Oliver Ave. block maintains social distance to a Zumba beat
Myra Curry has a Zumba party three nights a week for fun and to get her quarantined neighbors moving. Photos by David Pierini
By David Pierini Staff Reporter
The 4200 block of Oliver Ave. N is beating the boredom of quarantine one booty shake at a time.
Myra Curry is showing her neighbors how to move their way through a pandemic three evenings a week when she calls them out of their houses for a half hour of Zumba on their sidewalks and lawns.
The residents of Oliver Ave. N not only gave Myra Curry permission to do Zumba in her front yard, they joined in.
As many as 25 people have gathered–staying at least six feet apart from one another–to get fresh air, reconnect in person and burn calories to a Latin beat.
Curry teaches classes in Brooklyn Center and wanted to do Zumba sessions with a friend or two in her front yard. She contacted her neighbors to make sure they wouldn’t mind the music. They gave their permission and asked what time they should show up.
Sometimes a car slowly drives by. It stops and the occupants file out to join in.
“This has been a real blessing,” Curry said. “It’s good to get people moving, especially now. People are going through anxiety from being inside or wearing a mask. This is a big release for people. Really, more for me.”
Curry and her husband, Sherman, own an entertainment company that provides DJing and karaoke. With gigs on hold, the couple is putting their sound system to a different use.
At around 5:30pm each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, the residents on the block hear the music. At about five minutes to six, Myra Curry turns on her mic and says “five minutes to Zumba party.”
Sometimes passersby jump out of their car and join in. This one just slowed down to record the Zumba party.
The neighbors stand in their yard or on the sidewalk. Some watch through the window or open their doors just to hear the music.
Now in its third week, the Zumba meetups have brought the neighbors closer together.
“It’s just nice being with other people, even if we are yelling at each other across the street,” said resident Jennifer Lorentz. “Three times a week, this is my highlight.”