“Joro Boro” by Balkan Beat Box (Middle Eastern)

Listen/Obtain

[Listen at YouTube] [FREE at Amazon.com]

Choreography

The underlying beat, as expressed by the drums, is ONE (hold on two) three four, ONE (hold on two) three four. In practice, this ends up feeling like it’s in three.

Begin facing left, right leg crossed forward, namaste hands overhead, to hit the chorus first thing!

LOUD VOCAL CHORD right into

CHORUS (voice singing):

* Weight on left foot; right foot, tap forward (ONE [hold]), tap back (three), tap forward (four)
* Tap back (ONE [hold]), tap back (three), tap foward (four)
* Tap forward (ONE [hold]), tap back (three), tap forward (four)
* Tap back (ONE [hold]), tap back (three), tap foward (four)
* Arms match feet: namaste hands overhead when tapping forward, wave out to sides when tapping back

Switch sides

VERSE

* March ONE (hold), three, four; ONE (hold), three, four; let hips move
* Add in arms to wave side to side, matching hip as it goes up
* As students get the feet, add in a slide to the side on the big ONE step

REPEAT chorus and verse

Smooth brass INTERVAL:

* Step right eight steps, crossing forward, then back (hora step)
* Leading arm waves low, then high
* Repeat 4x total

Fast instrumental INTERVAL:

* Step backward with right foot, so facing side, and do a fast hip shake with rolling arms close in to body (8 beats); repeat with left foot back (8 beats)
* Plant right foot and hit around in a circle with left foot, lots of hip, alternating arms (8 beats); repeat with left foot back (8 beats)

REPEAT fast instrumental interval 3x total; each set of instruments is different for each grouping of hip/circle

DRUM INTERVAL:

* Plant wide feet, squat down, and wave arms to the sides
* When music resolves into vocal chord, freeze, pulling arms down to the side, palms to the ceiling
* Hold while voice begins chorus; immediately after first phrase, hop up and down 4x in time to the big drumbeat
* Immediately go into chorus, right leg forward, 2x
* Switch left 4x

Verse as above: ONE (hold) three four march, to end

Note

The ONE (hold) three four march thing can be confusing, but once the students get it, varying the arms can be really fun: instead of just swinging them to match hips, try scooping out to the side; or scooping up and out, crossing hands at chest level—just have fun with it. Likewise, for the legs, adding in a slide to the side is easy and emphasizes the beat, but it’s also fun to do a cross forward or cross back. I currently only march for verse 1, adding only swinging arms, and add in the slide on verse 2. I alter the arms for verse 3.

Three new Zumba songs

I start teaching Zumba again tomorrow, weather permitting, and so I have learned a few new songs. I’m not sure where they’re going to go in my existing playlist. I don’t want to make the entire class feel like a single genre of music! But this is the reaction I’m going for: every time a song begins, I want everyone to jump up and down and scream, “I love this song!”

I found all the choreography for these online. I think my own choreography is too simple, so I’ll continue learning and then use what I learn to pump up my own stuff.

Song	Artist	Genre	Listen	Buy	Choreography
The Anthem	Pitbull	Reggaeton	YouTube	Amazon.com download	Rebecca on YouTube
Muevelo (Original Version)	Cruz Martinez presenta Los Super Reyes	Cumbia with a reggaeton interval	YouTube	Amazon.com download	Heather Rounds on YouTube (Heather uses the Zumba version, which I don’t own, so I downloaded the song by the original artist)
Whenever, Wherever	Shakira	Latin pop with Middle Eastern flair	YouTube	Amazon.com download	Zumbacornwall on YouTube

“Why Did You Do It” by Stretch (cooldown)

Listen/obtain

[listen at YouTube] [buy at Amazon.com]

This song is from the soundtrack for Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, and it’s got this nice urban cool vibe. I use it for my very last song.

Choreography

Verse 1: Mambo forward and back

Chorus (“Why did you do it”): Step single single double; make it fast so it fits in a 4 and not an 8. On “That’s him, me, and you,” plant feet, point both arms out to the side (him), in at self (me), and forward at class (you); then go into a groovy march on the other lead

Verse 2: Mambo forward and back, other side

Chorus: As above, but at end, instead of march, widen feet and get low. When you hear the drummer hitting the sticks together, snap fingers with the stick blows and begin lifting one heel in time to the music; keep that heel beat going during the brass interlude

Brass interlude: Maintaining squat, alternate strong sweeping arms side to forward (4x total); then sweep both arms strongly up in center and back down (all these sweeps in time to punctuating brass); then go into a groovy march

Verse 3 (same words as verse 1): Step tap

Chorus: As above, but keep feet planted (lift heel if you want); end with arms up center, down center, up side

“Zamba Zumba” by Zumba proprietary

Listen/obtain

[not available to listen to; use Amazon.com's preview feature] [buy at Amazon.com]

Choreography

Intro: Toe taps forward

Verse 1 (call and response): March up 2, V-step, march back 2, V-step, no taps so feet always change; when you come back, lift arms up high and toss side to side on women’s voice

Chorus (“Zumba-ey”): Two steps one side, two steps other side; add wavy arms

Intro reprise: Toe taps forward, other lead

Verse 2 (call and response): Same, other lead

DRUMS: match the beat and hit forward with arms

Chorus, other lead

DRUMS: match the beat and hit forward with arms

Interlude 1 (can sound): hip circle interval

Interlude 2 (“oohhhhh…”): Step tap, arms up

DRUMS: match the beat and hit forward with arms

Interlude 2 continues (“oohhhhh…”): Step tap, arms up

Interlude 3 (fast drums, can sound): hip circle interval; take it in a circle if you want

DRUMS: match the beat and hit forward with arms

Chorus

HIT TO END

Notes

This song is called “Zamba Zumba” on the version I got from the Zumba folks, but it’s known as “Zumba Zumba” on Amazon.com. I’m not sure which is right.

It’s cheaper to buy the Zumba CDs from Amazon.com than it is to buy them at the Zumba Web site. If you want to buy single songs, Amazon.com is the way to go.

“Pump It” by the Black Eyed Peas (reggaeton)

Listen/obtain

[listen at YouTube] [buy at Amazon.com]

Choreography

Intro: March, clapping with the big beat (double, single)

Verse 1: Angle step tap forward; make bigger and add arms

Chorus 1 (“Pump it”): One big leap/pump, wide legs, arms pulling back and pelvis thrusting forward; alternating double taps on “louder”

Chorus 2 (instrumental, then “Turn up the radio”): Step tap; add arms overhead with “Turn up the radio,” swinging hard up right-left on the music’s double clap

Verse 2: Angle step tap forward, other side

Chorus 1 & 2

Interlude 1 (“Down”): Shoulder interval; fast shoulder shimmies

Interlude 2 (rap): Step tap, claps

Interlude 3 (“HUH”; female voice singing): Hop on HUH; wide march on the singing part; turn and face a new wall with each HUH

Chorus; ends abruptly

“Fuego” by Zumba proprietary (cumbia)

Listen/obtain

[listen at YouTube] [buy at Amazon.com]

I use the Zumba version, which has no bad words. This version is not available for puchase. The version I’ve linked to above is by the Kumbia Kings, and it only partially elides the offending word. I don’t advise using it for a class.

Choreography

Chorus
* “Fuego,” R arm up as you step wide R
* “Fuego,” L arm up as you step wide L
* “The roof is on fire”: march wide RL, arms pushing up RL
* “We don’t need no water”: bring arms forward, palms in, wiggling fingers like water, rounding back and leaning forward
* “Let the … burn”: reverse arms to bring them up as you curl up to standing

Verse 1: Cumbia march 8 R, 8 L (leg forward and back, driving forward with heel and letting everything circle around, lots of hip); this is pretty fast

Instrumental tootles: Extend R arm and take 4 steps to the R, then switch sides and come back (2x); escalate to opening leading leg up, bending knees, and jumping a little. This is pretty slow and a nice contrast to the fast cumbia march. Conversely, you can go twice as fast and do 8.

REPEAT ALL OF THIS, perhaps leading on L

Reggaeton interlude: begin march to find beat (which will change), widening feet; catch the beat with knees up on downbeat, single single double, until the interlude is over, when it goes right into…

Instrumental tootles

End with cumbia march

“Fashion Is Danger” by Flight of the Conchords

Listen/obtain

[listen at YouTube] [buy at Amazon.com]

Choreography

Intro (“Fashion…”): slinky march, single shoulder rolls back, lean back so chest is thrust forward

Verse (“I’m a…”): Alternate toe taps forward

Chorus (“You think…”): 2 steps, slinky, leading with shoulder, adding shoulder rolls back with big arms

Interlude 1 (“Posing”): Strike various freestyle odd poses on the big downbeat

Interlude 2 (“Posing a threat”): Wide single marches into DRUMS

Chorus

Interlude 3 (“Moscow”): wide single marches

Chorus

End (“Fashion…”): back to march with single shoulder rolls back

Note

This song is sexy and slinky and very, very silly. It’s also very short: 2:20. I have choreographed it as a merengue.

“Put ‘Em Up” by Soulico (Middle Eastern/Hebrew)

Listen/obtain

[listen at YouTube] [buy at Amazon.com - FREE]

Choreography

Intro: Step tap; clap overhead (“Put ‘em up”)

Chorus: Salsa side, alternating sides (1-2-3, center pause; repeat other side); start low, then pick up feet and jump it

Verse 1: Tap one foot forward, the other foot back

Arm interlude (short little instrumental interlude): Start arms low, flick wrists as you bring arms up to the side

Chorus

Arm interlude

Verse 2: Tap one foot forward, other foot back (other side from verse 1)

Arm interlude

Chorus

Arm interlude while getting body low, wide legs

Verse 3: Single, single, double pulls, leading with shoulder, while in a squat; add side shuffles; make legs really big—this interval low and sideways

Arm interlude

Chorus

Note

This has a reggaeton feel, but I’ve choreographed it as a salsa.

Zumba class 1 – 2009-12-05

Playlist (50 minutes)

Song	Artist	Genre	Music Source	Choreography Source
Zumba Africa	Zumba proprietary	African beats	ZIN download	Cardio Party Live
Put ‘Em Up (feat. lyrics Born and Axum)	Soulico	Middle Eastern/Hebrew; salsa choreography	Amazon MP3 (FREE)	Mine
Fashion Is Danger	Flight of the Conchords	Merengue	Amazon MP3	Mine
Rompe	Daddy Yankee	Reggaeton	Amazon MP3	Heather Rounds on YouTube
Fuego	Zumba proprietary	Cumbia	ZIN download (Mega Mix 4)	Mine
La La La	La Banda Loca	Merengue	Imeem	Nancy S on YouTube
Baby Likes to Rock It	The Tractors	Country line dance	Amazon MP3	Kathy Hunyadi on YouTube
Pump It	Black Eyed Peas	Reggaeton	Amazon MP3	Mine
Abreme La Puerta	Zumba proprietary	Cha cha	ZIN 18	Beto
Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)	A. R. Rahman and the Pussycat Dolls	Indian	Amazon MP3	Heather Rounds on YouTube
Zamba Zumba	Zumba proprietary	Samba	ZIN download (Zumba Fitness CD)	Mine
Why Did You Do It	Stretch	Cooldown	Imeem	Mine

Note

ZIN refers to the Zumba Instructor Network, a source for Zumba-certified instructors. The Zumba folks provide music and choreography. This information isn’t available for retail sale.

Easy Step taught 2009-11-16

Begin on right; tapless, so switch foot every time. Choreography self-repeats.

Combo 1

* March on top (add style: rock back, march wide, jack, etc.) (8)
* March on floor (add style: walk back, walk front) (8)
* Alternate knees (8)
* Repeater (8)

Combo 2

* Double, single stomp (turn back single stomp onto the ground) (8)
* Revolving door (8)
* Repeater (8)
* Knee (4)
* Basic (4)

Combo 3 (64 count)

* Wide mambo, knee back (8)
* Repeater (8)
* Alternate knees 4x (take around the world) (16)

* Shuffle turnstep 4x (16)
* Repeater
* Basic or split step (8)

Note

I taught this super easy Step combo to a few populations: an advanced class when the mike was out, so yelled single-word cues and used hand signals; and a newbie class unaccustomed to Step.