The class is called Zumba and instructor Gemma Hughes calls it a "fun-filled, sweat-induced dance party." The dance-oriented exercise class blends styles including salsa, reggaeton, merengue, samba and more. It was first offered at WVU last fall.

Melissa Phouthavong, 22, said the appeal is this: "It's really high energy and really fun. It doesn't matter if you're good or not -- you can just move to the music."

Instructor Hughes, a senior exercise physiology major, first learned about what has now become a national phenomenon through a Zumba infomercial years ago -- she ended up ordering the advertised video.

She said Zumba was created by Columbian native Alberto Perez.

"One night during his regular aerobics class, he forgot his music and had to use what he had in his car," she said.

The class members loved the innovative dances that mixed a variety of Latin and hip-hop flavors. That night, "Rumbacize" was born -- its name was later changed to Zumba. The craze caught on in Central and South America and arrived in the United States in 1999.

After becoming certified to teach Zumba -- a process that requires a one- or a two-day training session, Hughes introduced it to her home gym in St. Petersburg, Fla., and then to WVU as its first Zumba instructor.

The rec center offered a Latin aerobics class, but it didn't draw nearly the number of students Zumba does.

When it began, Zumba was offered in a smaller room. As its popularity grew, classes were moved to the basketball court.

Hughes now teaches as many as 300 hip-shaking, leg-kicking, arm-waving and hand-clapping people in one class.

Students say it motivates them to exercise.

"I enjoy it because I need someone prompting me to do my cardio and Zumba makes me feel like I'm not actually doing a workout at all," said theater major Megan Hersman, 21.

Zumba doesn't just attract students.

Jeri Stone, a 53-year-old physical therapist, attends classes two or three times a week.

"I started coming last spring because I needed another cardio workout besides running and walking. I just wanted something different," she said.

The lively music and rows of bodies on the basketball court also attract attention from spectators, often male students who gather to watch through the weight room windows.

Onlooker Chris Dacko, swears he doesn't time his workouts to coincide with Zumba class, but acknowledges, "It sure is a nice coincidence."

The classes focus on just about every aspect of the body while participants dance to a variety of music. Salsa, meringue, cumbia, reggaeton, hip-hop, flamenco, swing and bellydancing are some of the music styles that can be heard booming from the rec center basketball courts.

The variety is what appeals to students such as Melissa Phoutavong.

"I love the different styles of music and Gemma makes it really easy to catch on quickly to the dancing," she said.

Zumba has even made its way into the hearts of WVU faculty.

"At first I was a little intimidated, but it ended up being really invigorating," said Sheila Price, associate dean of the WVU School of Dentistry.

Hughes emphasizes there is no right or wrong way to do the moves.

"Constantly in life we tell ourselves how wrong we are. In Zumba, there are no rules; just by showing up, you're right," she said.

"There is a freedom to not have to worry if someone is watching you or judging you. Here, it's more than OK to be that free."

Training sessions, which are offered around the country and at WVU, teach instructors how to make their classes accessible.

"At the training, they break things down for you so that you can teach it more effectively and in the simplest way possible," said Hughes.

"I just try to say it doesn't matter who you are or what you look like, you should come to Zumba anyway," said Hughes. "There shouldn't be judgment -- there is too much of that in the world."

Instructor Gemma Hughes leads a Zumba class at the West Virginia University Student Recreation Center in Morgantown.

Cari Ball, left, and Melissa Phouthavong keep time with the class. The exercise uses Latin and hip-hop music to moves borrowed from Central and South American dance, such as salsa and samba.

Jeri Stone, 53, says she likes the variety Zumba provides for her cardio workouts.

One Zumba class has as many as 300 students.