New London — City Pier came alive Saturday as Caribbean Night descended.

Shortly after 6 p.m., hundreds of people, many of them members of the city's Hispanic community, filled bleachers and otherwise crowded around an area where an exercise dance group performed a Zumba routine.

Sitting still was hardly an option.

And, at that point, the pace was only going to quicken, promised Chris Soto, who helped Barbara Neff, the city’s waterfront coordinator, organize the fourth annual event, which he said was designed to "reach out to the Caribbean and Latino populations."

Around 7, Soto said the turnout would likely peak in an hour or two.

Elvia Malave, whose Pebbles Fit Zumba group entertained the crowd, said she’s been leading Zumba classes for years at Work Out World locations in Norwich, Groton and New London and at the New London Community Center. “Every class feels like a party!” her website says, the point being to break a sweat.

“It’s fun,” Carla Moses Bradley, a group member who performed Saturday, said. “You’re getting a workout but because of the music you don’t even think about the work.” The Norwich woman, a project manager for a company that does work for Pfizer, said she “Zumbas” for an hour four or five times a week.

Among those looking on was state Rep. Ernest Hewett of New London, who declared himself a “Caribbean guy.” His wife, Patricia, hails from a Caribbean island, he noted, and they spend a month there every year.

“I love Caribbean music,” Hewett said. “It makes you want to get up and dance."

Disc jockey Dee Cee of The FLaVa of Jamaica, the Bank Street restaurant and dance club, opened Caribbean Night with an hour of reggae music. Deejay Leo and DJ Bandana followed. The Mega Stars Youth Dance Group also performed, as did Dwine Musica and Yordy TheVoice. Danny Navarro gave dance lessons.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com

Twitter: @bjhallenbeck