Perez,39,isnowcreativedirectoroftheprivatelyheldZumbaFitness.Hissuccessisallthemoreimpressivegiventheobstacleshe’sovercome.RaisedinCali,Colombia,byasinglemother,Alberto“Beto”Perezwasjust14whenhismomwasinjuredbyastraybullet.Tohelpsupportthem,heworkedthreejobs.

　　佩雷斯39岁,如今是私立尊巴舞健身中心的创意指导.他克服了众多障碍而取得的成就特别令人印象深刻.他是单亲妈妈在哥伦比亚带大的,14岁时,妈妈中了流弹受了伤.佩雷斯干三份活养家.但他一直想把自己热心专注的舞蹈改变成一样与众不同的东西.然而,他没钱上课,缺乏正规训练,但他用天生的未经锤炼的才能取而代之.19岁时,他在全国兰巴达贴身舞比赛中获胜.加力城的最优秀的学院给他电话,请他边教健身操边学舞蹈.

　　Allthewhile,hedreamedofturninghispassion—dance—intosomethingmore,buthecouldn’taffordlessons.(PerezsayshesawthemovieGreasewhenhewassevenoreight,“andIknewIwantedtodance.”)Whathelackedinformaltraining,though,hemadeupforinrawtalent.At19,hewonanationallambadacontest.OneofCali’sbestacademiescalledwithanoffertostudydancewhileteachingstepaerobics.

　　Oneday,Perezforgotthemusicforhisclass.Hehadonecassettewithhim—Latinmusiche’dtapedfromtheradio.“Iimprovised,”hesays,“andthatwasthebeginningofZumba.”有一天,佩雷斯忘了带课堂音乐,他身边只有一盘录音带,上面是他从收音机里录的音乐.“我就即兴起舞,”他说,“尊巴舞出现了“.

　　OncethepopularinstructorgothisbreakinMiami,would-beinvestorsstartedapproachinghimaboutopeningagym.OneofPerez’sstudentsaskedhimtomeetherson,AlbertoPerlman.At24,PerlmanwasdoingmarketanalysisonstartupsforanInternetincubatorwithhischildhoodfriendAlbertoAghion(anoperationsguy)andwatchinghiscareeroptionsdisappearwiththedot-comcrash.Perlman(nowCEOofZumba)hititoffwithPerezimmediatelyandrecruitedAghionasCOOandpresident.

　　这位流行舞蹈教练在迈阿密刚出头,未来的投资人就找上门来开健身房了.一个学生要佩雷斯见见儿子埃尔伯德.博尔曼.当时,博尔曼24岁,在做有关互联网新企业的分析.他和佩雷斯一拍即合.,

　　Withnomoneyorexperience,thepartnersneededtoshowcasePerez’stalents.TheyspentanightlayingdownplywoodboardsonSunnyIslesBeach,theninvitedPerez’sstudentstotakea$20classthattheywouldfilmandshowtopotentialinvestors.ButafterSeptember11,2001,allleadsdriedup.Eventually,theymadeaninfomercial,whichsoldaboutamillionDVDsinsixmonths.

　　没有钱也没有经验,合伙人只有展现佩雷斯的才能.他们花了一个晚上在太阳岛海滩搭了木台,然后请来佩雷斯的学生出20美金上课,他们把课堂拍成片子给有兴趣的投资人看.但是,2001年9.11以后,所有资源都干竭了.最后他们拍了商业广告片,在六个月中,卖了大约一百万张碟片.

　　Whathappenednextcaughtthembysurprise:Peoplestartedsaying,“Iwanttobeaninstructor,likeBeto.”Sincethefirstworkshop,in2003,thepartners,basedinHollywood,Florida,havecreatedaglobalcommunityofinstructors.For$30amonth,theycanjointheZumbaInstructorNetwork,posttheirclassschedules,andaccessnewmusicandchoreography(zumba.com).

　　随后发生的事情让他们大吃一惊：大家都开始说：“我要做教练,像佩雷斯那样.”2003年,合伙人以佛州好莱坞市为基地,开设了第一个训练班,此后在全球建立了教练群.每个月付30美金,这些人就可以加入尊巴舞教练网,刊登课程表,得到新音乐和舞蹈方法.

　　Whenaskedaboutrevenue,Perlmanistight-lipped:“Wedon’tdisclosefigures,butit’sinthemanymillions.”Thepartnerssaythey’vebarelytappedthepossibilitiesforthebusiness.“We’rereleasingaNintendoWiigamein2010andaddingtoourZumbawearline,”saysPerez.“Expecttoseeourfirstsneakerssoon!”

　　问到营业额,博尔曼守口如瓶：“我们不泄漏具体数字,但有数百万吧.”合伙人说他们刚找到些生意机会：“2010年,我们要发行一个任天堂Wii游戏,还要在尊巴舞服装系列中加产品,”佩雷斯说,“不久你就可以看到我们第一批运动鞋!”