The beat's the thing in today's Global Hit.

It's a Latin beat, and you can not only dance to it, you can get a mighty fine work out. Latin music is the driving force behind a popular aerobics program called Zumba. It's the brainchild of Colombian native Beto Perez. Hayley Salvo of station KCUR dropped in on a Zumba master class in Kansas City and she sent us this report.

"Good morning class... good morning teacher. Are you ready to Zumba? Wooo. Okay, let's Zumba."

It may only be nine in the morning, but the Voodoo Lounge at Harrah's Casino in Kansas City is already buzzing with a noisy crowd, heavy bass and lots, and I mean lots, of sweat. And, for good reason, because when Beto Perez takes the stage, in his baggy cargo pants and glitter-encrusted sneakers - you know it's time to party.

Zumba is Colombian slang meaning to move fast and have fun. The aerobics workout is famous for its Latin-inspired dance steps - Salsa, Merengue, Flamenco and Samba, and 37-year-old Beto Perez is its founder. One day about eight years ago, Perez showed up to teach his aerobics class in Cali, Colombia, but he had forgotten his regular music so he grabbed a mixtape from his car.

PEREZ: "And I tell to my student's 'okay, ladies and gentleman, today this class is different.' And people 'okay, cool.' But inside me, my heart, it was so nervous. And I start my class, one hour, it was improvised and people love it, people sweating, people smile, people was happy."

The rest, as they say, is history. Within a year, Perez had moved to Miami. He found business partners, created Zumba infomercials, and eventually scored a deal with Kellogg to put free Zumba videos in boxes of cereal as part of a fitness campaign aimed at Hispanics.

Today there are thousands of Zumba instructors in 30 countries. 150 aerobics teachers -- mostly women -- have come to be certified in Zumba by the master.

At one point Perez can no longer hold back. He takes off his shirt, jumps off the stage, and dances into the crowd. The class temporarily falls apart. Women rush toward him to get a glimpse of his abs. One white-haired participant gives him a kiss. Cameras are flashing, and was that a sports bra I just saw flying through the air? Well, not exactly, but you get the picture. This comes as no surprise to Martha Gonzalez, who's here to watch her daughter get certified. Gonzalez says a good party is simply part of Latin culture.

GONZALEZ: "The people from Cali, that's where I'm from, we're known by that. They say that we're very happy people. That we always want to dance and we always want to party."

Zumba's success certainly stems from its Latin roots, but nowadays Perez is mixing it up. The D-J for the master class is plugged into Perez's i-Pod, and next up is classic Americana.

PEREZ: "Now, in my new videos, I play country music, funk and rock and roll. Because I want to give something... you know I love the American music. I don't want people to think that Zumba is only Latin music, it's the music of around the world."

In the fall, Zumba Fitness will release a new set of instructional videos, along with a C-D of original workout songs, composed by Perez with the help of famed Latin music producer Emilio Estefan.

PEREZ: "I say you know what, I want to create my own music. This company, that's my sponsor and my videos, they say, okay, do it. And I do it and we make a good job. We make different rhythms, like a techno African beat, this one is for the warm-up, we combine many rhythms, like reggaetone with salsa, we've made African beats but with different beats, it's like four songs in one song."

This track is called "Zumba te Suelta" or, roughly translated, Zumba makes you loose. In it you'll hear a variety of world influences, including Indian harmonies, Latin beats and the thick bass of African Reggaetone.

When class wraps up, students hang around like groupies at a concert with backstage passes. Anne Marie Cotto says she's lost 30 pounds thanks to Zumba. And this is her second master class with Perez.

COTTO: "Even though on stage he glows, when he's off stage he takes time out for everybody. I mean, he doesn't have to stay here and talk to everybody. So he's very nice and down to earth and taking pictures. There's about, oh gosh, at least 30 people here right now and they all want a picture with Beto."

Finally, after the last camera snaps, it's my turn with the king of Zumba, and I'm dying to know: what does Zumba mean to him? Beto Perez has got it down to three simple words: "Feel the music."