It’s Pride Month and needless to say Hudson County knows how to embrace it with weekly events, parades and parties!
Right here in West New York, Herbert Sotamba, a Zumba Instructor, held a Pride Month event at Fitness Factory where members wore colorful attire in honor of the pride flag.
They enjoyed a 60-minute workout while expressing themselves through rhythm and a good time.
Being able to express oneself is very important to Sotamba, as Pride to him means “another year of being who I am. I am here and I will always be here!”
Sotamba first started to get into Zumba at just 20 years old while he was working at Fitness Factory, a gym located in West New York.
He told Slice of Culture that at first he was too shy to take a class, but after an old friend of his pushed him into it, he decided to get his certification a year after beginning Zumba. In 2018, he became certified.
Sotamba is well known in Fitness Factory as an eccentric Zumba instructor where many members adore his style, charisma and alluring moves.
But besides being a Zumba instructor, Sotamba is also a substitute teacher and has taken ballroom classes and represents the “House of Donyale Luna” in New York City.
Ballroom culture, also known as drag ball culture or house-ballroom community, are coined terms to descibe the underground queer sub-culture. It was founded by black trans and queer folk where one “walks” (compete) in a performance of dances, lip-syncing and modeling in various categories which was used to represent in a satire style of gender constructs, jobs, and social issues.
While offering an escape from reality, people would face eachother in a competition style walk with different encentric outfits, abilities, presentation, theatrics, along with authenticity. You could “recieve your 10’s” which is approval of all judges and those who did win against other competitors won trophies, prizes, and glory.
“I remember watching my first ballroom video, ‘STREETSTAR 2013’. The way they moved was everything! After that I was used to watching so many clips of ballroom and then at 22 I took so many classes of Vogue. I never thought of competing, but I wanted to try atleast once in my life.”
On July 24, 2023 he was able to perform and got to the final battle.
“Even though I did not win, it was still a blessing because I got to meet my house father Bugz GUTTA. Now I am representing the ‘House of Donyale Luna’ and with alot of practice, I will one day perform because I will not give up!”
Sotamba applies that “never giving up” mentality to everything he does. From championing his members at Zumba classes to pushing his students to strive for success, he always tries to be a trusted instructor by building connections with them.
Having a connection with his students has always been a priority because of how his teachers growing up influenced him.
“I do remember my reading and writing was my weakest [subjects] back in school, but [Memorial High School’s] Alternative Program changed that! I met some wonderful teachers that cared for my education and help me build so much confidence in my reading and writing. That is what I want to do for my students. I never want to give up like the teachers I had in that program!” he added.
From growing up in West New York and not being confident in his academic skills, Sotamba has learned through his years of trying new things to gain more confidence in himself and to pass it along to others.
“With Zumba and ballroom I felt like my confidence went super high and ever since then I just feel unstoppable and I don’t care what people have to say about me. I know who I am and that is what I want to provide to everybody,” he said.
“Just be who you are, and be a queen!”
