From Calypso Aerobics to Zumba Gold, the Energy is Carnival
Tony Bryan with Vicky & Caroline — Mid County Recreation Center
From Calypso Aerobics to Zumba Gold
The Carnival Dance Plays On
While the weather outside was cold and wintry, the large indoor basketball court was steamy, hot, and alive. Inside, seniors were dancing, sweating, and glowing to the rhythms of hip hop, salsa, and the latest radio hits. Within the hour, beads of happy sweat trickled from their foreheads and soaked through their workout tees — but their faces radiated pure joy.
Tony Bryan, the Zumba dance instructor, holds court — guiding his lively audience of 60+ enthusiasts through cautiously monitored dance movements. His Zumba Gold sessions have become the most well-attended events at the recreation facility. For Montgomery County seniors, it’s a daytime party disguised as exercise. The energy is infectious — spontaneous yet structured, playful yet purposeful. Think Carnival, without the costumes — all rhythm, laughter, and release.
Every Thursday from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., seniors and the young-at-heart gather at the newly built Mid County Recreation Center for an hour of lively, exhilarating Zumba. Tony, a native of Trinidad and Tobago, brings island sunshine and a touch of Carnival fever to every class with his charisma and personal flair.
From Calypso Aerobics to Zumba Gold
Tony migrated first to Canada in the early 1990s to complete a Master’s in Business Management. After the attempted coup in Trinidad and the uncertainty that followed, he came to the United States seeking opportunity and advancement. Fortune smiled — he landed in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, home to a thriving Caribbean community.
It was there he met Brian Walker and Fred Davis, champions of a new kind of dance exercise called Calypso Aerobics. Long before “Zumba” became the worldwide phenomenon it is today, Washington’s Caribbean circles were already moving to the sounds of calypso, steelband, reggae, and jazz — a joyful fusion of Brazilian, African, Latin, and Caribbean rhythm.
Brian Walker — the innovator behind Calypso Aerobics and Soquatics (Soca in de Water) — was a masterful, theatrical Trinidad-born dance and culture enthusiast. He took Tony under his wing, nurturing his talent for movement and performance. Together with Fred, the trio became ambassadors of Caribbean dance fitness, spreading the joy of motion and music wherever they went.
Where Brian was energy incarnate — an uncontainable burst of rhythm and joy — Tony was the architect: studying, refining, and structuring his teaching methods. With mentorship and collaboration, Tony honed his skillset and emerged as one of the most respected fitness and body-movement instructors in the D.C. area.
The Spirit of Carnival Lives On
The Mid County Recreation Center in Silver Spring, Maryland gained a gem in Tony — a versatile instructor who bridges culture and community through movement.
As popular music pulsed from the sound system, Tony moved among the dancers with gentle authority, offering encouragement: “Great job! You got it! You got it!” He ensured everyone’s comfort, forbidding moves that strained joints or balance. Each participant felt seen — as if Tony were their personal dance partner.
For that one Zumba Gold hour, there was glee, laughter, and fellowship. Caroline, 66, attended with quiet gratitude — a survivor of major brain surgery just months earlier. Her silver-grey hair framed a smile that could light the room. Vicky, 77, still graceful after double knee replacements, described the class as “a joy to be with others of my age — and to be moving again.”
The Recipe for Life
What a recipe for life — great music, movement, laughter, and good company. For Maryland’s seniors at the Mid County Recreation Center, Zumba Gold is more than a fitness class. It’s fellowship in motion. A place to feel seen, strong, and joyfully alive. With Tony Bryan at the helm, the Carnival dance — that celebration of rhythm and resilience — continues to play on.
Watch the video: From Calypso Aerobics to Zumba Gold — dedicated to Brian Walker and Fred Davis.
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