Playlist from Monday, December 5th (Nichols Park)

Whoops... this post landed in my "Drafts" box and never made it online!!

This will be the last class of 2011, but we'll pick up again after the new year. Quite possibly, tonight is the only time I will ever create a blog post in advance of class (because I'm leaving town on Tuesday!). However, as always, I'm open to song requests, so the playlist is subject to change. :-)

1. Bad Romance - Lady GaGa - pop
2. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
3. Wavin' Flag - K'naan - pop
4. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin/pop
5. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - cumbia/reggaeton
6. Que Te Pasa - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/reggaeton
7. Pusha Pusha - Zumba Fitness - axe
8. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
9. Bolo Ta Ra Ra - Daler Mehndi - Bollywood
10. El Batazo - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
11. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
12. Tequila - Proyecto Uno - reggaeton (?)
13. La Luz Del Flow - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
14. Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band-Aid - pop

Playlist from Tuesday, November 29th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

Sadly, this was my last class at Happy Body Wellness, as the studio is closing down on December 1st. I really enjoyed teaching there and it's only a 5-minute walk from my apartment, so I'm bummed to be leaving. However, I'm currently keeping my eyes open for additional locations in which I can offer classes. Stay tuned for details!

1. I Like It - Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull - Latin/pop
2. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
3. "Elusive merengue song" - I never did manage to find the name/artist
4. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
5. Asereje - Las Ketchup - salsa
6. Pusha Pusha - Zumba Fitness - axe
7. Calabria 2007 - Enur - merengue
8. Zoomer - Les Jumo - African
9. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
10. Forget You - Cee Lo Green - pop
11. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
12. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - Bollywood
13. Luna de Miel (Honey Moon Song) - Paloma San Basilio - cha-cha
14. Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band-Aid - pop

Playlist from Monday, November 28th (Nichols Park)

Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving! This playlist was especially tough... or perhaps we all had so much turkey that *anything* would have seemed tough. In any case, what a great workout!

1. The Anthem - Pitbull featuring Lil Jon - pop/hip-hop
2. Bolo Ta Ra Ra - Daler Mehndi - Bollywood
3. La Pantera Mambo - La-33 - salsa
4. Blanco - Pitbull - pop/hip-hop
5. Zoomer - Les Jumo - African
6. Que Te Pasa - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/reggaeton
7. Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner - cha-cha/pop
8. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
9. Mi Alma Se Muere - Chosen Few featuring Pitbull - merengue/reggaeton
10. Drop It On Me - Ricky Martin - Latin/reggaeton
11. Oye - Gloria Estefan - salsa
12. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
13. Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band-Aid - pop

Playlist from week of Tuesday, November 15th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

Unfortunately, Happy Body Wellness Center is closing its current location at the end of November (a real shame because I love teaching at the facility and have a small but very devoted group of regulars). However, I will continue teaching my class at Nichols Park and am also looking into other options in the Hyde Park/South Loop area. I'll keep you posted!

1. Hola My Friend - Pacific Rhythm - calypso (warm-up)
2. Luna de Miel (Honey Moon Song) - Paloma San Basilia - cha-cha
3. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
4. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
5. Can't Touch It - Ricki-Lee - pop
6. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
7. Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte - calypso
8. Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
9. La Pantera Mambo - La-33 - salsa
10. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
11. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
12. [That mystery merengue song - my students and I like it, so I'll keep hunting for the name!]
13. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
14. Si No Te Hubieras Ido - Marco Antonio Solis - Latin (cool-down)

Playlist from Monday, November 14th (Nichols Park)

Not only did I add two new Pitbull routines to the playlist, but I also had a few new students show up. (One of them requested "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" for next week.) Awesome class today... very energetic!

1. The Anthem - Pitbull (featuring Lil John) - Latin/hip-hop
2. Gazab - Zumba Fitness - Indian
3. La Patilla - Orlando Conga - merengue
4. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
5. Pusha Pusha - Zumba Fitness - axe
6. Zoot Suit Riot - Zumba Fitness - swing
7. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
8. Oh La Ley - Flex - merengue/reggaeton
9. Blanco - Pitbull & Pharrell - Latin/hip-hop
10. Oye - Gloria Estefan - salsa
11. Capirinha - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton (?)
12. 5 Letras - Victor Manuel - reggaeton
13. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
14. Si No Te Hubieras Ido - Marco Antonio Solis - Latin (this song is from the jukebox scene toward the end of "Y Tu Mama Tambien")

Playlist from Monday, November 7th (Nichols Park)

1. Ma Ya Hi ("Numa Numa" song) - Dan Balan - pop
2. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood (I LOVE this one - never gets old!)
3. Mambo - Bandoleros - flamenco
4. A La Nena Le Gusta - Zumba Fitness - merengue
5. Mami - A.B. Quintanilla III y los Kumbia All Starz - cumbia
6. El Batazo - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton (this one only has about 4 different steps, but it's still exhausting!)
7. Pusha Pusha - Zumba Fitness - axe (pronounced "ah-SHAY")
8. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
9. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin
10. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
11. Baila Pa Emociona - Zumba Fitness - calypso
12. I cannot find the name of this merengue song for the life of me! :-(
13. Wavin' Flag - K'naan - pop/hip-hop (by request!)
14. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from week of Tuesday, November 8th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

We had a little extra time between songs #13 and #14... so on Tuesday and Thursday I added Cee Lo Green's "Forget You," and on Saturday I added Pitbull's "Mi Alma Se Muere." (I do the latter routine a lot in my Nichols Park class, and one of my regulars who attends classes at both facilities specifically requested it... and more Pitbull in general. Duly noted!)

1. Samba De Janeiro (Club Mix) - Zumba Fitness - samba (warm-up)
2. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
3. Mas Linda Que Una Estrella - Los Fantasmas Del Caribe - calypso/cumbia
4. La Mujer Del Pelotero - Zumba Fitness - merengue
5. Mambo - Bandoleros - flamenco
6. Asereje - Las Ketchup - salsa
7. Pusha Pusha - Zumba Fitness - axe (new routine!)
8. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba (a class favorite)
9. Snake Charmer - Panjabi MC - Indian
10. Calabria 2007 - Enur - merengue
11. She Bangs (Spanish Version) - Ricky Martin - Latin
12. Mi Corazoncito - Zumba Fitness - bachata
13. Stand By Me - Zumba Fitness - bachata (cool-down)

Playlist from Monday, October 31st (Nichols Park)

Happy (belated) Halloween! In honor of the holiday, I wore a bright pink wig to class. It matched my Zumbawear perfectly (I'm not kidding). :-)

1. Thriller - Michael Jackson - pop
2. Gazab - Zumba Fitness - Indian
3. Merengue Song
4. Drop It On Me - Ricky Martin - reggaeton
5. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
6. Slide - Zumba Fitness - calypso/salsa
7. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
8. La Nina Fresa - Zumba Fitness - quebradita
9. Mi Alma Se Muere - Chosen Few featuring Pitbull - merengue/reggaeton
10. Oye - Gloria Estefan - salsa
11. Tequila - Proyecto Uno - reggaeton (?)
12. Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall - pop (with cumbia/swing moves)
13. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
14. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from week of Tuesday, October 25th & Tuesday, November 1st

It's not Halloween week without warming up to "Thriller"... ;-)

1. Thriller - Michael Jackson - pop
2. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - Bollywood
3. Tu Bomboncito - Zumba Fitness - flamenco
4. Merengue (one of these days I *will* figure out the title and artist!)
5. Un Mes - Mara - reggaeton
6. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
7. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin
8. El Matador - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - samba
9. Chori Chori - Arash featuring Aneela - Bollywood
10. Mas Linda Que Una Estrella - Los Fantasmas Del Caribe
11. Oye - Gloria Estefan - salsa
12. Luna de Miel (Honey Moon Song) - Paloma San Basilio - cha-cha (new one! my Puerto Rican grandma loved this artist while I was growing up)
13. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from week of Tuesday, October 18th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

My mom was visiting this week from San Diego, and I brought (well, dragged) her to Zumba... twice! So I made sure to include most of the class favorites on the playlist. :-)

1. Hola My Friend - Zumba Fitness - calypso/warm-up
2. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
3. New merengue routine - name TBA!
4. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
5. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
6. Forget You - Cee Lo Green - pop
7. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
8. La Nina Fresa - Zumba Fitness - quebradita
9. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
10. Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner - pop
11. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
12. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
13. Mi Corazoncito - Zumba Fitness - bachata
14. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, October 10th (Nichols Park)

Oh my, this was an intense set! I think the addition of song #3 was what really did me (and my poor students) in.

In other news, I was super excited to get a request for the "Pink Panther" song and Danza Kuduro (the latter is a class favorite). Keep the requests coming, everyone!

1. Bad Romance - Lady GaGa - pop
2. Gazab - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
3. Ninguem e de Ninguem - Zumba Fitness - quebradita
4. Oh La Ley - Flex - merengue/reggaeton
5. La Pantera Mambo ("Pink Panther" theme) - La-33 - salsa
6. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - cumbia/reggaeton
7. Mambo - Bandoleros - flamenco
8. El Batazo - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
9. Oye - Gloria Estefan - salsa
10. Mi Alma Se Muere - Chosen Few featuring Pitbull - merengue/reggaeton
11. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
12. Tequila - Proyecto Uno - Latin
13. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
14. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from weeks of Tuesday, October 4th and Tuesday, October 11th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

I duplicated playlists for these 2 weeks because I'm missing class on the 13th and 15th for a conference in Washington, DC...

1. Samba De Janeiro (Club Mix) - Zumba Fitness - samba/warm-up
2. Snake Charmer - Panjabi MC - bhangra/Indian
3. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
4. Mas Linda Que Una Estrella - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - calypso/cumbia
5. La Pantera Mambo ("Pink Panther" theme) - La-33 - salsa
6. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - Bollywood
7. Calabria 2007 - Enur - merengue
8. Baila Pa Emociona - Zumba Fitness - calypso
9. Mambo - Bandoleros - flamenco
10. Cumbia Pa' La Nena - Bachaco - cumbia
11. Forget You - Cee Lo Green - pop
12. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
13. Mi Corazoncito - Zumba Fitness - bachata
14. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, October 3rd (Nichols Park)

For me, the highlight of this playlist was the Gloria Estefan piece, which I learned at the Zumba Jam Session I attended a few weeks ago. As I've mentioned before, I like salsa a lot but have a hard time finding routines that really speak to me.

1. Thriller - Michael Jackson - pop
2. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
3. Capirinha - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton (I think...)
4. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
5. She Bangs (Spanish version) - Ricky Martin - Latin
6. El Batazo - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
7. Wiggle Wiggle - Fulanito - merengue
8. Forget You - Cee Lo Green - pop
9. Mami - AB Quintanilla III y Los Kumbia All Starz - cumbia
10. Oye - Gloria Estefan - salsa
11. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - Bollywood
12. Can't Touch It - Ricki-Lee - pop
13. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
14. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from week of September 27th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

My regulars raved about this playlist... I'm going to have to remember that. :-) Also, this week one of them gave me a CD with music from "Tarantella," hoping that I'd choreograph a few routines to it. Please keep those suggestions coming!!

1. Hola My Friend - Zumba Fitness - "Pacific rhythm" (that's what they call it anyhow...)
2. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
3. Chori Chori - Arash featuring Aneela - bhangra/Indian
4. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
5. She Bangs (Spanish version) - Ricky Martin - Latin
6. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - salsa
7. El Matador - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - samba
8. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
9. Mambo - Bandoleros - rumba/flamenco
10. La Nina Fresa - Zumba Fitness - quebradita
11. Oh La Ley - Flex - merengue/reggaeton/salsa
12. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
13. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
14. Mi Corazoncito - Zumba Fitness - bachata
15. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, September 26th (Nichols Park)

OK, folks... today was the day that I finally mustered up the courage to play a Milli Vanilli song in my set. The class liked it... or maybe they were just being polite. In any case, the fact that no one ran away screaming is reason enough for me to include it in future playlists once in awhile!

1. Ma Ya Hi (Numa Numa song) - Dan Balan - pop
2. Gazab - Zumba Fitness - Hindu
3. La Patilla - Orlando Conga - merengue
4. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
5. Mambo - Bandoleros - rumba/flamenco
6. La Nina Fresa - Zumba Fitness - quebradita
7. Wiggle Wiggle - Fulanito - merengue
8. Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall - pop
9. Girl You Know It's True - Milli Vanilli - pop/reggaeton
10. Mi Corazoncito - Zumba Fitness - bachata
11. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - cumbia/reggaeton
12. La Luz Del Flow - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
13. Tequila - Proyecto Uno - Latin
14. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
15. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from week of September 20th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

1. La Mujer de Pelotero - Zumba Fitness - merengue/warm-up
2. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian Fusion/cha-cha
3. Asereje - Las Ketchup - salsa (if you speak Spanish, try listening to the lyrics and making out as many as you can; it's fun :-P)
4. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
5. Zoot Suit Riot - Zumba Fitness - swing
6. Mambo - Bandoleros - rumba/flamenco
7. Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
8. Un Mes - Mara - reggaeton
9. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
10. La Nina Fresa - Zumba Fitness - quebradita
11. El Matador - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - samba
12. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
13. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
14. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin/cool-down

Playlist from Monday, September 19th (Nichols Park)

I might be biased because I attended a Zumba Jam Session this past weekend and was really excited to share the routines I learned with my students, but I thought this was an even more fun set than usual! (For those of you who don't know, jam sessions are an opportunity for local instructors to get together and practice/learn choreography together.) Specifically, at the jam session, I learned #7, #10, and #13.

1. Thriller - Michael Jackson - pop/warm-up
2. Hindu Cumen _ Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
3. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
4. Mambo - Bandoleros - rumba/flamenco
5. Slide - Zumba Fitness - calypso/salsa
6. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
7. Gazab - Zumba Fitness - Indian (Hindu)
8. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin
9. La Nina Fresa - Zumba Fitness - quebradita
10. Tequila - Proyecto Uno - reggaeton (?) (a completely different "Tequila" from the routine I've used in the past!)
11. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
12. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - reggaeton/cumbia (somehow my students and I never get tired of this one, even though I've played it regularly since spring)
13. El Batazo - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
14. Mi Corazoncito - Zumba Fitness - bachata (this is a new routine as well; it's the really romantic song in which they suddenly bust out with "Zumba Fitness!" in the middle - fun stuff)
15. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin/cool-down

Playlist from week of September 13th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

Due to my travels to Nashville (for fun) and Iowa City (for work but also a bit of fun :-)), I had to cancel a few of my classes... hence the gap in posts. But at long last, here you are:

1. La Mujer de Pelotero - Clan 537 - merengue/warm-up
2. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha (this one is great because it's relatively slow-paced - so I like to use it either right after warming up or just before cooling down - yet there are a lot of interesting moves)
3. Asereje - Las Ketchup - salsa
4. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
5. Zoot Suit Riot - Zumba Fitness - swing
6. Mambo - Bandoleros - rumba/flamenco
7. Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
8. Un Mes - Mara - reggaeton
9. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
10. La Nina Fresa - Zumba Fitness - quebradita
11. El Matador - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - samba
12. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
13. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
14. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin/cool-down

Playlist from Monday, September 12th (Nichols Park)

Yikes, I'm very behind on posts... my apologies! In any case, September 12th was the first class of the Nichols Park fall session. It was a blast... I had 15 students total (a big class for me), and we kicked off the set with a nod to Michael Jackson. For those of you who are new to this blog, here's the list so you can start sending me your song requests!

1. Thriller - Michael Jackson - pop/warm-up
2. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
3. Hella Decale - DJ Mam's Featuring Doukali & Soldat Jahman - French reggaeton
4. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
5. Can't Touch It - Ricki-Lee - pop (this one's from the "Sex & the City 2" soundtrack)
6. Mambo - Bandoleros - rumba/flamenco
7. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - reggaeton/cumbia
8. Ritmo Caliente - Banda Zarape - quebradita
9. Drop It On Me - Ricky Martin - reggaeton
10. La Patilla - Orlando Conga - merengue
11. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
12. Mi Alma Se Muere - Chosen Few featuring Pitbull - merengue/reggaeton
13. Evacuate the Dance Floor - Cascada - pop
14. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
15. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin/cool-down

Playlist from week of August 30th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

Due to my Labor Day travel plans, this will be my last post until the week of September 12th... at which point I'll introduce several new routines!

1. Samba De Janeiro (Club Mix) - Zumba Fitness - samba/warm-up
2. Mas Linda Que Una Estrella - Los Fantasmas Del Caribe - cumbia/calypso
3. El Matador - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - samba
4. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
5. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
6. Chori Chori - Aneela featuring Arash - bhangra/Indian
7. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
8. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
9. Oh La Ley - Flex - merengue/reggaeton
10. Baila Pa Emociona - Zumba Fitness - calypso
11. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
12. Can't Touch It - Ricki-Lee - pop
13. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
14. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin/cool-down

Playlist from Wednesday, August 24th (Curves in Whiting, IN)

Finally, a new Zumba in the Circuit playlist! The ladies really loved this one...

1. I Like It - Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull - Latin
2. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
3. A La Nena Le Gusta - Zumba Fitness - merengue
4. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
5. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
6. Zoot Suit Riot - Zumba Fitness - swing
7. Oh La Ley - Flex - merengue/reggaeton
8. Evacuate the Dance Floor - Cascada - pop
9. Stand By Me - Zumba Fitness - bachata/cool-down

Playlist from week of August 23rd (Happy Body Wellness Center)

OK, I finally found the name of the merengue/warm-up routine I sometimes use in this class! I also added in a new salsa, which I'd been wanting to do for awhile. Although I love salsa as a rhythm, it's relatively difficult for me to find salsa songs I really enjoy. This one fit the bill. :-)

1. La Mujer Del Pelotero - Clan 537 - merengue
2. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood (On Thursday this song somehow failed to copy onto my iPhone, so I replaced it with Chori Chori by Aneela featuring Arash. It was a serendipitous occurrence, as it reminded me of how much I enjoy the Chori Chori routine.)
3. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
4. Forget You - Cee Lo Green - R&B/pop
5. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
6. El Matador - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - samba
7. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
8. Un Mes - Mara - reggaeton
9. Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall - pop
10. She Bangs (Spanish version) - Ricky Martin - Latin
11. Cumbia Pa' La Nena - Bachaco - cumbia
12. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa (from the new ZIN 34 CD!)
13. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
14. Snake Charmer - Panjabi MC - Indian
15. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, August 22nd (Nichols Park)

The park is closed for the next 2 weeks, so this will be my last Nichols Park post for awhile. My Monday evening classes resume on September 12th and will be held from 7-8pm. I'll bring some new routines. :-) See you there!

1. Bad Romance - Lady GaGa - pop
2. Evacuate the Dance Floor - Cascada - pop
3. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
4. La Patilla - Orlando Conga - merengue
5. Aguanile - Mark Anthony - salsa
6. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
7. Drop It On Me - Ricky Martin - reggaeton
8. Galactic Blues - Don Omar - reggaeton
9. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
10. Mi Alma Se Muere - Chosen Few featuring Pitbull - reggaeton/merengue
11. Can't Touch It - Ricki-Lee - pop
12. Capirinha - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton (?)
13. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin
14. La Luz Del Flow - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
15. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from week of August 16th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

My friend Stacy came to visit me from Columbus, OH this week and tried out my Thursday evening Zumba class. It was so much fun! Now she's intent on taking Zumba 3 times a week in Columbus. I love recruiting new Zumba enthusiasts. (Note to potential visitors: If you stay with me, taking a Zumba class is mandatory. Guys are excused... maybe. :-P)

1. Samba de Janeiro (Club Mix) - Zumba Fitness - samba (warm-up)
2. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
3. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
4. Zoot Suit Riot - Zumba Fitness - swing
5. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
6. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
7. Calabria 2007 - Enur - merengue
8. Can't Touch It - Ricki-Lee - pop
9. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
10. Oh La Ley - Flex - merengue/salsa/reggaeton
11. Un Mes - Mara - reggaeton
12. Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
13. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
14. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin (cool-down)

Playlist from Monday, August 15th (Nichols Park)

Eek! Didn't realize how far behind I am on these posts...

1. Ma Ya Hi ("Numa Numa" song) - Dan Balan - pop
2. Wavin' Flag - K'naan - pop/hip-hop
3. Aguanile - Mark Anthony - salsa
4. A La Nena Le Gusta - Zumba Fitness - merengue
5. Cumbia Pa' La Nena - Bachaco - cumbia
6. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
7. Galactic Blues - Don Omar - reggaeton (the first song I ever learned!)
8. Can't Touch It - Ricki-Lee - pop
9. Oh La Ley - Flex - merengue/salsa/reggaeton
10. Un Mes - Mara - reggaeton
11. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - reggaeton/cumbia (can't believe this is the same dude who sings "Galactic Blues," as the songs have such different feels)
12. Evacuate the Dance Floor - Cascada - pop
13. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
14. Pagaras - Zumba Fitness - cumbia (one of my new favorites; the song is beautiful)
15. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin (cool-down)

Playlist from week of August 9th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

Again, I couldn't resist including Cee Lo in my playlist. It's funny how so many people who are unfamiliar with his music, including one of my regulars at this facility, assume he's from the 60s or 70s... indeed, lots of his songs feel very Motown-ish. (That's true of Fitz & the Tantrums too, whom I also had the pleasure of seeing live at Lollapalooza - highly recommended!)

1. That really fast merengue/salsa warm-up that I don't know the name of!
2. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
3. Oh La Ley - Flex - merengue/salsa/reggaeton
4. Baila Pa Emociona - Zumba Fitness - calypso
5. Forget You - Cee Lo Green - R&B
6. La Pantera Mambo ("Pink Panther" theme song) - La-33 - salsa
7. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
8. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
9. Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner - R&B/pop
10. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
11. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - Bollywood
12. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
13. Mas Linda Que Una Estrella - Los Fantasmas Del Caribe - cumbia/calypso
14. Stand By Me - Zumba Fitness - bachata (cool-down)

Playlist from Monday, August 8th (Nichols Park)

So I went to Lollapalooza this past weekend, which was absolutely phenomenal! And because Sunday was the last day of concerts, I took it relatively easy on my students (ahem, myself) today. That explains why this set is a bit more hip-hop/reggaeton-heavy than usual... those routines tend to be lower-impact. I also felt compelled to insert a Cee Lo song in here as a nod to his performance... even though I found it kind of underwhelming, it was definitely cool to see him live! I had forgotten how much fun the "Forget You" routine is.

1. I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - Pitbull - hip-hop
2. Evacuate the Dance Floor - Cascada - pop
3. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
4. Forget You - Cee Lo Green - R&B
5. La Pantera Mambo ("Pink Panther" theme song) - La-33 - salsa
6. Drop It On Me - Ricky Martin - Latin/reggaeton
7. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin
8. Capirinha - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton (?)
9. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
10. Mi Alma Se Muere - Chosen Few featuring Pitbull - merengue/reggaeton
11. Tu Bomboncito - Zumba Fitness - flamenco
12. Zoot Suit Riot - Zumba Fitness - swing
13. 5 Letras - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
14. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin (cool-down)

Playlist from week of August 2nd (Happy Body Wellness Center)

Wow, I am way behind! How on earth did it get to be August (and mid-August at the time of this posting) already?!

1. Samba De Janeiro (Club Mix) - Zumba Fitness - samba (but I use it as a warm-up)
2. Snake Charmer - Panjabi MC - bhangra/Indian
3. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
4. Oh La Ley - Flex - merengue/salsa/reggaeton/etc.
5. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
6. Calabria 2007 - Enur - merengue
7. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
8. Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall - pop (my choreography to this is a mix of swing and cumbia)
9. Mas Linda Que Una Estrella - Los Fantasmas Del Caribe - cumbia/calypso
10. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
11. Un Mes - Mara - reggaeton
12. Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
13. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
14. Stand By Me - Zumba Fitness - bachata (cool-down)

Playlist from Monday, August 1st (Nichols Park)

Because my class did a Zumba demonstration as part of last weekend's Hyde Park Fest (to the playlist from last Monday), the Nichols Park staff has generously extended our summer session 3 more weeks! So instead of stopping class today, we stop on the 22nd. Yay!

1. Ma Ya Hi (the "Numa Numa" dance) - Dan Balan - pop
2. Evacuate the Dance Floor - Cascada - dance
3. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood/Indian (the class LOVED this one and even applauded afterward!)
4. La Patilla - Zumba Fitness - merengue
5. Capirinha - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton?
6. Ritmo Caliente - Banda Zarape - quebradita
7. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
8. Un Mes - Mara - reggaeton
9. Slide - Zumba Fitness - calypso/salsa
10. Oh La Ley - Flex - a little of everything (which is why it's one of my top picks :-))
11. Mami - A.B. Quintanilla III y los Kumbia All Starz - cumbia
12. Dejala Que Baile - Charlie Cruz & Angel y Khriz - salsa/reggaeton
13. Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
14. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
15. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from week of July 26th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

In my efforts to streamline my Zumba preparations, I've decided just to do one playlist per week at this facility. I doubt my students mind, because I've found that most of them prefer routines that they are already comfortable with...

1. C'Mon and Dance - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - bhangra/Indian
3. Cumbia Pa' La Nena - Bachaco - cumbia
4. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
5. Oh La Ley - Flex - a little of everything :-)
6. She Bangs (Spanish version) - Ricky Martin - Latin
7. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
8. Zoot Suit Riot - Zumba Fitness - swing
9. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood/Indian
10. Mas Linda Que Una Estrella - Los Fantasmas Del Caribe - cumbia/calypso
11. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
12. Un Mes - Mara - reggaeton
13. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha (a favorite in this class!)
14. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, July 25th (Nichols Park)

Back from Puerto Rico! I even managed to squeeze in a Zumba class during the trip. The instructor did two of the routines I use regularly (with slightly different choreography): "El Matador" and "Hella Decale." Fun times!

1. I Like It - Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull - Latin
2. Wavin' Flag - K'naan - hip-hop/pop
3. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
4. La Patilla - Zumba Fitness - merengue
5. La Luz Del Flow - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
6. Hella Decale - DJ Mam's featuring Doukali & Soldat Jahman - French reggaeton
7. Un Mes - Mara - reggaeton
8. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin
9. Capirinha - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton?
10. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - cumbia/reggaeton
11. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
12. Zoot Suit Riot - Zumba Fitness - swing
13. Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
14. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
15. Stand By Me - Zumba Fitness - bachata (cool-down)

Playlist from Monday, July 18th (Nichols Park)

I am out of town for the rest of the week, so I won't post anything else until next Monday. I'm going to Puerto Rico and really hope to take a Zumba class while I'm there!!

1. Bad Romance - Lady GaGa - pop
2. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - bhangra/Indian
3. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
4. La Patilla - Zumba Fitness - merengue
5. La Pantera Mambo - La-33 - salsa
6. Zoot Suit Riot - Zumba Fitness - swing
7. Capirinha - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton (I think!)
8. A La Nena Le Gusta - Zumba Fitness - merengue
9. Un Mes - Mara - reggaeton
10. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - cumbia/reggaeton
11. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
12. Drop It On Me - Ricky Martin - Latin
13. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
14. Stand By Me - Zumba Fitness - bachata (but I used it as a cool-down)

Playlist from Thursday, July 14th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

I also meant to do "Un Mes" (from the newest Zumba DVD!) today, but somehow it wasn't copied onto my iPod. Alas... more time to practice the routine for next week's classes! :-)

1. Salsa/merengue warm-up
2. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
3. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
4. El Matador - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - samba
5. Zoot Suit Riot - Zumba Fitness - swing (new one!)
6. Calabria 2007 - Enur - merengue
7. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
8. Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
9. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
10. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
11. Tu Bomboncito - Zumba Fitness - flamenco
12. Say Na Say Na - Aneela, Arash, Johan Bejerholm & Robert Uhlmann - bhangra/Indian
13. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
14. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin (beautiful song... my Puerto Rican grandma had his album and used to play it in the car all the time while driving me to school)

Playlist from Tuesday, July 12th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

1. The salsa/merengue that I don't yet know the name of :-)
2. Snake Charmer - Panjabi MC - bhangra/Indian
3. La Pantera Mambo ("Pink Panther" theme) - La-33 - salsa
4. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
5. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
6. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
7. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
8. Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
9. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
10. Say Na Say Na - Aneela, Arash, Johan Bejerholm & Robert Uhlmann - bhangra/Indian
11. Mas Linda Que Una Estrella - Los Fantasmas Del Caribe
12. El Matador - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - samba
13. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
14. Aromuzak - Zumba Fitness - cool-down

Playlist from Monday, July 11th (Nichols Park)

Today I finally did "Capirinha," which is an original Zumba Fitness single from last year. If you get a chance, you should check out the YouTube music video... it's super cheesy but fun!

1. Bad Romance - Lady GaGa - pop
2. Snake Charmer - Panjabi MC - bhangra/Indian
3. Hella Decale - DJ Mam's Featuring Doukali & Soldat Jahman - French reggaeton
4. Tu Bomboncito - Zumba Fitness - flamenco
5. Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
6. Tunak Tunak Tun - Zumba Fitness - bhangra/Indian
7. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
8. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin
9. Capirinha - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
10. Mami - A.B. Quintanilla III y los Kumbia All Starz - cumbia
11. Aguanile - Mark Anthony - salsa
12. La Luz Del Flow - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
13. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
14. Zumba Lluvia - Zumba Fitness - cool-down

Playlist from Thursday, June 30th through Saturday, July 9th

I got a bit lazy and used the same playlist for 3 classes in a row: 6/30, 7/2, and 7/9. (I was out of town on 7/5 and 7/7.) Next week I plan to learn 1-2 new routines!

1. No idea (yet) what this song is called, but it's a really fun, fast warm-up that's mostly merengue with some salsa
2. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
3. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
4. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - bhangra/Indian
5. Mas Linda Que Una Estrella - Los Fantasmas Del Caribe - cumbia/calypso
6. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
7. Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall - cumbia/pop
8. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
9. Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner - pop (on 7/2 and 7/9, I omitted this song and "Do You Dig It," and I did "I Need to Know" instead... because I could tell everyone was tired!)
10. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa (cute!)
11. Say Na Say Na - Aneela, Arash, Johan Bejerholm & Robert Uhlmann - bhangra/Indian
12. Calabria 2007 - Enur - merengue
13. Baila Pa Emociona - Zumba Fitness - calypso
14. Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
15. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
16. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Tuesday, June 28th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

1. C'Mon and Dance - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. Snake Charmer - Panjabi MC - bhangra/Indian
3. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
4. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
5. Tu Bomboncito - Zumba Fitness - flamenco
6. She Bangs (Spanish version) - Ricky Martin (one of my favorites, even though loving this song post-William Hung era probably makes me very un-hip ;-))
7. Baila Pa Emociona - Zumba Fitness - calypso
8. La Pantera Mambo - La-33 - salsa
9. Mas Linda Que Una Estrella - Los Fantasmas Del Caribe - cumbia/calypso
10. Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner - pop
11. Say Na Say Na - Aneela, Arash, Johan Bejerholm & Robert Uhlmann - bhangra/Indian
12. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - salsa
13. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, June 27th (Nichols Park)

I won't post about Nichols Park again until July 11th, as the park is closed on the 4th. Happy Independence Day, everyone!

1. Bad Romance - Lady Gaga - pop
2. Wavin' Flag - K'naan - hip-hop
3. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
4. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
5. Hella Decale - DJ Mam's Featuring Doukali & Soldat Jahman - French reggaeton
6. Slide - Zumba Fitness - calypso/salsa
7. Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
8. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin
9. A La Nena Le Gusta - Zumba Fitness - merengue
10. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - cumbia/reggaeton
11. La Luz Del Flow - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton (I'm normally not the biggest reggaeton fan, but this song is awesome!)
12. Ritmo Caliente - Banda Zarape - quebradita
13. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
14. Mi Alma Se Muere - Chosen Few featuring Pitbull - merengue/hip-hop
15. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
16. Zumba Lluvia - Zumba Fitness - cool-down

Playlist from Thursday, June 23rd & Saturday, June 25th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

Same playlist both days, so I will just post once!

1. Que Te Mueve - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
3. Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner - pop
4. Calabria 2007 - Enur - merengue
5. Say Na Say Na - Aneela, Arash, Johan Bejerholm & Robert Uhlmann - bhangra/Indian
6. Livin' la Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
7. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
8. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
9. Baila Pa Emociona - Zumba Fitness - calypso
10. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
11. La Pantera Mambo ("Pink Panther" theme) - La-33 - salsa
12. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
13. Aromuzak - Zumba Fitness - cool-down

Playlist from Wednesday, June 22nd (Curves in Whiting, IN)

This playlist will stay the same for 5-6 weeks, so I won't post about my Curves classes for awhile (unless something crazy/notable happens in the meantime :-)).

1. C'Mon and Dance - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
3. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
4. Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte - calypso
5. Forget You - Cee-Lo Green - pop (I'd forgotten how much fun this routine is!)
6. Say Na Say Na - Aneela, Arash, Johan Bejerholm & Robert Uhlmann - bhangra/Indian
7. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - reggaeton/cumbia
8. Livin' la Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
9. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Tuesday, June 21st (Happy Body Wellness Center)

1. C'Mon and Dance - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
3. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
4. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - bhangra/Indian
5. Livin' la Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
6. Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall - pop
7. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
8. Tu Bomboncito - Zumba Fitness - flamenco
9. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - reggaeton/cumbia
10. Say Na Say Na - Aneela, Arash, Johan Bejerholm & Robert Uhlmann - bhangra/Indian
11. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin
12. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
13. Mas Linda Que Una Estrella - Los Fantasmas del Caribe
14. Aromuzak - Zumba Fitness - cool-down

Playlist from Monday, June 20th (Flash Mob Zumba!)

Sorry for the delay in my postings! I have been working my biceps (i.e., moving) by day, teaching Zumba by night, and doing academic stuff in between... which has given me little time to write. Last Monday, I arrived at Nichols Park a few minutes before class was to start, and I was horrified to learn that the park is closed until June 27th! (I had gotten the dates mixed up.) So... I found an outlet outside, plugged in my portable speakers, and held a free Zumba class literally in the park for those who showed up. It was very flash-mob-like, and we had several audiences throughout the hour... including little kids who did the choreography along with us. We had a blast!

1. Bad Romance - Lady Gaga - pop
2. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
3. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
4. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - bhangra/Indian
5. Slide - Zumba Fitness - calypso/salsa
6. Dejala Que Baile - Charlie Cruz & Angel y Khriz - salsa/reggaeton
7. Livin' la Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
8. A La Nena Le Gusta - Zumba Fitness - merengue
9. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
10. Hella Decale - DJ Mam's Featuring Doukali & Soldat Jahman - French reggaeton
11. Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall - pop
12. Tunak Tunak Tun - Zumba Fitness - bhangra/Indian
13. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin (a class favorite!)
14. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
15. Aromuzak - Zumba Fitness - cool-down

Playlist from Saturday, June 18th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

This was the debut of my Saturday morning Zumba class!

1. Que Te Mueve - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
3. Asereje - Las Ketchup - salsa
4. El Matador - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - samba
5. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
6. She Bangs - Ricky Martin - Latin
7. Say Na Say Na - Aneela, Arash, Johan Bejerholm & Robert Uhlmann - bhangra/Indian
8. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
9. Cumbia Pa' La Nena - Bachaco - cumbia
10. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
11. Mas Linda Que Una Estrella - Los Fantasmas Del Caribe - calypso/cumbia
12. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
13. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
14. Zumba Lluvia - Zumba Fitness - cool-down

Playlist from Thursday, June 16th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

Today I had the pleasure of meeting my youngest "official" Zumba student ever! She was maybe 10 years old and came in with her mom... she did great, and I hope she wants to come back. :-)

1. C'Mon and Dance - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. Snake Charmer - Panjabi MC - bhangra/Indian
3. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
4. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
5. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
6. Mas Linda Que Una Estrella - Los Fantasmas Del Caribe - calypso/cumbia
7. La Pantera Mambo ("Pink Panther" theme song) - La-33 - salsa
8. Calabria 2007 - Enur - merengue
9. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
10. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - cumbia/reggaeton
11. Say Na Say Na - Aneela, Arash, Johan Bejerholm & Robert Uhlmann - bhangra/Indian
12. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
13. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
14. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Thursday, June 9th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

This playlist is mostly the same as Tuesday's, with a few changes...

1. Que Te Mueve - Zumba Fitness - salsa/merengue
2. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
3. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
4. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
5. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
6. Mas Linda Que Una Estrella - Los Fantasmas del Caribe - I'm not sure of the "official" category, but I choreographed this as a calypso/cumbia fusion
7. La Pantera Mambo ("Pink Panther" theme song) - La-33 - salsa
8. Calabria 2007 - Enur - merengue
9. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
10. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - cumbia/reggaeton
11. Say Na Say Na - Aneela, Arash, Johan Bejerholm & Robert Uhlmann - bhangra/Indian
12. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
13. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
14. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Tuesday, June 7th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

My students at this facility really love bhangra/Indian routines, so I took the opportunity to try out "Say Na Say Na" on them. I copied the routine pretty much move-for-move from this YouTube video... I usually add some of my own choreography, but I thought the routine in the video was solid and at the perfect level for most of the classes I teach.

1. Que Te Mueve - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
3. Asereje - Las Ketchup - salsa
4. Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte - calypso
5. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
6. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
7. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
8. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
9. Say Na Say Na - Aneela, Arash, Johan Bejerholm & Robert Uhlmann - bhangra/Indian
10. Cumbia Pa' La Nena - Bachaco - cumbia
11. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
12. Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner - pop/R&B
13. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
14. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin pop

Playlist from Monday, June 6th (Nichols Park)

Thank goodness the park staff turned on the air conditioning this week! Given that the weather in Chicago is getting increasingly hot (and we always work up a sweat in Zumba anyway), it made for a much more pleasant workout.

1. Ma Ya Hi (aka the "Numa Numa Dance") - Dan Balan - pop (my favorite warm-up!)
2. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
3. Hella Decale - DJ Mam's Featuring Doukali & Soldat Jahman - reggaeton
4. La Pantera Mambo (aka "Pink Panther" theme song) - La-33 - salsa
5. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - reggaeton/cumbia
6. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - bhangra/Indian
7. Ritmo Caliente - Banda Zarape - quebradita
8. Mi Alma Se Muere - Chosen Few featuring Pitbull - merengue/hip-hop
9. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin pop
10. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
11. Mami - A.B. Quintanilla III y los Kumbia All Starz - cumbia
12. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
13. La Luz Del Flow - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
14. Zumba Lluvia - Zumba Fitness - cool-down

Playlist from Tuesday, May 31st (Happy Body Wellness Center)

This is my only post of the week, as Nichols Park was closed on Monday the 30th, and I had to cancel class due to travel plans on Thursday, June 2nd. (The Curves playlist will stay the same for the next 2 weeks. After the quarter ends at UChicago and I emerge from my grading cave, I'll make a brand-new mix!)

1. C'Mon and Dance - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
3. La Pantera Mambo ("Pink Panther" theme song) - La-33 - salsa
4. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
5. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
6. Tu Bomboncito - Zumba Fitness - flamenco
7. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
8. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - bhangra/Indian
9. Chori Chori - Aneela featuring Arash - bhangra/Indian
10. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
11. Cumbia Pa' La Nena - Bachaco - cumbia
12. Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte - calypso
13. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
14. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Wednesday, May 25th (Curves in Whiting, IN)

Same as last week! I am really digging this Curves class... the ladies are very enthusiastic, and one of them even told me after class that she couldn't stop smiling. I must be doing something right. :-)

Playlist from Tuesday, May 24th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

Tonight I had a class with 6 students... my largest ever at this facility! Starting this summer I will be teaching here on Saturday mornings as well, which is very exciting. The only downside is that it conflicts with Melody's classes (i.e., my "continuing education"). But I guess/hope this means we'll get together more often to practice!

1. C'Mon and Dance - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
3. She Bangs (Spanish version) - Ricky Martin - Latin pop
4. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
5. Asereje - Las Ketchup - salsa
6. Calabria 2007 - Enur - merengue
7. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
8. Chori Chori - Aneela featuring Arash - bhangra/Indian
9. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
10. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
11. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
12. Cumbia Pa' La Nena - Bachaco - cumbia
13. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
14. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - bhangra/Indian (The class loves this one!)
15. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, May 23rd (Nichols Park)

This class was a "Zumba for the kitties." On the last Monday of each month (well, this was the second to last Monday, but the park is closed on Memorial Day), I donate my earnings beyond the $35 overhead costs to Hyde Park Cats. If you live in the area, this is an excellent way to support needy kitties, exercise, and have fun all at once!

1. I Like It - Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull - Latin/hip-hop
2. Cumbia Arabe - Zumba Fitness - cumbia (I picked this one up from my friend and "Zumba mentor" Melody's class)
3. Wavin' Flag - K'naan - pop/hip-hop
4. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
5. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin
6. Chori Chori - Aneela featuring Arash - bhangra/Indian
7. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - cumbia
8. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
9. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
10. Hella Decale - DJ Mam's featuring Doukali & Soldat Jahman - French reggaeton
11. Aguanile - Marc Anthony - salsa
12. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
13. Suddenly I See - KT Turnstall - pop (one of the first routines I choreographed myself)
14. Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte - calypso
15. 5 Letras - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
16. Bailar Pegados - Zumba Fitness - Latin

Playlist from Wednesday, May 18th (Curves in Whiting, IN)

This was my first experience teaching Zumba in the Circuit, and I loved it! (From now on I'll be doing two 30-minute classes back-to-back on Wednesdays from 5:30-6:40pm... and yes, the gym is in Indiana. Strangely, it's only 10 miles away from our place on the South Side of Chicago.) The ladies were very enthusiastic and open to trying new types of routines... though my husband was less enthusiastic about my having to play the "Zumba, Zumba" voice cue over and over again as I created the mix. :-) For those of you who are unfamiliar with how ZIC works, it is a 30-minute workout... participants alternate between floor/Zumba and machines every minute (as soon as they hear the voice cue). So my mix consisted of 14 two-minute song segments, as follows:

1. Que Te Mueve - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
3. Asereje - Las Ketchup - salsa
4. Mi Alma Se Muere - Chosen Few featuring Pitbull - merengue/hip-hop
5. Chori Chori - Aneela featuring Arash - bhangra/Indian
6. Cumbia Pa' La Nena - Bachaco - cumbia
7. Calabria 2007 - Enur - merengue
8. Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte - calypso (I think this was their favorite)
9. Snake Charmer - Panjabi MC - bhangra/Indian
10. 5 Letras - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
11. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
12. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
13. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
14. Zumba Lluvia - Zumba Fitness - cool-down

Playlist from Tuesday, May 17th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

I'm so sad that I need to cancel class this Thursday (and the two Thursdays after that) because I had a blast teaching! (Alas, colloquium speakers, conferences, and weddings back-to-back will do that.) This group really likes the bhangra/Indian routines, so there will be more of those to come.

1. C'Mon and Dance - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
3. Asereje - Las Ketchup - salsa
4. Calabria 2007 - Enur - merengue
5. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
6. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
7. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
8. 5 Letras - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
9. Cumbia Pa' La Nena - Bachaco - cumbia
10. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
11. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
12. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - bhangra/Indian
13. Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte - calypso
14. Snake Charmer - Panjabi MC - bhangra/Indian
15. Zumba Lluvia - Zumba Fitness - cool-down

Playlist from Monday, May 16th (Nichols Park)

I really liked this playlist... not only the music (which I clearly must like!), but also the intensity level of the workout. I've been trying hard to strike a good balance between high-impact and low-impact routines so that my students and I get lots of exercise, yet don't feel as if we've killed ourselves in the process. Students, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I finally succeeded. :-)

1. I Like It - Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull - Latin
2. Snake Charmer - Panjabi MC - bhangra/Indian
3. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - cumbia
4. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
5. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
6. La Pantera Mambo ("Pink Panther" theme) - La-33 - salsa
7. Wiggle Wiggle - Fulanito - merengue
8. La Luz Del Flow - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
9. Hella Decale - DJ Mam's Featuring Doukali & Soldat Jahman - reggaeton
10. Tequila - The Champs - salsa
11. Ritmo Caliente - Banda Zarape - quebradita
12. Bamboleo - Gypsy Kings - flamenco
13. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin
14. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
15. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Tuesday, May 10th and Thursday, May 12th (Happy Body Wellness Center)

I rarely duplicate playlists, but I will this week because the one student who attended Tuesday's class is out of town. Today I was amused to discover that the lyrics to song #5 ("Calabria 2007") are actually in English! I had assumed they were in Portuguese because to me, they sounded "kind of like Spanish but not quite." The singer, Enur, is Danish yet apparently has a heavy Jamaican accent. I guess I was way off!

1. C'Mon and Dance* - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. Snake Charmer - Panjabi MC - bhangra/Indian
3. La Pantera Mambo ("Pink Panther" theme) - La-33 - salsa
4. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
5. Calabria 2007 - Enur - merengue
6. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
7. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
8. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira
9. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - cumbia/reggaeton
10. 5 Letras - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
11. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
12. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
13. Zumba Lluvia - Zumba Fitness - cool-down

* Very old-school Zumba... it's from the Zumba Fitness Original Soundtrack released in 2004!

Playlist from Monday, May 9th (Nichols Park)

Because this class was held the day after Mother's Day, I waived the $5 fee for all moms. I'd do the same for dads on Father's Day, but I have yet to see a male student in any of my classes!

The swing number ("Don't Let Me Down") - which I debuted at Happy Body Wellness Center last week - seemed especially popular, so I will definitely continue to include that in future playlists.

1. I Like It - Enrique Iglesias featuring Pitbull - Latin/hip-hop
2. Wavin' Flag - K'naan - hip-hop
3. Dejala Que Baile - Charlie Cruz & Angel y Khriz - salsa/reggaeton
4. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
5. Drop It On Me - Ricky Martin - Latin/reggaeton
6. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian
7. Aguanile - Mark Anthony - salsa
8. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - reggaeton/cumbia
9. A La Nena Le Gusta - Zumba Fitness - merengue
10. Mami - A.B. Quintanilla III y los Kumbia All Starz - cumbia
11. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
12. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - bhangra/Indian
13. Ritmo Caliente - Banda Zarape - quebradita
14. Do You Dig It - Zumba Fitness - cha-cha
15. Zumba Lluvia - Zumba Fitness - cool-down

Playlist from Thursday, May 5th (Happy Body Wellness)

Sorry so late! This was a fun playlist with lots of new songs mixed in with the old... I plan to include at least two of them in tonight's class at Nichols Park.

1. Que Te Mueve - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - bhangra/Indian
3. She Bangs (Spanish version) - Ricky Martin - Latin
4. Asereje - Las Ketchup - salsa
5. Mawa Sillah - Zumba Fitness - African/Arabian (the ladies especially liked this one)
6. Chori Chori - Punjabi MC - bhangra/Indian
7. Calabria - Enur - merengue
8. Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner - cha-cha/R&B (I love hearing all the "Oh no!" reactions when the music slows down and students know the fast part is coming :-))
9. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - cumbia
10. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
11. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
12. El Matador - Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - samba
13. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
14. Aromuzak - Zumba Fitness - cool-down

Playlist from Tuesday, May 3rd (Happy Body Wellness)

If you are part of the over-40 population and would like to try out a lower-impact version of Zumba, this is the class for you! Happy Body Wellness is a small and very welcoming facility that offers other exercise classes (e.g., yoga, pilates), massage, and acupuncture in addition to Zumba. I love teaching there because I can give my students more individual attention (indeed, sometimes - like last night - the class consists of one student and myself!) and become acquainted with them personally (the lady who came to class yesterday has a daughter who graduated Stanford in 1999, and I was class of '03 - small world!).

1. Que Te Mueve - Zumba Fitness - merengue/salsa
2. Snake Charmer - Panjabi MC - Indian/bhangra
3. La Pantera Mambo (aka "Pink Panther Theme Song") - La-33 - salsa
4. Chori Chori - Aneela feat. Arash - Indian/bhangra
5. Tu Bomboncito - Zumba Fitness - flamenco
6. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
7. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing (new routine!)
8. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin
9. Jump in the Line - Harry Belafonte - calypso
10. Asereje - Las Ketchup - salsa
11. Jai Ho (from Slumdog Millionaire) - Mumbai Dolls - Indian/bhangra
12. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
13. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, May 2nd (Nichols Park)

For me, nothing cures a "case of the Mondays" faster than an evening Zumba class. And discovering Cafe 53, the quaint new gelato place on 53rd and Kenwood, didn't hurt either! I just might have to make it a regular stop on my way home. :-)

Thanks, everyone, for a fun and energetic hour! And special thanks to Kasey for requesting Song #2... keep those requests coming.

1. Ma Ya Hi (aka "Numa Numa Dance") - Dan Balan - pop
2. Wavin' Flag - K'naan - hip-hop
3. Chori Chori - Aneela featuring Arash - Indian/bhangra
4. Para No Verte Mas -Zumba Fitness - samba
5. Baila Pa Emociona - Zumba Fitness - calypso
6. 5 Letras - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
7. Asereje - Las Ketchup - salsa
8. Mi Alma Se Muere - Chosen Few - merengue/hip-hop
9. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin
10. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
11. Ritmo Caliente - Banda Zarape - quebradita (a fancy name for "Mexican hat dance")
12. Jai Ho (from Slumdog Millionaire) - Mumbai Dolls - Indian/bhangra
13. La Luz Del Flow - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
14. Jump in the Line* - Harry Belafonte - calypso
15. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

* This song was not on the original playlist. I had planned to do something much higher-impact between Songs #8 and #9, but because Song #8 nearly killed me, I figured I would save it for next week and swap in Harry Belafonte (which I'd classify as "medium impact") instead!

Playlist from Monday, April 25th (Nichols Park)

Congratulations to those of you who attended last Monday's class and survived the more-intense-than-usual set! In case you're curious and/or would like to request a song for this week, here is the playlist, complete with song titles, artists, and genres.

1. Ma Ya Hi (aka "Numa Numa Dance") - Dan Balan - pop
2. Jai Ho (from Slumdog Millionaire) - Mumbai Dolls - Indian/bhangra
3. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin
4. A La Nena Le Gusta - Zumba Fitness - merengue (the super fast one! :-))
5. Forget You - Cee Lo Green - R&B/soul
6. Galactic Blues - Don Omar - reggaeton
7. La Pantera Mambo (aka "Pink Panther Theme") - La-33 - Salsa
8. She Bangs (Spanish version) - Ricky Martin - Latin
9. Cumbia Pa' La Nena - Bachaco - cumbia
10. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba
11. 5 Letras - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
12. Zorba - Zumba Fitness - Greek
13. Snake Charmer - Panjabi MC - Indian/bhangra
14. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog! This is a way for my Zumba students to connect with one another and stay informed about upcoming classes, playlists from previous classes (so that you can request specific songs if you want :-)), and other relevant stuff.

I teach on Mondays at Nichols Park (53rd & Kenwood) from 7-8pm, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Happy Body Wellness Center (1715 E 55th Street - between S Hyde Park Blvd. and Everett) from 6:15-7:15pm. I hope to see you at a class sometime soon!