It wasn't a cruel summer for a White Rock woman who won the tickets of her wildest dreams in a national contest.
Mary Lou Rust, a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor, admitted she thought winning tickets to see Taylor Swift in Vancouver on Dec. 8 was a fraudulent call at first.
Rust, who has been teaching Zumba classes in the community since 2007 and for the City of White Rock's recreation and culture department since 2010, saw that she had missed a call from a Rogers Toronto-area number in August, and since she's a Rogers customer, she called them to see if they were trying to reach her.
Rogers was trying to reach her, but not as her service provider — they were calling to let her know she was one of their Taylor Swift/The Eras Tour national contest winners.
"It's been a really exciting time," Rust said Monday (Dec. 2).
"I actually thought it was a scam, but they told me that I'm a national contest winner and I'm going to Taylor Swift!"
While Rust had to keep the secret for a few months, she's now shaking it up at the Zumba classes she teaches in White Rock with Swift's songs, particularly Shake It Off. Classes are Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. at Kent Street Activity Centre, 1475 Kent St.
Rust, who is also a certified ballroom, Latin and swing dance instructor, said her students enjoy her classes as she brings great energy, enthusiasm and fun along with a contagious smile.
As soon as she knew she'd won the tickets, she went and got every Swift song she could, and watched her videos, to get inspired for her Zumba class choreography, Swiftie-style.
"We were not allowed to say anything at first, but I thought, wouldn't it be great to teach my (Zumba) class to Shake It Off," Rust said.
"That's how I actually broke the news to my class!"
She's bringing a colleague she knows from White Rock's recreation and culture department to the concert, and is looking forward to the Sunday (Dec. 8 show), that last of three Vancouver shows at BC Place, which is the also last date of Swift's worldwide tour.
To sign up for the classes Rust instructs, those interested can call 604-541-2199, or register in person or online at whiterockcity.ca/register
