Summer schedule starts now!

The summer schedule at the UMF HFC has begun! Check out my Class Times.

Aqua Zumba is back on the schedule, and I got the manufacturer to replace my awesome speaker with one that… er… isn’t broken.

Aqua Zumba on hiatus

Thanks to all my intrepid Aqua Zumba gals! The class wasn’t even on the official schedule, and we managed seven or eight people a week. Thanks so much for your support and enthusiasm!

I hope to get the class up and running again in May, assuming pool availability. Be sure to watch my blog, my Facebook page, and my Twitter feed—I’ll let you know when we reboot, never fear.

My Big Jambox has been returned to the manufacturer for replacement. Thanks for bearing with me during my music trials and tribulations, and for singing along to conceal the static.

Zumba love!

Break the Chain

A local group is putting together a team of Flash Mobbers for the February 14, 2013, One Billion Rising awareness dance, to bring attention to violence against women. To support this, I’ll be teaching the Flash Mob song in Zumba, and there are also local practice sessions on UMF’s campus.

“Break the Chain,” by Tena Clark for One Billion Rising, is available on Amazon.com.

The video I used to learn the choreography is here. The video of choreographer Debbie Allen teaching the choreography is here and is good if you need more of a walkthrough, but it’s quite long.

Locally, we are beginning on the left lead. This means that when you watch the videos, you just do what comes naturally: you will mirror the dancers you see.

Zumba playlist 2013-01-22

1. Anderlecht Champion (Euro 2000 Ole Ole Ole Mix) – Eurostars – warmup
2. El Party – Proyecto Uno – merengue
3. Gangnam Style – Psy – K-pop
4. Toul’Omry – Nawal Al Zoughbi – Middle Eastern/salsa
5. Sabes Que Te Gusta Bailar – Zumba – swing
6. Sexy and I Know It – Lmfao – pop
7. Salome – Chayanne – Latin pop/cumbia
8. Mr. Saxobeat – Alexandra Stan – dance/DJ
9. En Sus Marcas Listos Fuera! – Daddy Yankee – reggaeton
10. Ice Ice Baby (Zumba Remix) – Vanilla Ice – rap/hip-hop
11. Cupid Shuffle – Cupid – line dance/R&B
12. Feeling Good – Michael Bublé – cooldown

45 minutes

UPDATE 2013-01-29: I got feedback that this is OMG a killer playlist. Message understood! I’ll soften it up.

Aqua Zumba pickup class added (Jan-Feb 2013)

You asked, I responded! I requested an addition to the UMF HFC schedule of Aqua Zumba. After checking pool availability, we’ve scheduled Aqua Zumba on Tuesday evenings at 5:15–6:00p. Class begins today (January 22, 2013) and ends at the end of February (last class February 26, 2013).

This class is not going on the schedule because we can’t guarantee that it will be covered with some kind of aqua offering when I am unable to teach the class. So count yourself in the know, and I hope I’ll see you there!

This class is right after the only class I’ve got on the published schedule: regular Zumba at 4:15p. This class will be covered by other instructors when I am unable to teach it.

Jambox speaker

I’ve had lots of interest by students and random passers-by in the speaker I use when teaching Aqua Zumba. The device is the Jawbone BIG JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker – Red Dot, about $300 from Amazon.com.

Jawbone BIG JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker – Red Dot

I love it for three reasons:

1. It is super portable. It’s densely heavy, but you can stick it in a bag and carry it with you.

2. It connects to my iPod touch via Bluetooth, so I can control it via the buttons atop the unit. (If you don’t have Bluetooth, of course it comes with wires.)

3. It has awesome sound.

It also has some bonus benefits: it makes a neat noise when you turn it on and when you turn it off; the battery life is really good; and it’s RED.

I bought the unit on the basis of NYT’s David Pogue’s positive review, where he compared the Jambox with the Bose. I highly recommend it!

2012-09-14 Zumba + Toning, 60 minutes

1. Anderlecht Champion (Euro 2000 Ole Ole Ole) – Eurostars – warm-up – ZIN Mega Mix 29
2. El Grillero – Proyecto Uno – merengue – cover on ZIN 26
3. Pusha Pusha – Zumba – axe – ZIN 25
4. Wobble – V.I.C. – line dance (cut to 3:50)
5. Los Campeones de la Salsa – Willy Chirino – salsa – ZIN Introductory CD
6. We No Speak Americano – Yolanda Be Cool Vs D-Cup – pop
7. Zoot Suit Riot – Cherry Poppin’ Daddies – swing – cover on ZIN Mega Mix 23
8. She Bangs (English Version) – Ricky Martin – Latin pop – cover on Zumba Gold Vol. 1
9. Coqueta y Sabrosa – Zumba – merengue – TONING – Zumba Toning 5
10. Hecha Pa’lante – Zumba – Middle Eastern – cut to 3:41 – TONING
11. E.T. – Katy Perry – pop – TONING
12. Sexi Dance – Paulina Rubio – Latin pop – TONING – cover on Zumba Toning 6
13. Smooth Operator (Single Version) – Sade – lower body isolation – TONING – cover on Zumba Toning 6
14. Here Comes the Rain Again – Macy Gray – cooldown