Love Zumba? Try SALSArobics!
I had the pleasure of trying SALSArobics at the Chicago International Salsa Congress in Chicago, Illinois February 16-19, 2012. Each day of the Salsa Congress started with a 9am, 1-hour session of SALSArobics.
SALSArobics was founded in 1988 by Columbian-born Esther Gutierrez Sloan. It’s a fun way to learn Latin dance moves while exercising. If you like Zumba, you will love SALSArobics. Esther chooses popular Latin music and breaks down the basic steps and slowly builds them up and modifies the moves until voila, you’re dancing around the room!
SALSArobics is like Zumba in the way that it is exercise based on Latin dance. We danced everything from salsa, merengue, cha cha, belly dance, bachata,… even lambada, the forbidden dance!
SALSArobics is different from Zumba in many ways. There is little or no choreography in SALSArobics. The dance steps are authentic Latin dance moves that travel around the room. I found more opportunity in SALSArobics for individuals to modify the workout to add intensity or more complicated dance moves if they chose to do so.
I will hopefully be adding a SALSArobics class to my schedule soon. If you’re ever in the greater Chicago area, be sure to check out a SALSArobics class from Esther or one of her SALSArobics instructors!
Filed under Zumba, exercise | Tags: aerobics, chicago, Chicago International Salsa Congress, Chicago Salsa Congress, Dance, exercise, IL, Illinois, latin dance, salsa, salsa aerobics, salsarobics, Zumba | Comment (0)Christmas Gifts for Zumba Lovers
Do you have a Zumba lover in your life? Want to give them a Christmas gift they’re going to love? Here are some Christmas gift ideas from a Zumba lover for Zumba lovers:
Zumba Wear
Some people wear their everyday gym clothes to Zumba, but Zumba wear is different than gym clothes. It’s a cross between street wear and dance wear. Zumba wear is available from the Zumba online shop and will cost you anywhere from $14.95 for a pair of Zumba flip flops to $94.95 for a pair of Zumba athletic dance shoes. A safe bet for any Zumba lover is a top to wear to class. A Zumba wear top will cost you anywhere form $14.95 to $39.95 + shipping. Shop now if you want it to arrive by Christmas!
Zumba DVDs
The gift that keeps on giving – a Zumba class right in your very own home! There are two authetic Zumba DVD sets available: the Total Body Transformation System (as seen on TV) or the Zumba Exhilarate DVD Experience. There is even a set of Zumba DVD’s for children called Zumbatomic. The DVD sets are expensive ($89.95 for Exhilarate on Zumba.com, $49.95 for TBTS on Amazon.com), but contain five DVDs including a live workout and choreography to tone the arms, abs, buns, and thighs. Shop for DVDs on Zumba.com or Amazon.com.
Zumba Video Game
I was lucky enough to participate in the Best Buy release of the original Zumba Fitness video game for Kinect on the XBox 360 at the Mall of America, in Bloomington, Minnesota last year and let me tell you, it is amazing! The Zumba Fitness video game is available for Wii and Playstation and WILL give you a workout. This year, the Zumba Fitness 2 video game is also available for Wii. Shop for DVDs on Zumba.com or Amazon.com.
Here are some other ideas for Zumba lovers:
- Dance lessons – Maybe they’re ready to start salsa dancing???
- Exercise clothes – Bright, neon colors are popular in Zumba classes. Popular exercise clothing brands in my classes: lululemon athletica, lucy, C9 from Champion available at Target, Victoria’s Secret PINK (yes, Victoria’s Secret), Old Navy
- Hip Scarf – Belly dance and Bollywood songs in Zumba have inspired some Zumba lovers to wear colorful hip scarves during class.
Zumba lovers, do you have any other suggestions?
Filed under Zumba, holiday | Tags: 360, amazon, amazon.com, athletic, Best Buy, c9, champion, Christmas, clothes, coin belt, coin scarf, Dance, dvd, dvds, exercise, Exhilarate, flip flops, flipflops, gift, hip scarf, ideas, Kinect, lessons, love, lover, lucy, lululemon athletica, Mall of America, Minnesota, MOA, old navy, online, pink, Playstation, salsa, shoes, shop, skirt, target, Top, Total Body Transformation System, tv, victoria's secret, Video Game, wear, Wii, XBox, Zumba, zumba clothes, zumba dvds, Zumba.com | Comment (0)Zumba in the Circuit Playlists for Curves
Here are the Zumba in the Circuit playlists I have put together for my ZITC workouts at Curves to date. I used the free Audacity sound-editing software and every one minute, school bells ring to cue participants to move to the next station. Enjoy!
Format: Song (Artist) – Style
Zumba in the Circuit 1
Obsesion (Aventura) – Warm Up Bachata
Suavemente (Elvis Crespo) – Merengue
La Bamba (Los Lobos) – Salsa
Bidi Bidi Bom Bom (Selena) – Cumbia
Mundian Te Bach Ke (DJ Punjabi) – Bhangra
Baila Pa Emociona (Zumba Fitness) – Calypso
Matilda, Matilda (Harry Belafonte) – Mambo
Volare (The Gipsy Kings) – Flamenco
Stand By Me (Prince Royce) – Cool Down Stretch
Zumba in the Circuit 2
Oye Como Va (Santana) – Warm Up Cha Cha
Waka Waka (Shakira) – Tribal
Mambo Italiano (Wiseguy Orchestra) – Mambo
La Vida Es Un Carnaval (Zumba Fitness) – Salsa
Hot Hot Hot (Buster Poindexter) – Merengue
Kiss Kiss (Zumba Fitness) – Bellydance
Don’t Speak Spanish My Love (Zumba Fitness) – Bachata
In Heaven (Da’ville) – Cool Down Stretch
Zumba in the Circuit 3
Dame Un Tiempo Mas (Zumba Fitness) – Warm Up Cumbia
Asereje (Las Ketchup) – Salsa
Pa’mayte (Zumba Fitness) – Calypso
Ca Plan Por Moi (Plastic Betrand) – Merengue
Boro Boro (Zumba Fitness) – Bhangra
Jump in the Line (Harry Belafonte) – International
Dance the Night Away (The Mavericks) – Salsa
Zorba (Zumba Fitness) – Greek Traditional
(Take Me Home) Country Roads (Toots & the Maytals) – Cool Down Stretch
Zumba in the Circuit 4
I Gotta Feeling (Black Eyed Peas) – Warm Up Merengue
Baila Esta Cumbia (Zumba Fitness) – Cumbia
African Beats (Zumba Fitness) – Tribal
Here Comes My Baby (The Mavericks) – Salsa
Danca Da Maozinha (Zumba Fitness) – Samba
Cumbia Arabe (Zumba Fitness) – Bellydance/Cumbia
Save the Last Dance (Michael Buble) – Cha Cha
Maria Maria (Santana) – Cool Down Stretch
August Zumba Playlist
I’m so proud: Next month (September 2010), I will have been posting my Zumba playlists for one year.
I try to add one or two new songs per week, but that doesn’t always happen. There are two songs that I am still using one whole year later and they are warm ups. I’ve tried to retire them, but as soon as they disappear, someone asks for them back. I guess they’re here to stay…
Asejeré (Latin Pop / Warm Up)
Las Ketchup
Choreography by Rencsi
Disturbia (Pop / Warm Up)
Rihanna
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by Zumba with Renee
La Bamba (Latin Hip Hop / Warm Up)
Wyclef Jean
Choreography by Rencsi
Mil Horas (Cumbia)
Zumba ZIN 27
Choreography by Zumba Fitness
Waka Waka (Latin Pop)
Shakira
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by Shakira
Danca Da Maozinha (Axe)
Zumba ZIN 27
Choreography by Zumba Fitness
I Need to Know (Cha Cha)
Zumba ZIN 25
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by Zumba Fitness
El Baile Del Pescao (Reggaeton)
Zumba ZIN 27
Choreography by Zumba Fitness
A La Nena Le Gusta (Merengue)
Zumba ZIN 24
Choreography by Zumba Fitness
Boro Boro (Belly Dance)
Zumba ZIN 22
Choreography by Rencsi
Kalinka (Russian Folk / Pop)
Yamboo
Choreography by Rencsi
Lean Like a Cholo (Zumba Toning / Latin Hip Hop)
Down AKA Kilo
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by this YouTube video
Te Extrano (Bachata)
X-Treme
Choreography by Rencsi
Take Me Home Country Roads (Reggaeton / Cool Down)
Toots & the Maytals
Choreography by Rencsi
July Zumba Playlist
Taking a cue from Zumba with Alena, I am now sharing links to choreography or the choreography that inspired my own choreography when available. Enjoy! (Sorry, I don’t post any videos of my own choreography… yet.
Startin’ Somethin’ (Pop / Warm Up)
Michael Jackson
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by CarlyandJanelleZumba
Disturbia (Pop / Warm Up)
Rihanna
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by Zumba with Renee
La Bamba (Latin Hip Hop / Warm Up)
Wyclef Jean
Choreography by Rencsi
Waka Waka (Latin Pop)
Shakira
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by Shakira
Suavemente (Merengue)
Elvis Crespo
Choreography by Rencsi
Que Te Pica (Reggaeton)
Notch
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by this YouTube video
La Agarro Bajando (Salsa)
Zumba Megamix 4
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by Mary Pirela
Shake (Latin Hip Hop)
Ying Yang Twins Featuring Pitbull
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by this YouTube video
Boro Boro (Bollywood)
Zumba ZIN 22
Choreography by Rencsi
Kalinka (Russian Folk / Pop)
Yamboo
Choreography by Rencsi
Lean Like a Cholo (Zumba Toning / Latin Hip Hop)
Down AKA Kilo
Choreography by Rencsi, Inspired by this YouTube video
La Negra Tomasa (Cumbia)
DJ Kane
Choreography by Rencsi
Te Extrano (Bachata)
X-Treme
Choreography by Rencsi
Take Me Home Country Roads (Reggaeton / Cool Down)
Toots & the Maytals
Choreography by Rencsi
May Zumba Music Playlist
Time flies! Some of my May Zumba songs. Enjoy!
Telephone (Pop / Warm Up)
Lady Gaga
Obsesion (Bachata)
Aventura
Chaiyya Chaiyya (Zumba Toning / Bollywood)
Bombay Dreams
Salome (Salsa / Pop)
Zumba Fitness ZIN 24
Que Te Pica (Reggaeton)
Notch
A La Nena Le Gusta (Merengue)
Zumba Fitness ZIN 24
Zu Bailaito MIX (Quebradita)
ZIN Bonus Download
Boro Boro (Belly Dance)
Zumba ZIN 22
I Need to Know (Cha Cha)
Zumba Fitness ZIN Volume 25
Rain Dance (African)
The Very Best Featuring M.I.A.
Evacuate the Dance Floor (Pop)
Cascada
La Agarro Bajando (Salsa)
Zumba Megamix 4
Lean Like a Cholo (Zumba Toning / Latin Hip Hop)
Down AKA Kilo
La Negra Tomasa (Cumbia)
DJ Kane
Waiting in Vain (Reggae / Cool Down)
Bob Marley