.

This is how a

dream came true!

.

In the spring of 2017 a ZUMBA talent program has started with the name of Next Rising Star. ZES Kass Martin and ZES Steve Boedt were the invetors of this program. Their goal was to collect talented instructors from all around the world and to give them an opportunity to debut in the world’s biggest ZUMBA fitness event, the ZIN convention in Orlando (USA, Florida).

After seeing the success of the first series and being encouraged from several important people, in 2018 I applied to the talent program’s second series, to the ZUMBA Next Rising Presenter.
My application video had three parts. In the first part I had 1 minute to introduce myself, in the second one I had to present a choreography of my own in front of my guest including mainly basic steps. After all of that I had to tape a video of my own coreography in free style.
I’ve sent the video and I was just hoping to get in to the finals.

.

.

More than a month has passed since the application. I was nervously watching my e-mails everyday, hoping I will get a mail with good news, but nothing came.
2 months has passed. I was suffering from insomnia, when one day I was coming home from work and suddenly in the middle of the runway my mobile has peeped. Then, I didn’t even think this could be the e-mail I was waiting for so long. I looked at my phone and the sender’s name came up: ZUMBA Next Rising Presenter.
I was shocked. I only remember that I just wanted to stop to look what’s in the e-mail. So immediately when I had the chance I pulled over and stopped. My heart was beating hard and I was shivering.

.

„Congratulations, you’ve made it to the next round! We will get back to you soon!”

.

Of course I was calling my family right away to tell them the good news. I’ve calmed down, knowing I still have a chance. After one week the next e-mail has came, I’ve made it to the top 50. The end was coming soon. Two days later, top 10. Days have passed. Two, three days, one week. I’ve started to bow that this was the end, but deep inside me I still believed it is not.

I didn’t know what to think, maybe they will interview the top 10 instructors and depending on the interview they will choose. I was so nervous.
At the evening the phone was ringing. I was shaking. Who are the judges, who am I gonna see? I picked up the phone and I saw Steve Boedt’s smiling face. He welcomed me. I heard that he wasn’t alone, but I still didn’t know whom am I hearing. There were a lot of devices with other instructors and with Kass Martin.
They asked for attention. They welcomed us and asked how do we feel? I didn’t know what to expect. After a big laugh Steve shouted: Congratulations to the top 5 finalists!
I was keeping myself together but in the inside, after several month of agitation, crying was trying to burst out of me. I did it, I’ve made it!
After we hang up the phones, I was relived. I haven’t been this happy before in my life.

We’ve kept the contact with the team and the two mentors, Steve and Kass, through the weeks. One more instructor have joined to the team of the finalists. We’ve warmly welcomed him, so this is how we became a team of 6. We’ve got our task, we will have a 15minutes program / each, and that should include a native dance and a salsa. The other ones are freely choosen. I’ve started making the choreographies, and after they were done I had to send them to checkup.
We’ve bought the flying ticket. The hotel and the entrance fee was payed by the ZUMBA office, moreover we each got 500$ to buy new ZUMBA outfits.

.

The first meeting with the other finalists were so big of a joy that I can’t describe it. Though, I’ve never met them before, it was like meeting my good old friends. We’ve greeted each other, we’ve laughed a lot and we were waiting for our mentors and with them the tough work. Kass and Steve welcomed us warmly.

.

.

They told us the plan, and what is waiting for us. Suddenly the door opened and through that came the first serie’s top 5 finalists. They were our exemplar, our idols. We were amazed by their kindness and we’ve became friends immediately. They gave us their advice, what to pay attention to, be a team but the one most important thing:

„Enjoy being here!”

.

The night before the opening ceremony, Kass and Steve invited us to be their backdancers on the stage, so this was my first debut in Orlando. Huge crowd and fantastic party!
The next day we’ve stepped on the same stage as last night but now as a Rising Finalist presenter.
The programs, the whole event, the crowd, the thousands of instructors and our famous exemplars here, together. It was an undescribable feeling. During the Fitness Concert I was feeling like a kid who goes to the playground for the first time. I was just standing there agape. I was enjoying every moment of this. I knew that I want to share this feeling with every person in the world.
The next day was the big day. The night before I didn’t sleep too much, I was just practicing, practicing and practicing. The crowd came in, Beto showed up, the other two Alberto and Nancy. I’ve felt it, I have to show them who I am. I have to prove that I’m not here because of a mistake. I wanted my family, my friends, the hungarians that are represented by me to be proud of me. I was the second last to show his program, until that I was dancing for 1,5 hour on the stage next and behind the others. I was tired, nervous, I was shaking.

I’ve came here with one of my very good friends and also with my manager, whom supported me all along. Still, because of the unknown place and crowd until this moment I’ve felt alone. Far away from everything, far away from the safety of my home and far away from everybody I know. But my music started playing, the csardas. I’ve never really liked folk dancing, and I didnt like the music that much. But when I heard the music, the proudness filled my heart, in secret I’ve cried.
I’ve felt blessed. Every hurtful, offending feeling have stopped with the music. This was the moment I’ve felt that the finalists that are standing behind me became my family. I’m a competitive person, but to be honest at that moment it didn’t matter what the outcome will be. It was only me, the music, my ZUMBA family and my guests.
I will never forget this feeling.

I’m so thankful for everyone who supported me, for my ZUMBA family, for our mentors and maybe they will never read this but I’m thankful for everyone who danced with me atthis moment.

.

This is how I became a

Rising Presenter Finalist.

.

.