I shook my butt more Monday night than I have since my 3rd grade dance recital.

Except this time, it wasn't in a closed auditorium but at the end of Pier A. Out in the open. For all passersby to see. You'd think it was mortifying. But really, it was the most fun I've had working out in ages.

Of course, I wasn't the only one out there looking like a fool. Along with about 25 brave women of all ages, as well as one man, I joined the free Zumba class sponsored by Club H.

What a workout.

Decked out in hot-pink and white M.C. Hammer pants and a black bikini top that showed off her six-pack abs, instructor Andi Shrem never lost her incredible energy level. She had us gyrating, sidestepping, lunging, twirling and sashaying to the beat for a solid hour.

Zumba is comprised of a series of songs, each with choreographed moves incorporating several types of Latin dance. All together, the songs create a full-body workout. Some moves work the arms more than others, imitating the movement you would make if playing the drums; others concentrate on the legs, requiring quick-paced lunges and squats; and of course, some concentrate on the butt, thanks to the booty shake.

Having not danced—other than joking around with friends—for more than 10 years, I worried I wouldn't be able to pick up the moves. But that's the beauty of attending a large class. No matter how ridiculous you think you look, someone else looks even funnier.

I was out of breath after about 15 minutes, wondering if I would make it through the remaining 45 minutes. But, next thing I knew, the instructor was playing Alicia Keys's acoustic version of "Empire State of Mind" and we were stretching to the beat, signaling the end of class.

Zumba has been all over the news and fitness magazines for the last couple of years, but I hadn't tried it out before. Now I wish I'd gone sooner. It was so much fun to just let go and dance for an hour.

Sure, it took a few songs for me to get over the fact that I was literally putting on a show for all the runners and bikers who frequent the pier, along with several men who just stopped to stare at us, but once I stopped caring, it was a blast.