'I use Zumba to better the lives of my community in Gorleston'

Growing up in Istanbul, Zumba instructor Berna Akinal said for as long as she could remember she has always wanted to dance.

After moving to Norwich in 1984, she spent 25 years working as an accountant before she lost her job and took up the dance-fitness workout as a hobby.

In 2012 Akinal obtained her licence to teach classes and later set up Team Berna Zumba Club in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, which now has 200 members and runs four classes a week.

Akinal, who has been nominated for BBC Norfolk Make a Difference Award, said: "I use [Zumba] to better the lives of people in my community - I don't have children so the people who come to my classes are my family."

Akinal moved to the UK to study at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, before she met and married her English husband 32 years ago.

She said the pair had been pen friends before she had moved from Turkey.

"I wanted to learn English from the age of two. My dad, who was a dentist, loved British music, film and artists so I grew up with all of that in the house.

"He bought me BBC tapes so I could learn to speak BBC English - so when I arrived here I was speaking like that," said Akinal.

"My dad is 91 now, but he gave me my passion for music and dancing.

"When I first started Zumba I thought only a few people would turn up, maybe my mum and a faithful friend. I never thought in a million years it would grow into this big happy family, " she added.

Akinal added that the classes made the biggest difference to her attendees during the Covid lockdowns.

"All the online classes were free. It kept everybody fit and it kept my mind fit, because we all went through dark times - watching the news and losing loved ones," she said.

Akinal added that she has experienced health issues while teaching Zumba, which have often made her feel tired, and has been supporting family members through cancer treatment.

"Whatever is going on in the world - wars, illnesses, floods - the moment we step in here it's our happy place with a magical atmosphere.

"Just for an hour we can dance and be happy and all be Beyoncé or Shakira - just don't look in the mirror! We just get a lift and with music we can travel the world," she said.

"I think 90% of my success is down to my mum Necla. She's our Zumba Queen - our Zumba mummy. She makes everyone welcome as soon as they walk in. She's 82 and she's so hip and cool, " Akinal added.

Team Berna is nominated in the Active category at the BBC Norfolk Make a Difference Awards, which will be held on Thursday at St Andrew's Hall in Norwich.

The group was nominated by Dawn Sandell, one of Akinal's class members who has been involved with the group for 10 years.

Sandell said: "Berna and her mum do so much for the community, raising charity money, seeing people outside of Zumba for a chat or lunch.

"She makes us all feel like family. If we don't go for a week she always checks we are OK, and she remembers things in our lives and really cares."

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