Rockettes Kick Off 2012 Zumba Instructor Convention Today, 8/9

MSG Entertainment and Zumba Fitness have announced that The Rockettes have been selected as the featured entertainers for the "Kickoff Keynote Session" at the 2012 Zumba Instructor Convention. Today, August 9, 2012, the legendary New York dance company will kick off the convention at the Orange County Convention Center in Florida with a high energy performance for the largest Zumba convention in the world, attended by more than 8,000 Zumba instructors from around the globe.

"We are thrilled that The Rockettes will be featured at the opening session of the 2012 Zumba Instructor Convention," said Chris Moseley, senior vice president product management and brand oversight, Rockettes. "Zumba's contagious combination of dancing, fitness and fun mirror the core values that the legendary Rockettes embrace. Both styles incorporate dance as a way to move with passion by working together as a team to perform your best. The Rockettes believe that life is more powerful when it's in motion and that the world will be a better, stronger and healthier place when more people move together, and Zumba exemplifies this idea by joining together to be active and fit."

Known for their rich history, unrivaled talent, strength, precision and athleticism, The Rockettes are a legendary New York dance company. This year, The Rockettes celebrate 85 years of performing in New York City, commemorating a legacy spanning more than eight decades with dynamic performances and precision technique. The Rockettes innovative choreography and classic glamour has been beloved by millions of fans across the nation, as they have continually remained iconic role models for generations of women.

"It is such an exciting opportunity to have The Rockettes as part of the 2012 Zumba Instructor Convention, helping us officially kick-off our fun festivities to a weekend dedicated to our Zumba Instructors," said Jeffrey Perlman, chief marketing officer for Zumba Fitness. "The Rockettes are a perfect fit as featured performers to launch this year's keynote session because both The Rockettes and Zumba use the expression of dance to staying active and fit. Their high energy performance will complement an exciting weekend of learning, training, bonding and celebrating for our Zumba instructors."

"As a former Rockette myself, it's exciting to see the connection between this dance-focused fitness regimen and the legendary New York dance company," said Joy Prouty, director of education – programs and training for Zumba Fitness and a former Rockette. "Through The Rockettes precision technique, they make their choreography seem effortless, but there is a lot of hard work, dedication and athleticism that goes into being a Rockette. It's important as a professional dancer to stay fit and maintain your peak physical condition year-round. Zumba is a great way to combine the art of dance and cardio in a fun and active approach."

As athletes themselves, The Rockettes are always looking for different techniques that help keep up their stamina and physical energy by taking part in different forms of fitness, including Zumba! The Rockettes are proud to support the worldwide phenomenon of Zumba Fitness beginning with their participation in the 2012 Zumba Instructor Convention.

MSG Entertainment (MSGE), the live entertainment arm of The Madison Square Garden Company (Nasdaq: MSG), is a Worldwide Entertainment company recognized for its signature combination of event production and entertainment marketing. In addition to the nearly 900 entertainment concerts and events that take place each year at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre, The Chicago Theatre, and the Forum arena in Inglewood, California, MSGE has an exclusive co-booking agreement with Boston's Citi Performing Arts Center/ Wang Theatre. MSG Entertainment's live events include the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, which has played to more than 70 million people in 88 different cities across North America. More than five million people attend MSG Entertainment branded events annually including concerts, special events, and family attractions.

Zumba Fitness is a global lifestyle brand that fuses fitness, entertainment and culture into an exhilarating dance-party workout. Coined "fitness-parties," Zumba classes blend upbeat world rhythms with easy-to-follow choreography, which provide effective, total-body workouts. Founded in 2001, the company is now the largest branded fitness program in the world -- reporting more than 12 million weekly class participants, in over 110,000 locations, across more than 125 countries. In addition to its original Zumba program, the company also offers a range of specialty classes, including Zumba Gold (for active older adults), Zumba Toning (body-sculpting class that uses maraca-like Toning Sticks), Aqua Zumba (the ultimate "pool party" workout), Zumbatomic (Zumba routines for kids), Zumba Sentao™ (chair-based Zumba class that strengthens, balances and stabilizes the core) and Zumba in the Circuit (a 30-minute workout that combines signature Zumba moves with circuit training at timed intervals). The Zumba fitness lifestyle is rounded out by the company's many consumer product offerings, including DVD sets, music collections, multi-seasonal apparel and footwear, video games, Fitness-Concert™ events and a lifestyle magazine.

For more information about Zumba Fitness programs and products, or to find a live class, visit zumba.com and find us on Facebook and Twitter.