SUNRISE, Fla. — Soca has never been background music.

At City Park in Sunrise, it’s the main event.

The beat sets the pace. The weights add resistance. And Paige Romans brings the energy — turning a monthly community workout into a celebration of rhythm.

“It is the soul of calypso music. Anything high and positive vibration is soca music,” said Paige Romans, owner of Soca Fitness.

Romans is a certified fitness instructor, personal trainer and owner of Soca Fitness in North Lauderdale. Her workouts built a following that caught the attention of the city of Sunrise, which recruited Romans to bring that same energy — free of charge — to the community on the last Friday of every month.

“You can’t run away or shy away from positive vibrations. You really can’t. Even if you try, at some little point you’re going to smile and feel good about that moment,” she said.

Romans may lead the workout, but the energy quickly becomes a group effort.

City leaders say the groups have grown every single month, with more people bringing friends.

“The way this program resonates with people — they come out, they release those endorphins through moving and they get happy, and they meet the person next to them. Smile. Have a good time. You’re going to see it,” said Khya Cummings, recreation supervisor for the city of Sunrise.

Romans wants Soca Fitness to celebrate the culture behind the music, build community through movement and inspire more people to simply show up.

“That’s what I’m hoping. For this community get bigger. More people to understand that movement is literally a gift and they should take on that in their day to day,” Romans said. “All the time, just show up. You’re never going to know how you are within a certain class until you actually do it. So, just show up.”

For those who want more Soca, Romans encourages them to stop by her studio. She also runs classes and fitness training virtually to keep everyone in step, so they never miss a beat.

Click here for more information on Soca Fitness.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.