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