OTHER RYTHMS TO LEARN

There are a lot of rythms and steps which could be used in Zumba which go beyond what is featured on the workout videos.  Here are some additional types of music and dance which you might encounter in a Zumba class:

Standard Salsa (not Cuban)

Mambo

Bachata

Flamenco

Belly dancing and Arab dancing in general

Bollywood-inspired Indian dances

Hip Hop

Chicha

Cha-Cha-Cha

Rumba

Baile Funk a.k.a. Funk Carioca (Brazil)

Other Brazilian rythms

LIST OF BASIC ZUMBA STEPS

Steps Featured on Zumba Fitness Basics & 20-Minute Express Video

1. Merengue: Merengue March

2. Merengue: Que Te Mueve

3. Merengue: Diamond Step

4. Merengue: Booty Circle

5. Quebradita: Basic

6. Quebradita: Ándale

7. Quebradita: Body Roll

8. Salsa: Cuban Salsa (Cuban Basic)

9. Salsa: Salsa Back

10. Salsa: Salsa Travel

11. Cumbia: Basic Cumbia

12. Cumbia: Candle Step

13. Cumbia: Cumbia Funk

14. Reggaetón: Basic Reggaetón

15. Reggaetón: Destroza

16. Reggaetón: Reggaetón Stomp

17. Reggaetón: Reggaetón Bounce

18. Caribbean Island Rhythms: Calypso Basic

19. Caribbean Island Rhythms: Tobago

20. Caribbean Island Rhythms: Reggae

21. Caribbean Island Rhythms: Shimmy

22. Samba: Basic Samba

23. Samba: Samba Lunge

Note: In Spanish, the basic steps for any dance are called “basicos.”

Hello!

I am a 35-year-old woman living in coastal Oregon.  I have been interested in Zumba for quite some time, and I starting taking classes twice a week at my local gym in August.  I wasn’t sure that I could do Zumba because I have some physical limitations.  Even though it is an intense workout, I’ve found it very doable. 

I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my fitness (and shape!) and am having a lot of fun with the classes. 

The one big challenge is the instructors at my gym do not review or teach the steps.  I have some background in Latin dance (especially standard Salsa, Rueda de Casino and Merengue) but I don’t know any of the other dances or steps.  I love Reggaetón music, but I didn’t know any of the steps for that either.  I have lived and worked in Latin America and I am a Latin music FANATIC. 

I finally bought the Zumba DVDs, and I am finding the layout and production a bit confusing.  So I’ve decided to create some learning tools to support what is offered on the Zumba CDs and in classes.  I want to explore the steps, learn more about the music and forms that I am not familiar with, and share my experiences.   Enjoy and please feel free to comment or add information.