Zumba!!!! ???

EMOYENO

EMOYENO

Son
Ok, This is more a rant than anything else.
Sometimes (lots of times!!) I want to get my salsa fix at the gym, so I attend a Zumba class.
Coming from Puerto Rico, of course we get some really good salsa fixes during Zumba or Latin Aerobics class. I get my salsa fix, do my aerobics and I'm satisfied for the day.

Recently I relocated, so I decided to attend a Zumba class. OMG!!!!! (i have to scream).
I'm not a certified aerobics or zumba or salsa teacher or certified nothing!!! I could've taken the stage and taught the instructor how to conduct a Zumba class or latin.

I have to rant. I felt so insulted. First off, she put only ONE salsa song from Marc Anthony (a commercial song at that too). Then she started to try to do some cumbia steps to a Salsa Song!!! aaaayyyyyyyyyyyy.... I began dancing on my own like if I was a crazy girl. (At the end of the class a girl came up to me and said I dance good latin!! duhhh) Then, the rest of the songs, were not even latin or had nothing to that flavor!!

I thought a Zumba class had a good mix of Samba, Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton, Bachata & Cumbia, etc. Where did Britney Spears come up???!!! I have to rant guys. I really needed my salsa fix and I didnt. I'm so sorry for this instructor, I mean if she got certified, then I could too!! Tell me where to sign up so I can give the classes.
 
I looked in on a class recently, thinking it might be fun; but they were doing some weird moves that looked like something from an 80's aerobics class.:) In fact, I wonder if that's what Zumba really is, with a bit of Latin thrown in.
Can anyone loan me some leg warmers?
 
ZUMBA is the new attractive at the gyms. But it seems that some instructors do not know what it consists of. I mean trying to dance a cumbia move to a salsa song. That's an insult right there to both cumbia & salsa. It means the instructor CANNOT tell the difference from the songs. Let alone how can she lead a Zumba class.!!!!

I can bet anything in the world that all of the great dancers here, can put together a Zumba class and be soo good at it. !!!
 
EMOYENO said:
Ok, This is more a rant than anything else.
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I think your expectations were high because you were spoiled with the PR Zumba.

I've looked into Zumba because I am interested in taking a class that is essentially a shines workout class. From the videos I've seen, not all Zumba instructors are created equally. The most impressive video I've seen is of an Asian instructor in Canada! I've accepted the fact that the intention of these classes is to work up a sweat, not really to teach the history about afro-caribbean music or dancing.

Zumba is just the latest dancer-cize craze, like Tae-bo or hip-hop aerobics - although hip-hop aerobics seems to be much closer to regular hip-hop dancing than Tae-bo is to martial arts or Zumba is to latin dancing.

On the teaching note, I've taken exactly 2 regular hip-hop classes in my life. One instructor was at the level of a music video choreographer/dancer, the other was just full of herself. I assumed that if you had the audacity of calling yourself an instructor, your class would demonstrate you are worthy of the title. The irony is that I am fully cautious of taking just any class with a "salsa instructor." It should have occurred to me that I should too be cautious about styles where partner dancing is not the main focus.

Can anyone on SF testify to Zumba benefiting them in terms of body movement or musicality?
 
acpjr said:
I think your expectations were high because you were spoiled with the PR Zumba.
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See Zumba was not created in PR... It came actually from Colombia. Yes I've taken many Zumba / Latin Dance classes to work up a sweat and HAVE gotten my dance fix + the workout benefit. They do work believe me. Yes I've been spoiled but even the Zumba commercials were muuuuch better than the class I took!!!

From Zumba.com: "Zumba Basic 1®
This course teaches you the foundation and formula to teach a Zumba class. You will learn the steps to four basic rhythms (merengue, salsa, cumbia, reggaeton). You'll learn how to put these steps together into a song, and how to create your first Zumba class. "
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And again, how can you try a cumbia move with a Salsa song?? That is just wrong. I'm still venting!!!!! aaahhh The instructor DID NOT have any musicality lessons!!!!

But I do would like more insight about other SF people like you mentioned. Yes please!!!!!
 
EMOYENO said:
And again, how can you try a cumbia move with a Salsa song?? That is just wrong. I'm still venting!!!!! aaahhh The instructor DID NOT have any musicality lessons!!!!
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Oh, I see that all the time on the dance floor! But then, when I try to dance cumbia, I end up faking it by throwing in salsa moves amongst the cumbia basics.:rolleyes:

I just wouldn't expect too much from Zumba classes unless you know the instructor has real Latin dance experience.
 
This is funny because yesterday I got my first taste of Zumba and I was going to post about it. I had no expectations of any resemblance to salsa and was pleasantly surprised that there was some though value. I am using some video of Beto Perez (apparently the creator of Zumba). There were actually many different "dances" not all latin. If you leave all your preconceptions about the dances and the music, it can actually be fun. There was a live percussionist on stage to add some more oomph.

But I can see how easily the uneducated instructors can spoil the fun with some idiotic music. Maybe you can find a better instructor in your neighbourhood or a video to use at home?
 
EMOYENO said:
And again, how can you try a cumbia move with a Salsa song?? That is just wrong. I'm still venting!!!!! aaahhh
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If you know your music, as I believe you do ,( as applied to dance ), then you would already know that there are many songs that include Cumbia passages, and THATS when one reverts to for e.g. a Cumbia basic .

The same concept would be true if a Guajira rhythm was inserted into the song ( Cachaos last vid is a very good e.g. of that ). Youre supposed to interpret the music .

Canario has one song that is "loaded " with Cumbia passages, some as long as 16 bars... so.. would you keep on dancing salsa to that ?.

The thing I would Q.. WHY were they playing salsa ?. Ive been given the impression that the music is anything but ?
 
I understand the disappointment, but I see people who do know better dancing cumbia to a salsa song at nightclubs all the time. It's not ideal, but I see it. And quite frankly as far as Zumba is concerned I give kudos to anyone who will expose more people to latin music and make it fun.

Let them get people interested in the music and dancing first and then you can teach them how it is actually supposed to be done. More dancers = a win.
 
Lola said:
I understand the disappointment, but I see people who do know better dancing cumbia to a salsa song at nightclubs all the time. .
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Yes, its quite common... but, DO they know better ? With no Syncopated rhythm as a permanent structure as is built into Cumbia ,that doesnt make any sense ?.. unless its the Cumbia "passages " which one SHOULD use from that genre.

Cumbia uses a fully syncopated bar, within its structure as in 1and2 and 3 and 4., on occasion, which really does not fit salsa for a full song , and the basic foundation "bar " uses a tap ( dble time rhythm ), which would fit in the PR style salsa, but the rest of the music doesnt really " fit ".

Set styles of music, produce " dance " thats been adapted to fit that specific rhythm....and yes, there are "crossovers ", but this isnt one of them.

And, I could say equally, that if its in 2/4 or 4/4 time, I,m quite able to dance other dance styles, but that would not make any sense.
 
terence said:
Yes, its quite common... but, DO they know better ? With no Syncopated rhythm as a permanent structure as is built into Cumbia ,that doesnt make any sense ?.. unless its the Cumbia "passages " which one SHOULD use from that genre.

Cumbia uses a fully syncopated bar, within its structure as in 1and2 and 3 and 4., on occasion, which really does not fit salsa for a full song , and the basic foundation "bar " uses a tap ( dble time rhythm ), which would fit in the PR style salsa, but the rest of the music doesnt really " fit ".

Set styles of music, produce " dance " thats been adapted to fit that specific rhythm....and yes, there are "crossovers ", but this isnt one of them.

And, I could say equally, that if its in 2/4 or 4/4 time, I,m quite able to dance other dance styles, but that would not make any sense.
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THANK YOU!!!!! :notworthy: :applause: MY POINT EXACTLY... I dont know anything about Cumbia, I know my salsa!!! :banana:

And yes, Zumba is for fun, but there's a reason for getting certified. Otherwise anyone here who dances Salsa or Bachata or Guajira any latin dancer would give these classes. It's very important to get your act together, LISTEN to the music and work a good choreography. Dont insult the students (me!!) who know a little bit!!!
 
terence said:
If you know your music, as I believe you do ,( as applied to dance ), then you would already know that there are many songs that include Cumbia passages, and THATS when one reverts to for e.g. a Cumbia basic .

The same concept would be true if a Guajira rhythm was inserted into the song ( Cachaos last vid is a very good e.g. of that ). Youre supposed to interpret the music .

Canario has one song that is "loaded " with Cumbia passages, some as long as 16 bars... so.. would you keep on dancing salsa to that ?.

The thing I would Q.. WHY were they playing salsa ?. Ive been given the impression that the music is anything but ?
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The class is called Zumba, the new thing at every gym. Because it's different. Zumba incorporates latin dances, because it was created in Colombia. I've been to many classes where the repertoir includes Cha-Cha, Salsa, Merengue, Bachata Cumbia , and lots of Reggaeton. Of course it all depends on the instructor and his/her ability.

What I am critizing at is actually the instructor. I saw her teaching Hip-Hop, good for her which she is great. BUUUUTTTTT she didnt do ANYTHING latin at the Zumba class. The ONLY song she did was Marc Anthony, where she tried to do a Cumbia move, all out of synch!! UUUhhhh I still get mad at it!!!
 
When I was teaching at a local salsa studio the owner wanted to get me certified to be a zumba instructor. I'm not really a fitness instructor type so I didn't go for it, but I did read up on it. It's basically just a pretty simple class. Pretty much if you pay the ~$200-$300 fee you can get certified.

I suggest you do it and take this instructor's place. Or at least teach it at a different gym or dance studio that doesn't have zumba right now.

www.zumba.com

That's where you find the instructor training.

You know, now I'm kind of wishing I'd taken him up on it. LOL There's a couple of open certification classes coming up in January. Hmmm......
 
SmartAlx said:
When I was teaching at a local salsa studio the owner wanted to get me certified to be a zumba instructor. I'm not really a fitness instructor type so I didn't go for it,
.
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This so much reminds me of the day when Hustle ( Latin ) came out... within 5 minutes flat, every Gym in town had an areobics instructor teaching to Hustle( Disco) music, and advertising it as " Hustle".

It also happened with Twist and Pachanga... flavors of the month .
 
Zumba does not cater to dancers. Actually it caters more to non-dancers. I like them because I can work out to music I love, especially latin, but I can understand adding music that people who don't listen to latin music will know. My favorite instructor also teaches a bhangra and bollywood inspired aerobic dance class and sometimes crosses those songs over to zumba. I don't try to do the steps the way I would dance them, I do what the instructor is showing because they are designed to work certain muscle groups. The way I dance salsa, I'm not going to get quite the aerobic workout I'll aim for in zumba. Which is why I do zumba in trainers or barefoot. I dance in heels.
 
I also encourage learning to teach zumba if you're passionate about this!

I lost 20 pounds last spring doing zumba 4 times a week, so I'm biased for it.
 
As part of our Wellness program, my job began offering Zumba classes at the facility, after work. Knowing that I dance, some of the ladies asked me to try the class (..and they hoped my attendance would inspire some of the other guys to give it a try!). I had a great time and go pretty regularly now.

It's great to see people moving to & enjoying music that they may not usually listen to. It's also a lot more fun to get my cardio in doing Zumba than using the stair master or preccor at the gym.
 
A few months ago a Zumba instructor moved into my condo building and she started giving classes here.

Desperate for some dancing I joined the classes. For me, I see it as a workout and as an opportunity to move to the Latin music I love so much. I have a good time during the class. I get to work out (which I need to anyways).

It's nothing like the real thing (a good salsa night) but since there is still no salsa in my town and my salsa nights are limited to a few nights a year when I travel to cities with a salsa scene or to salsa festivals, Zumba is still better than nothing at all and I try to look at it as a footwork-body movement workshop.
 
Well, as for me, I do not know Zumba very much nor have ever tried it. But I still think it is just a commercial product, that does not bring anything new. Its just a mix of dances that have been here for a long time. On the other hand, it attracts people who would not take up any dance classes and I think this has some value too. But anyway, for me, Zumba will always represent something cheap...a dance degraded to just an exercise. I do not like it but some people obviously do. I just find it sad, that dances with such tradition and spirit are flattened like that, no emotions at all, just losing weight :confused:. I wonder, how long it will be here, though, I give Zumba a few years at most, than it will be gone.
 
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