IN THE MIX BY MIC DIAZ
For Mark John Almeria, better known as ZIN MARKIE, dance has become more than something he performs. It is a way to connect with people, build community, and bring energy into a room.
For more than 17 years, Markie has built his life around movement. His journey has taken him from competitive dance and international stages to choreography, live performance, and, eventually, the world of Zumba® and dance fitness in the United States.
Long before he was leading Zumba® classes, Markie was developing his craft as a dancer and performer. His years of training and competing eventually brought him to the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA), where he earned a Gold Medal—an achievement that became one of the significant milestones of his career.
He was also part of Junior New System (JNS), the Filipino dance crew that gained international attention for combining hip-hop choreography, precision, athleticism, and theatrical performance. The group appeared on major entertainment platforms, including Asia’s Got Talent, where Junior New System received the Golden Buzzer, as well as America’s Got Talent and other international stages and dance competitions.
Those experiences helped shape Markie not only as a performer, but also as someone who understands the discipline behind what audiences eventually see onstage. Behind every performance are countless hours of rehearsals, repetition, creativity, teamwork, and the determination to keep improving.
Today, Markie brings those years of experience into a different kind of room.
As a licensed Zumba® Instructor, he has transformed his performance background into an experience that invites other people to move with him. He teaches Zumba®, Zumba® Gold, Aqua Fitness, and other dance fitness programs, combining choreography and music with the energy and personality he developed through years of performing.
For Markie, however, a class isn’t simply about executing the choreography correctly. It is about creating an environment where people of different ages, backgrounds, and fitness levels can participate, enjoy themselves, and feel connected through movement.
His work has also gained recognition within the Zumba® community. Markie was featured in an official Zumba® Dance Off promotional campaign shared through the brand’s social media platform, bringing his dance fitness work to a wider audience.
The transition from competitive dancer to dance fitness instructor may appear to be a change in direction, but for Markie, the two worlds naturally complement each other. The same qualities that helped him succeed onstage—musicality, discipline, performance, creativity, and the ability to engage an audience—are now part of the energy he brings to every class and masterclass.
And he hasn’t left performing behind.
Markie continues to choreograph, perform, collaborate, and participate in dance and fitness projects while expanding his presence through Zumba® masterclasses, U.S. tour events, live performances, and international opportunities.
His journey reflects the many directions a life in dance can take. A dancer can compete. A dancer can perform. A dancer can teach. And sometimes, the stage becomes a room filled with everyday people who simply want to move, sweat, smile, and forget about everything else for an hour.
For ZIN MARKIE, that connection may be one of the most meaningful performances of all.
Whether he is under the lights of a stage or standing in front of a Zumba® class, the purpose remains much the same: bring people together through movement, music, and dance.