About Rita Cohen

Though born in Accra, Ghana, Rita Addico Cohen has spent most of her life in the U.S., having earned her Bachelor of Arts in Classical Music as an Echols Scholar from the University of Virginia. She also holds a Master of Music in Classical Voice Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. She retired from a decade long professional operatic and musical theatre career to raise her family, eventually discovering Zumba® Fitness. Her fluency in over 8 languages - including Spanish, along with her musical and dance (classical, jazz, and African) background make her an ideal Zumba® instructor. She has been a licensed Zumba® instructor and member of the Zumba Instructor Network (ZIN™) since June 2009; AFAA certified group instructor since October 2010; certified Piloxing® instructor since July 2014; and has won much critical acclaim in her African HEAT Zumba® master classes, as well as her I <3 Afrobeats! workshops.
 
Auditoned and handpicked by the Zumba Home Office, Rita has also been a licensed Zumba Jammer™ since November 2013, traveling to hold training choreography workshops for members of the Zumba Instructor Network (ZIN™). She loves all that Zumba Fitness has done for her emotional, physical, and mental health, and loves to be able to use her skills to helps others lead more fit and happier lives. Rita also loves to use those skills to bring the community together to help raise funds for such charitable causes as Susan G. Komen, the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, End 22; as well as various community groups. Health, fitness, and empowerment for children AND adults are her goals on and off the dance floor.
 
Rita was selected to teach choreography to Zumba® instructors around the world in a Choreo ZIN Jam™ Session and to present her original Vocal Flow Session at the 2018 & 2019 Zumba® Instructors Convention in Orlando. Before it was canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, she was invited to return to present those Sessions again for a 3rd time, as well as her original AKWAABA: Welcome to Ghana! Session for a 2nd time in 2020.