class got into a circle and shimmied, and then they rotated and went in the opposite
direction. Then the students will pause and strike a pose and so did the teacher and boys.
I started giggling because the teachers were working it and the boys were having a lot of
fun. They did this routine for the whole song.
6:00PM- the next song that comes is Im a be, by the Black Eyed Peas. Tamera tells
everyone that this is a squat and dance routine. They squat and when the chorus comes on
they do high knees. People are getting tired but this class lasted longer than the one in
observation one.
6:05PM- the next song that came on was the electric slide, and everyone did it. I was
surprised that this song was played but the majority of people knew it. The people in the
other cultures were taught how to do it and for the most part, they seemed to be having a
good time.
6:10PM- the class is still doing the electric slide
6:15PM- Tamera gives the class a break and the class gets some water. She then
announces that the class is almost over and that they are going to do a cool off session
6:20PM- the class started to stretch to the music. After stretching for five minutes the
class is over
Comment [18]: Besciibe the music. Is it
fast, slow. Besciibe into uetail what Reggae
music is. This will help to give a bettei
insight of the scene.
Comment [19]: Fix this, uon't use the one
by spell check. Inseit The song that was
being playeu was a song by Bauuy Yankee.
Anu also uesciibe the song.

6
6:25PM- the class is over
6:30PM- People pack up and leave. Some students go up and ask Tamera some questions.
Students either talk to their friends and discuss the class, others just leave.

Comment [20]: Theie is awkwaiu space
heie. Nove up the inteiview question. Anu
save some papei

7

Interview with Tamera
Monday, February 5,2014

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself and what made you want to get registered
to teach Zumba?
My name is Tamera, I am a senior here, I study Public Health and Communications, and I
will be graduating in May. I love to workout. I also dance, so I do ballet, tap, jazz all that
kind of stuff. So of course I naturally wanted to do something related to dance. And Im
in to health and wellness and fitness
2. How long have you been teaching Zumba here at UNCC?
Since I have been a freshman at UNCC
3. How do you come up with the routines and what areas of the body do they
target?
They send most of the material, and I pay them for it. Um but I do come up with some
other routines as well. It targets just the total body workout because it is cardio. I pull in
some toning for the legs and the glutes and the upper body.
4. How does Zumba stand out from the other fitness classes offered at UNCC?
I think all of the fitness classes here are unique. The difference between Zumba and other
fitness types is that people dont really realize that they are working out because they are
dancing and having a lot of fun, and what we do is kind of disguise those different type of
moves that target legs, such as squats and legs.
5. What is your favorite workout?
I love to do salsa, I also take Latin dance classes here, and so those are my favorite
workouts to incorporate into Zumba.
Comment [21]: These inteiview
questions aie veiy shoit. Auu moie
inteiview question anu ask them in moie
uetails. Bo this so that eveiyone can get to
know anu have an Iuea of Tameia.

Michele Winters Observation One Commented Draft

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Site Location: Stuuent Activity Centei Winteis

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