New address!

At long last (about 7-8 months after changing my email address), I'm changing my blog address. Please visit the new one here. Thanks for following!

Playlist from Monday, June 4th, 2012 (Nichols Park)

This was the last class of the spring session! Summer classes start on Monday, June 18th and will be held from 6-7pm (NOT 7-8pm).

1. Beat It - Michael Jackson - pop
2. Nachde Ne Saare - Zumba Fitness - Indian
3. Wiggle Wiggle - Fulanito - merengue
4. Barranquillero Arrebatao - Zumba Fitness - salsa
5. La Billirrubina - Juan Luis Guerra - merengue
6. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
7. In a Search - Obie P - reggaeton
8. Trai La Bulla - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/merengue
9. Bolo Ta Ra Ra - Daler Mehndi - Indian
10. Zoomer - Les Jumo - African
11. Oye - Gloria Estefan - salsa
12. Tequila - Proyecto Uno - pop
13. Lay All Your Love on Me - ABBA - pop
14. Save the Last Dance for Me - Zumba Fitness - cool-down

Playlist from Monday, May 21st (Nichols Park)

My class seemed to really like "Nachde Ne Saare" (the new Indian song off one of the latest Zumba CDs), so I am definitely keeping that in future playlists!

1. Mash Up By DJ Earworm - Jessy Matador - pop (next week I'm retiring this one, as I have a few other exciting warm-ups in the works)
2. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
3. Que Te Pasa - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/hip-hop
4. La Billirrubina - Juan Luis Guerra - merengue
5. Barranquillero Arrebatao - Zumba Fitness - salsa
6. Lovumba - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/reggaeton
7. In a Search - Obie P - reggaeton
8. Mami - A.B. Quintanilla III y los Kumbia All Starz - cumbia
9. Oye - Gloria Estefan - salsa
10. Great Balls of Fire - Zumba Fitness - pop
11. Caray - Rocio Durcal - cumbia
12. Nachde Ne Saare - Zumba Fitness - Indian
13. Las Gatitas - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
14. Mi Corazoncito - Zumba Fitness - bachata
15. Como Abeja Al Panal - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, May 14th (Nichols Park)

Because I'm teaching/subbing at multiple locations now and it's hard to document all the little changes in my playlists from class to class, from now on I will reserve this blog just for my Monday night class at Nichols Park. As many of you know, I am now donating all of my profits from this class to Hyde Park Cats. So... get ready to "meow-ve" it every week at Zumba for Kitties! You can read more about Hyde Park Cats here.

1. Mash Up By DJ Earworm - Jessy Matador - pop
2. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - Bollywood
3. La Billirrubina - Juan Luis Guerra - merengue
4. Culebra - Zumba Fitness - salsa
5. Mami -  A.B. Quintanilla III y los Kumbia All Starz - cumbia
6. Great Balls of Fire - Zumba Fitness - pop
7. Het Is Tijd - K-Liber4Life - soca
8. Que Te Pasa - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/hip-hop
9. Lay All Your Love on Me - ABBA - pop
10. Taboo - Zumba Fitness - axe/urban
11. In a Search - Obie P - reggaeton
12. Oye - Gloria Estefan - salsa
13. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
14. She's All I Ever Had - Ricky Martin - Latin pop

Playlist from Monday, May 7th (Nichols Park & Mary Magdalene Baptist Church)

Thanks, everyone, for coming to class despite the really nasty weather! Remember, the hardest part is getting there (maybe). ;-)

1. Beat It - Michael Jackson - pop
2. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - Bollywood
3. La Bilirrubina - Juan Luis Guerra - merengue (new one - this artist never fails me!)
4. Lovumba - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/reggaeton
5. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
6. Vino Tinto - Zumba Fitness - rumba/flamenco
7. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba/pop
8. Wiggle Wiggle - Fulanito - merengue
9. Las Gatitas - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
10. Caray - Rocio Durcal - cumbia
11. Oye - Gloria Estefan - salsa
12. Boro Boro - Arash - Bollywood
13. Lay All Your Love on Me - ABBA - pop (another new one!)
14. She's All I Ever Had - Ricky Martin - Latin

Playlist from Monday, April 30th (Nichols Park & Mary Magdalene Baptist Church)

1. Mash Up By DJ Earworm - Jessy Matador - pop
2. Boro Boro - Arash - Bollywood
3. Wiggle Wiggle - Fulanito - merengue (this one's a killer workout!)
4. Barranquillero Arrebatao - Zumba Fitness - salsa
5. Caray - Rocio Durcal - cumbia
6. Het Is Tijd - K-Liber4Life - soca
7. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
8. Trai La Bulla - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/merengue
9. Zoomer - Les Jumo - African
10. In a Search - Obie P - reggaeton
11. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
12. Vino Tinto - flamenco/rumba
13. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba/pop
14. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega - pop
15. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Wednesday, April 25th (Curves in Elmhurst, IL)

A few weeks ago I responded to an ad about a Zumba position at the Elmhurst Curves (located in the Western suburbs). After participating in the leaving instructor's class last week, I was asked to teach this Wednesday. It went very well, so I got the job! The way this class works is that the first half-hour will be "Zumba in the Circuit," whereas the last half-hour will be a regular Zumba class.

Here is the lineup from the first half-hour. I won't reproduce it every week because I'll use the same songs for 4-6 weeks.

1. I Like It - Enrique Iglesias feat. Pitbull - Latin/pop
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 - pop
7. Oh La Ley - Zumba Fitness - merengue
8. Evacuate the Dance Floor - Cascada - pop
9. Stand By Me - Zumba Fitness - bachata/cool-down

And here's what I did for the last half-hour:

1. La Ventanita - Sergio Vargas - merengue
2. Barranquillero Arrebatao - Zumba Fitness - salsa
3. Zoomer - Les Jumo - African
4. Caray - Rocio Durcal - cumbia
5. Het Is Tijd - K-Liber4life - soca
6. In a Search - Obie P - reggaeton
7. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba/pop
8. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin/pop

 

Playlist from week of April 23rd

I had two girls (under 12) in last Friday's class... I love when I get students from multiple age groups! It was appropriate timing too, as I'm getting certified in Zumbatomic a week from Saturday. :-)

1. Mash Up By DJ Earworm - Jessy Matador - pop
2. In a Search - Obie P - reggaeton
3. Trai La Bulla - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/merengue
4. Barranquillero Arrebatao - Zumba Fitness - salsa
5. Taboo - Zumba Fitness - axe/urban
6. Caray - Rocio Durcal - cumbia
7. Het Is Tijd - K-Liber4life - soca
8. Carta de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - salsa
9. La Ventanita - Sergio Vargas - merengue
10. Great Balls of Fire - Zumba Fitness - pop
11. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
12. Lovumba - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton/cumbia
13. Vino Tinto - Zumba Fitness - flamenco/pop
14. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, April 16th (Nichols Park & Mary Magdalene Baptist Church)

This was a test of endurance for me... My first time teaching two Zumba classes in a row (one at 5:15pm and another at 7pm). But I made it, and despite a bit of soreness the next day, it wasn't too bad!

I won't post the playlist because it was basically the same as last Friday's with two replacements: I put in "La Ventanita" instead of "Trai La Bulla" and "Snake Charmer" instead of "Boro Boro."

One of my favorite Zumba moments ever had to be at my Nichols Park class on Monday evening. We had just finished "In a Search"; the first line of that song goes "You know I just kind of want a sexy lady..." Well, it has quickly become a new favorite among my regulars, and after it ended, one of them exclaimed "We're sexy ladies!" Indeed. :-)

Playlist from Friday, April 13th (Mary Magdalene Baptist Church)

This was my first night teaching at Mary Magdalene (at 109th & Princeton). What a perfect way to end the week! From now on I'll be there Friday evenings and possibly Mondays before my Nichols Park class. Yes, that's two Zumba classes pretty much back-to-back. Whew!

1. Mash-Up By DJ Earworm - Jessy Matador - pop (someone posted this song on the Zumba Community forum, and I fell in love with it)
2. Boro Boro - Arash - Indian
3. Lovumba - Zumba Fitness - techno/cumbia/reggaeton
4. Barranquillero Arrebatao - Zumba Fitness - salsa
5. Zoomer - Les Jumo - African
6. Las Gatitas - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
7. Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner - pop
8. Carta de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - salsa
9. Trai La Bulla - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/merengue
10. Taboo - Zumba Fitness - axe/urban
11. In a Search - Obie P - reggaeton
12. Caray - Rocio Durcal - cumbia
13. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega - pop
14. Bachata Rosa - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, April 9th (Nichols Park)

Today I brought back a few old favorites, including "Proud Mary," which I did at my very first class. I keep forgetting how much fun (but exhausting) it is!

1. Beat It - Michael Jackson - pop
2. Boro Boro - Arash - Indian
3. Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner - pop
4. Caray - Rocio Durcal - cumbia
5. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
6. Girl You Know It's True - Milli Vanilli - pop
7. Lovumba - Zumba Fitness - ?
8. La Patilla - Orlando Conga - merengue
9. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega - pop
10. Snake Charmer - Punjabi MC - Indian
11. Carta de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - salsa
12. Het Is Tijd - K-Liber4life - soca
13. Mi Corazoncito - Zumba Fitness - bachata
14. In a Search - Obie P - reggaeton
15. Bachata Rosa - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from week of April 2nd

I (and my students) loved this playlist at Nichols Park last night, so when I teach at the JCC tomorrow I won't change it at all.

1. Beat It - Michael Jackson - pop (fun stuff!)
2. Boro Boro - Arash - Indian
3. Lovumba - Zumba Fitness - ???
4. La Ventanita - Sergio Vargas - merengue
5. Culebra - Zumba Fitness - salsa
6. Las Gatitas - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton (by request!)
7. Great Balls of Fire - Zumba Fitness - pop
8. Bamboleo - Gipsy Kings - flamenco
9. Het Is Tijd - K-Liber4life - soca
10. Caray - Rocio Durcal - cumbia
11. In a Search - Obie P - reggaeton
12. Mami - A.B. Quintanilla III y los Kumbia All Starz - cumbia
13. Carta de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - salsa
14. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega - pop
15. Bachata Rosa - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from week of March 26th

"Lovumba" is all the rage among Zumba teachers... everyone has been buzzing about this song on the ZIN (Zumba Instructor Network) discussion forums. I choreographed it on my flight back home from spring break. :-)

1. Bad Romance - Lady GaGa - pop (Nichols Park) / Hola My Friend - Zumba Fitness - calypso (Jewish Community Center)
2. Boro Boro - Arash - Indian
3. La Patilla - Orlando Conga - merengue (Nichols Park) / La Ventanita - Sergio Vargas - merengue (Jewish Community Center)
4. La Pantera Mambo - La-33 - salsa
5. Hella Decale - DJ Mam's Featuring Doukali & Soldat Jahman - French reggaeton (Nichols Park) / Las Gatitas - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton (Jewish Community Center)
6. Lovumba - Zumba Fitness - no idea what rhythm it is but I love the song!
7. Great Balls of Fire - Zumba Fitness - pop
8. Trai La Bulla - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/merengue
9. Bamboleo - Gipsy Kings - flamenco
10. Het Is Tijd - K-Liber4life - soca
11. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
12. Caray - Rocio Durcal - cumbia (another of my grandma's favorite artists, whom I remember from my childhood)
13. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
14. Bachata Rosa - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Zumba for Kitties tomorrow at Nichols Park!

Zumba for Kitties, the monthly event in which I donate all my earnings to Hyde Park Cats, is tomorrow, March 26th at Nichols Park from 7-8pm! Song requests are always welcome.

Also, my classes at the Jewish Community Center gym (5200 S Hyde Park Blvd.) start this Wednesday, March 28th (5:30-6pm)! The cost is $99 for a 10-class punch card, which never expires. If you know you'd like to purchase a punch card, you can pay for it at the JCC front desk on the first day of class.

Playlist from Monday, March 12th (Nichols Park)

On Saturday morning I had the opportunity to sub for my friend/Zumba mom (Melody Fillier), who teaches at the Lutheran School of Theology library. It was a blast... so much that I'm sticking with the same playlist tonight. :-)

1. The Anthem - Pitbull featuring Lil Jon - Latin/hip-hop
2. Boro Boro - Arash - Indian
3. Wavin' Flag - K'naan - pop/hip-hop
4. Capirinha - Zumba Fitness - no idea but it was the 2010 "signature" Zumba song
5. La Ventanita - Sergio Vargas - merengue
6. Culebra - Zumba Fitness - salsa
7. Monster - Lady GaGa - pop
8. Bolo Ta Ra Ra - Daler Mehndi - Bollywood
9. Trai La Bulla - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/merengue (tonight I'll replace this with Great Balls of Fire)
10. Las Gatitas - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
11. Zoomer - Les Jumo - African
12. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega - pop
13. Het Is Tijd - K-Liber4life - soca
14. La Gota Fria - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
15. Bachata Rosa - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, March 5th (Nichols Park)

1. I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston - pop
2. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
3. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
4. Que Te Pasa - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/hip-hop
5. La Ventanita - Sergio Vargas - merengue
6. Great Balls of Fire - Zumba Fitness - pop
7. Het Is Tijd - K-Liber4life - soca
8. Trai La Bulla - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/merengue
9. Bolo Ta Ra Ra - Daler Mehndi - Bollywood
10. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega - pop
11. Forget You - Cee-Lo Green - pop
12. Zoomer - Les Jumo - African
13. Las Gatitas - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
14. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from weeks of March 4th and March 11th (Southside Hub of Production)

Sadly, this facility can no longer accommodate fitness classes so my last class there will be on Tuesday the 13th. But starting on Wednesday, March 28th, I will have class from 5:30-6:30pm at the Jewish Community Center (52oo S Hyde Park Blvd). It costs $99 per 10-class pass... contact me to reserve your space!! The passes are a great deal because they never expire, and it's a huge, comfortable place to work out.

1. Shake Senora Remix - Pitbull featuring T-Pain - Latin/hip-hop
2. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
3. Monster - Lady GaGa - pop
4. La Ventanita - Sergio Vargas - merengue
5. Zoomer - Les Jumo - African
6. La Pantera Mambo - La-33 - salsa
7. Great Balls of Fire - Zumba Fitness - pop
8. Las Gatitas - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
9. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega - pop
10. Het Is Tijd - K-Liber4life - soca
11. Trai La Bulla - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/merengue
12. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Bollywood
13. Mi Corazoncito - Zumba Fitness - bachata
14. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, February 27th (Nichols Park)

A far more intense playlist than I anticipated... I had several new students in this class, and they were all troupers. Much to the delight of both my newbies and regulars, I brought Milli Vanilli back too!

1. I Wanna Dance with Somebody - Whitney Houston - pop
2. Monster - Lady GaGa - pop
3. Bolo Ta Ra Ra - Daler Mehndi - Bollywood
4. Culebra - Zumba Fitness - salsa
5. Trai La Bulla - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/merengue
6. Hella Decale - DJ Mam's Featuring Doukali & Soldat Jahman - French reggaeton
7. Great Balls of Fire - Zumba Fitness- pop
8. La Ventanita - Sergio Vargas - merengue
9. Girl You Know It's True - Milli Vanilli - pop
10. Het Is Tijd - K-Liber4life - soca (I think!)
11. Danza Kuduro - Don Omar & Lucenzo - cumbia/reggaeton (at least that's how I choreographed it)
12. Tequila - Proyecto Uno - Latin/reggaeton
13. La Gota Fria - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
14. She's All I Ever Had - Ricky Martin - Latin

Playlist from week of February 26th

I usually make my new playlists on Tuesday and not Sunday, but this time I made an exception given that I didn't have a "true" playlist last week. This was among my favorite combinations of routines/rhythms I've put together thus far... I'm going to have to remember that!

1. I Wanna Dance with Somebody - Whitney Houston - pop
2. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
3. Trai La Bulla - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/merengue
4. Taboo - Zumba Fitness - axe/urban
5. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
6. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba/pop
7. Great Balls of Fire - Zumba Fitness - pop (this was SO much fun!)
8. Asereje - Las Ketchup - salsa
9. Que Te Pasa - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/hip-hop
10. La Ventanita - Sergio Vargas - merengue
11. Las Gatitas - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
12. Het Is Tijd - K-Liber4life - no idea what kind of rhythm this is but it's on the new Zumba CD and is very catchy/upbeat; I used a combination of merengue and hip-hop moves
13. Las Juanas - Zumba Fitness - salsa
14. Snake Charmer - Punjabi MC - Indian
15. Burbujas de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from week of February 21st

This playlist was largely the same as the previous week, so I won't reproduce it song by song. However, I will say that (depending on which of my students showed up to a particular class) I rotated in the following old favorites:

* Bad Romance - Lady GaGa - pop
* Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian cha-cha
* Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - Bollywood
* Mi Corazoncito - Zumba Fitness - bachata
* Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - Shakira - Latin

Playlist from week of February 14th (Southside Hub of Production)

Happy (belated now) Valentine's Day! To honor Whitney's memory in light of her untimely and tragic passing, I added in a new warmup, which I'll be using for the next few weeks.

1. I Wanna Dance with Somebody - Whitney Houston - pop
2. Chori Chori - Arash featuring Aneela - Indian (One of my regulars, who had never done this song before, couldn't stop smiling during the routine. I figured that she must really like the steps, but it turns out this is an Indian remake of an old one-hit wonder from the 90s, "The Informer" by Snow. Hilarious!)
3. Trai La Bulla - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/merengue
4. Culebra - Zumba Fitness - salsa
5. Monster - Lady GaGa - pop
6. La Ventanita - Sergio Vargas - merengue
7. Gazab - Zumba Fitness - Indian
8. Girl You Know It's True - Milli Vanilli - pop
9. Oye - Gloria Estefan - salsa
10. Zoomer - Les Jumo - African
11. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega - pop
12. Mi Alma Se Muere - Chosen Few featuring Pitbull - merengue/hip-hop
13. La Gota Fria - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
14. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, February 6th (Nichols Park)

Hooray! This is the first post I've actually published prior to the start of class! Given that it starts in less than an hour, odds are slim to none that anyone will visit my blog before then... but just in case, I'm always open to song requests/changes. ;-)

1. Shake Senora Remix - Pitbull - Latin/hip-hop
2. Monster - Lady GaGa - pop
3. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
4. La Patilla - Orlando Conga - merengue
5. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega - Latin/pop
6. Hella Decale - DJ Mam's Featuring Doukali & Soldat Jahman - French reggaeton
7. Culebra - Zumba Fitness - salsa
8. Taboo - Zumba Fitness - axe/urban
9. Trai La Bulla - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/merengue
10. Zoomer - Les Jumo - African
11. Tequila - Proyecto Uno - Latin/pop
12. La Gota Fria - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
13. Forget You - Cee Lo Green - pop (can't wait!!)
14. She's All I Ever Had - Ricky Martin - Latin

Playlist from week of January 31st (Southside Hub)

I was out of town on the 24th and 29th - hence the lack of a playlist for that week. Also, even though I came back on the 30th in time for my Monday evening Nichols Park class, the playlist I'd created somehow didn't transfer over from iTunes to my iPhone! So I largely had to improvise, which is tricky because I like to mix up the fast and "slow" songs ("slow" being a relative term, of course).

1. Shake Senora Remix - Pitbull - Latin/hip-hop
2. Monster - Lady GaGa - pop
3. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
4. La Ventanita - Sergio Vargas - merengue
5. Don't Let Me Down - Zumba Fitness - swing
6. Carta de Amor - Juan Luis Guerra - salsa
7. Zoomer - Les Jumo - African
8. Mi Alma Se Muere (remix) - Chosen Few featuring Pitbull - merengue/hip-hop
9. Trai La Bulla - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/merengue
10. Las Gatitas - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
11. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba/pop
12. La Gota Fria - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
13. Mi Corazoncito - Zumba Fitness - bachata
14. Como Abeja al Panal - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from Monday, January 23rd (Nichols Park)

1. Shake Senora Remix - Pitbull featuring T-Pain - Latin/hip-hop
2. Bolo Ta Ra Ra - Daler Mehndi - Bollywood
3. La Ventanita - Sergio Vargas - merengue
4. Un Mes - Mara - reggaeton
5. Zoomer - Les Jumo - African
6. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega - pop
7. Culebra - Zumba Fitness - salsa
8. Trai La Bulla - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/merengue
9. Las Gatitas - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
10. Evacuate the Dancefloor - Cascada - pop
11. La Gota Fria - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
12. Oye - Gloria Estefan - salsa
13. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian/cha-cha
14. Como Abeja Al Panal - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Playlist from week of January 16th (Southside Hub)

It was about time for a new warm-up... this is a great one, actually a remix of the Harry Belafonte song (also featured in "Beetlejuice") that I've done in previous classes.

1. Shake Senora Remix - Pitbull - pop/hip-hop
2. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
3. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega - Latin
4. Un Mes - Mara - reggaeton
5. Zoomer - Les Jumo - African
6. Cali Aji - Zumba Fitness - salsa
7. La Gota Fria - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
8. Taboo - Zumba Fitness - axe/urban
9. Las Gatitas - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
10. Para No Verte Mas - Zumba Fitness - samba/pop
11. La Ventanita - Sergio Vargas - merengue
12. Culebra - Zumba Fitness - salsa
13. I Need to Know - Mark Anthony - cha-cha
14. Como Abeja Al Panal - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin/pop (One of my regulars likes his songs so much that she purchased his CD over the holidays! As a heads-up, I'm currently working on a Juan Luis Guerra salsa routine, so stay tuned...)

Playlist from Monday, January 9th (Nichols Park)

I'm a little late with this, but at least it is in time for tomorrow evening's class at Nichols Park! To me, the most exciting part of this post is that I *finally* tracked down the name of the elusive merengue song I love... it's "La Ventanita" (#4 below).

1. The Anthem (featuring Lil John) - Pitbull - pop/hip-hop
2. Gazab - Zumba Fitness - Hindu
3. Aguanile - Mark Anthony - salsa
4. La Ventanita - Sergio Vargas - merengue
5. Las Gatitas - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton
6. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega - pop
7. Que Te Pasa - Zumba Fitness - cumbia/reggaeton
8. Un Mes - Mara - reggaeton
9. Culebra - Zumba Fitness - salsa
10. Taboo - Zumba Fitness - axe/urban
11. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - Bollywood (by request :-))
12. La Gota Fria - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
13. She's All I Ever Had - Ricky Martin - Latin

Playlist from Friday, January 6th (Southside Hub of Production)

Last Friday, I offered a free demo class at the Southside Hub, where I'll be on Tuesdays and Sundays starting this week. I must say, I wasn't expecting a huge turnout on a Friday evening... but we actually had a nice-sized group!

What a wonderful way to end the week. It was so wonderful, in fact, that I had a Zumba dream anticipation of my Nichols Park class this evening. That must be #1 on "You know you're a Zumba geek when..." :-)

1. Hola My Friend - Zumba Fitness - calypso (this one makes me feel like I'm on a tropical island!)
2. La Mujer de Pelotero - Zumba Fitness - merengue
3. Jogi - Zumba Fitness - Bollywood
4. Mambo No. 5 - Lou Bega - pop
5. Zoomer - Zumba Fitness - African
6. Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin - Latin
7. Hindu Cumen - Zumba Fitness - Indian fusion/cha-cha
8. Culebra - Zumba Fitness - salsa
9. La Gota Fria - Zumba Fitness - cumbia
10. Las Gatitas - Zumba Fitness - reggaeton (you'll have to come to class to find out why I refer to this as the "crazy cat lady song")
11. Jai Ho (from "Slumdog Millionaire") - Mumbai Dolls - Bollywood
12. Mi Alma Se Muere - Chosen Few featuring Pitbull - merengue/reggaeton
13. Mi Corazoncito - Zumba Fitness - bachata
14. Estrellitas y Duendes - Juan Luis Guerra - Latin

Zumba Resumes 1/9/12!

I'm already looking forward to resuming Monday night Zumba at Nichols Park! We'll start up again next week (on January 9th)... classes will be from 7-8pm and cost $5 each. Hope to see you there! Please email me with any song requests. :-)

Also, I am happy to report that I found space in which to offer two additional classes in Hyde Park every week! The space is at the Southside Hub (5638 S Woodlawn - corner of 56th & Woodlawn), and the classes will be Tuesdays 6-7pm (starting 1/10) and Sundays 12-1pm (starting 1/15). As with Nichols Park, the cost is $5 per class.

Hope to see you at a class soon!