Project Summer: Meet Zumba Choreographer Henry Cedeño

The seasoned Zumba instructor shares his perfect summer day and his summer power song.

There aren’t very many fitness instructors that start teaching classes in their mid-teens. Zumba Jammer Henry Cedeño began taking Zumba classes when he was 9 and started teaching when he was only 15. Cedeño, who hails from Venezuela, became an international Zumba presenter in 2013, and was named presenter at the 2014 Zumba Fitness Concert. Not only is he a choreography Zumba Jammer, he’s a Queen Bey fan and avid world traveler.

This summer, we’re bringing you inspiration from some of the top celebrity fitness teachers and athletes and sharing their summer workouts, power songs and more. Your dream summer starts here.

24Life: What’s your go-to source for inspiration?

Henry Cedeño (HC): My go-to source for inspiration is always any type of Beyoncé video! Whether it’s a live video or a music video, she always has great moves. Also, looking at dance videos on YouTube. There are lots of great dancers.

24Life: What do you teach and why?

HC: I teach Zumba Fitness classes, reason being, it’s more than just teaching a class! I get to connect with amazing people, get a workout and dance to great music. It’s a win-win situation.

24Life: Why is fitness so important to you?

HC: I love to move because I love being able to express myself! Fitness just enhances my experience and allows me to feel great and confident!

24Life: What is your ideal workout that’s 24 minutes or less?

HC: I love to move in many ways! Both dancing and in fitness. In my classes, I like to incorporate a lot of twerking because it’s great for your core and your legs. I also incorporate many fitness elements like high knees, crunches and lots of arm work in merengue.

24Life: What’s your greatest passion, outside of the work that you do?

HC: My greatest passion is traveling. I enjoy exploring any city with no plans, just seeing what [there is] to do by asking locals. It’s very refreshing to experience a different culture.

24Life: Describe your perfect summer day.

HC: A perfect summer day for me would be to wake up, make a delicious breakfast, have a great workout with a sauna session afterwards, grab a protein shake and head to tan at the beach for a couple hours, swim and meditate on the sand. Then, afterwards, head home and make some lunch, change and shower. Then watch the sunset and [take] a hot bubble bath! I love very relaxing days, and anything with the beach, I’m in!

24Life: What’s your power food?

HC: AVOCADO! I enjoy eating it any way, any style, on anything! Especially on toast with salmon slices!

24Life: What’s your number-one stressor and your surefire stress buster?

HC: Traffic always gets to me, but I de-stress by blasting music and creating choreography while I drive!

24Life: What is one thing your students don’t know about you?

HC: I studied vocal music my entire grade school years, and graduated from Miami’s New World School of the Arts.

24Life: What’s your secret to getting stuff done?

HC: My secret to getting stuff done is making a priority list by level of importance, and of course, playing some type of music in the background, depending on my mood!

24Life: What is your theme song song for summer?

HC: My summer track this year is “That’s What I Like” by Bruno Mars.

24Life: What book is on your night table?

HC: “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz.

24Life: What’s your secret for a great night’s sleep?

HC: Meditation music and an incense stick!

24Life: Best advice you’ve given or gotten in 24 words or less?

HC: “Have patience and perseverance, never compare or compete. Always move forward, never backwards, not even to gain momentum.”

You can find Cedeño on Facebook, Twitter (@Henrayray) and Instagram (@HenryCedeno), or on his website, henryc.zumba.com.

For more Zumba fun, join 24 Hour Fitness for #ZumbaSummerJam on June 30, where anyone—including non-24 Hour Members—can come dance it out to choreography created exclusively for 24 Hour GX instructors by Cedeño. Visit 24hourfitness.com/gx24 for class schedule details.

Photo credit (top to bottom): Courtesy of Henry Cedeño; Eddie Otero