COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Well, hello hips. Nice to meet you.

You think you know these vital parts of your body fairly well. You take them to yoga class, you take them for walks, you talk pretty to them. But one Zumba class later and you realize something’s been missing. A good wiggle here. A shake and a bump there.

Zumba what?

Zumba is an aerobic fitness class with bumping beats and mostly Latin dance steps. Not only will you get a workout, but if you’re dying to dance and there’s no dance club around, this is the next best thing.

“Zumba is, for me, a feel-it-to-the-core best Latin dance party,” said Dorie Wexler, owner of Springs Salsa and Dance Fitness Studios and amazingly fluid hips.

There are several reasons Zumba appeals to people, Wexler said. It could be the festive music with beats that make your body naturally want to move. It could be the freedom to not have to do the exact pattern on the Reebok step. You can make it up as you go if your feet aren’t doing exactly the same thing as the teacher’s.

“I love to dance. And if I can find an aerobic way to exercise through dance, I do it,” said student Jerianne Heimendinger, before taking her third class Friday.

Oh, and the key to moving those hips? Bend the knees.