Favorite Zumba songs- organized by rhythm or style

Here I'm compiling my favorite songs for Zumba or dance exercise classes (that are not ZIN or may have become ZIN after I started using them).  So many of the ZIN songs are great- maybe I'll add my favorites later.  If you have other great ones to add, please comment.



Warmup: Dragostea Din Tei (Original Romanian Version) (DJ Dragostea), I Love Rock and roll (Joan Jett), Shake It (Metro Station), Kiss (Prince), many popular hip hops like Dangerous (Kardinal Offishall), Umbrella (Rihanna), Good Feeling (Flo Rida), Bad Romance, Just Dance (Lady GaGa), Temperature (Sean Paul), Like a G6, Blackeyed Peas songs, I can only imagine (David Guetta)

Cool down: Human Behavior (Bjork), Come Together (Joe Cocker), Say it Right (Nelly Furtado), Don't Cha (Pussycat Dolls), Clumsy (Fergie), bachata rhythms, foxtrot rhythms, waltz rhythms, night club 2 step rhythms (like Halo- Beyonce)

Cool down Stretch: Someone like You (Adele), Pocket full of Sunshine, Diary (Alicia Keys), Sensual Seduction, Diamonds (Rihanna), Music from Finjan (Dancing on Water)

Salsa:  La Bomba (Ricky Martin), Conga (Gloria Estefan), La Vida Es Un Carnaval (Celia Cruz), Cachondea Fruko Y Sus Tesos

Reggaeton:  Gimme Gimme Gimme (Beenie Man), Booty Shake
(Matt Houston), many Daddy Yankee songs like Gasolina and Limbo


Cha Cha:  Let's Get Loud (Jennifer Lopez), She Bangs (Ricky Martin), Sway
(Pussycat Dolls), Rabiosa (Shakira), Smooth(Santana)

Samba: Two Princes (Spin Doctors), Cup of Life (Ricky Martin)

Merengue:  Arrasando (Original Version) (Thalia), Walk it Out (merengue remix)

Belly Dance: El Toba, Drummer Boy (Debi Nova), Many Shakira songs like Hips Don't Lie, Objection, Eyes Like Yours, Suerte, La Tortura, Loca, Addicted to You, She Wolf, etc

Bollywood: Shikdum Remix, Maahi Ve, Dhoom Again, Senorita (remix), Sheila Ki Jawani, Muqabala Muqabala, Jai Ho, Discowale Khisko, Ringa Ringa

Country:  Cotton Eye Joe (Original Version)
, Devil Went Down to Georgia, Country Girl

Rumba Flamenca:  Buleria
(David Bisbal), Volare (Gypsy Kings), Pegate (Ricky Martin)

Disco / hustle:  I will Survive, Lady Marmalade

Funk: Word Up, Brick House (Commodores)

Hip hop / popular:  There are so many but here have been my favorites that I'll revive every couple years:  Kiss me thru the Phone (SouljaBoy), Whatever You Like (TI), Hollaback Girl (Stefani), Buttons (Pussy Cat Dolls), Don't Stop the Music (Rihanna), 4 Minutes (Madonna), Low (Flo Rida), Krazy (Pitbull), Fuego (Pitbull), Evacuate the Dancefloor (Cascada), Tik Tok (Kesha), OMG (Usher), I like it (Enrique Iglesias), Bottoms Up (Treu Songz), Mr. Saxobeat (Extended Version)(Alexandra Stan), Boom Boom Pow (Black Eyed Peas), Down On Me (Jeremih), Hello (Martin Solveig), Party Rock Anthem (LMFAO), On the Floor (Jennifer Lopez), Sweat (Lil Jon), Blow (Kesha), Right Round (Flo Rida), Moves Like Jagger (Marroon 5), Super Bass (Nicki Minaj), Smooth Criminal (Michael Jackson)

Tango: Whatever Lola Wants (Gotan Project), Dance with Me (Debelah), Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre) (Gotan Project), Gypsy Rhapsody

Viennese Waltz: Fallin', Caribbean Blue (Enya), I Feel Pretty (Westside Story)

Foxtrot: King of the Road (Roger Miller), Witchcraft (Frank Sinatra), Santa Baby (Pussycat Dolls)

Quickstep: I want to be like You (Junglebook), Happy Feet ( Musica per I Vostri Piedi Madame )(Paulo Conte), Luck be a Lady

Charleston: Cha Cha (Azteca Version)(Chelo),  any of the quickstep songs above

Bachata:  A Miles de Millas (El Gringo de la Bachata), Oh Navidad (same), No es una Novela, Stand by Me (Prince Royce), Corazón Sin Cara (Prince Royce)


Swing/Jive: Footloose, Hey Mickey, Tu Vuo Fa L'Americano (Red Stripe Band), Candyman (Christina Aguilera), Pon De Replay (Hit Crew), Satellite
(Lena), Zaz je veux

Christmas: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree <swing> (Miley Cyrus), Santa Baby <foxtrot> (Pussycat Dolls), Oh Navidad <bachata> (El Gringo de la Bachata), Cuando llega Navidad <salsa>, Ay, Ay, Ay It's Christmas (Tonic Sol-Fa) or (Ricky Martin), Must be Santa (polka)

Halloween: Chocolate (Soul Control), Black Magic Woman<Cha Cha> (Santana), Disturbia (Rihanna), Cumbia de los Monsters, Witch Doctor (Alvin & the Chipmunks), Someone's Watching Over Me, Witchy Woman, She's the Devil (Locos por Juana), Addam's Groove (MC Hammer), Beautiful Monster (Ne-Yo), She Wolf (Shakira), Haunted House <country salsa>, Monster Mash, Wooly Bully, Purple People Eater, I Put a Spell on You, Witchcraft, Bloody Mary and Teeth (Lady Gaga)

Musical Theater:  Hair (Hair), Pinball Wizard (The Who's Tommy), Luck be a Lady <quickstep> (Guys and Dolls), You Can't Stop The Beat (Hairspray), All That Jazz (Chicago), I Feel Pretty <V. Waltz>

Cardio Kickbox (songs that make you want to punch or kick): Miss Independent, Fighter (Natasha Noack) Tubthumping (Chumbawamba), Just A Dream (Nelly), Survivor, I knew you were Trouble (Taylor Swift)

Other (or maybe I just don't know how to classify them): Danza Kuduro
(Don Omar & Lucenzo), More Bounce in California (Soul Kid), Maniac (Flashdance), Samba Reggae (Jimmy Cliff), Bongo Bong

How to Samba for Zumba

When doing samba during Zumba, I like to mix the Brazilian samba with ballroom samba.  more variety = more fun!  The Brazilian element is not so structured or technical and is open to creative interpretation, but the ballroom samba has a "correct way" to do it.  See the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__hJ7IFGSvg for a visual description.  And see "2 Princes" http://www.youtube.com/user/SheilaLebedenko#p/u/37/RF6wNEWCY3E for a demo of some samba moves in action.

basic Brazilian samba: 
timing = 1 a 2, 3 a 4 . . .  (3/4, 1/4, 1)
1) hips: Start with 2 hip bounces on each side. (settle right hip =1, neutral = a, settle right hip = 2 ; settle left hip = 3, neutral = a, settle left hip = 4)
2)Leave the opposite foot in front (with the heel up), but put your weight on the back foot.
3)Start to turn that opposite foot in, out, in out, with each hip bounce.  The whole leg will turn at the hip rotator; the knee and foot will always point in the same direction because the whole leg is turning as one unit. 
4)In between each set of hip bounces, you will make a quick jump to switch your feet (the one in front moves to the back and vice versa.)
5) optional: You could step with each count so that 1 a 2 = RLR; 3a4 = LRL

alternative basic Brazilian samba:
timing = 1 & a 2 & a . . . (1/2, 1/4, 1/4)
1) footwork:  Right, left, right; Left, right, left
2) footwork with timing: right = 1, left = &, right = a . . .
3) foot direction: forward, replace, together, forward, replace together
4) heel, hip rotator and hip bump movement: The forward step on whole counts "1" and "2" can be done on the heel.  Because you have a half count, you have time to twist your heel and whole leg from inside to outside.  As you are twisting it (move the whole leg as one unit- keep knee and toe in the same direction), put all your body weight onto your heel and bump that hip at the same time.  This is not a fast, sharp bump, but an oozey, milky one.  this is the part of the step where you take your time.  The more time you take, the more hip movement you will get.  Rob time from &a if you like.  Your hip will make about a 1/4 of a circle (right hip- clockwise) (left hip- counterclockwise) during each whole count.
5) adding arms:  only do so after you've mastered the first 4 parts.  As you twist your left foot/leg/hip toward your left side, you left arm comes down- as if to come closer to the hip/leg and squeeze the left side of the ribcage.  At the same time, the right arm is coming up, to open up the right side of the ribcage.  Remember from a previous lesson,  the hip works against the opposite ribcage.

Brazilian Axe step (the side to side step)
timing:  1 & a 2 & a
1) footwork: right, left right; left, right, left
2) footwork w/ timing: right = 1, left = &, right = a; left =2, right = &, left = a
3) foot direction:
  a)start with feet shoulder width apart. 
  b)right foot out to side (a couple of inches), replace left foot, right returns to starting position (a couple inches to the left); Left foot out to side, replace right foot, left foot returns to starting position (a couple inches to the right)
4) foot angle: 
   a) start with feet straight forward
   b) On whole numbers, foot and knee and whole leg 45 degree angle in toward the center
5) hip movement:  RLR, LRL.  On whole number counts (in bold),  put all your body weight onto onto that foot and hip bump up.  The whole number counts have more time, will be accented and have more hip movement than the &a counts.
6) Arm movements:  many choices:  you can swing them from side to side, do waterfall/hair comb arms or paint in front of you.

(Brazilian and Ballroom) Batucada step: (moves backward)
timing: 1 & a 2 & a
1) footwork: RLR, LRL
2) foot direction: Right foot front, replace left foot, right foot back; Left foot front, replace right foot, left foot back
3) foot angle, body weight and hip movement:  right foot front with 45 degree angle toward center.  ALL of body weight on right foot.  Push off of right foot until right foot can spring backward.  As you push off,  the right hip bumps up.  If you have time, you can twist your foot and leg toward neutral to make a part of a hip circle.
4)  The accent is on the front foot pushing off.  The other steps have smaller hip bump movements.

Botafogo step (from ballroom samba)(not in video):
timing = 1 a 2, 3 a 4 . . .
1) footwork:  R L R; L R L
2) Direction and body weight:
   a) Right foot diagonally across front (big step- ends on left side)
   b) Left foot goes to side of right foot (12-18 inches away)- Stay on ball of left foot- heel stays up.  Put all body weight on Left foot.
   c) Replace right foot straight under you.  Put body weight back on right foot.
   d) Repeat on other side.
3) hip/pelvic movement: 
   a)  As right foot crosses diagonally in front, pelvis sweeps up with an abdominal crunch.  When right foot lands, right knee bends to absorb shock and right hip softly bumps up.
   b)  As left foot goes out to side, left hip comes up.    Then there will be drama as the left hip comes back down to go into the pelvic sweep up for the next step to the other side.

Volta (from ballroom samba)
timing - a 1 a 2 a 1 a 2 . . .
footwork:  L R L R L R
direction and body weight:  Start standing on the left foot.  Cross the right front in front and end a few inches to the left of the left foot. Place all your weight on the right foot. Then keep your weight on the right foot as you move the left foot 6-12 inches to the left and finally, place on your weight on the left.  Repeat.  Then try the other side.
hips:  Make counterclockwise hip circles as you move to the left across the floor.  Use you right foot and hip to push off as you move your left foot left.  When your left foot hits the floor, squeeze your left inner thigh to pull you right foot across again.

Whisk (from ballroom samba)
timing - 1 a 2, 3 a 4 . . .
1)footwork - R L R, L R L
2)Direction and weight: 
   a)move right to the right and put all your weight on it.
   b)move left foot in back of right foot; put all weight on left foot.
   c)Replace right foot a couple inches to the left.  Put all weight on right foot.
3) Hips/pelvis movement
   a) Big Hip slide to the right on a)  At the same time, raise left heel and push off with left ball of foot.
   b) Little hip slide to the left on b)
   c) Little hip slide to the right on c), but then deepen hip slide as you use you right foot and right hip push off to the left to start over on other side.

How can I protect my feet during Zumba? Shoes good for Zumba?

To protect your feet during Zumba, first you need good shoes that support your foot, provide cushion, allow sliding and allow you to bend the sole of your foot.  Avoid heavy shoes, like those used for basketball, for instance.  Non-marking court safe shoes are important for many dance studio floors.
1) I do not recommend split sole jazz sneakers. Bloch Women's Boost Mesh Sneaker Dance Sneaker,Black,10.5 X(Medium) US   I started out with them but quickly realized they had no side support.  So when you trot sideways across the floor, you risk twisting your ankle.
2) I used to use Nike court shoes that are commonly used for hip hop.  They have a wide flat sole and a pivot point on the bottom.  I liked them for a long time, but they are a little bit stiff and don't allow maximum bending of the sole of your foot.  They also caused a lot of friction and callouses on my toes.
3) I do recommend Nike Musique. Nike Women's Musique IV Dance Shoes (7.5) But they are for narrower feet and will fit narrow feet snugly.  If you have wide feet, don't even bother.  They have arch support, a smooth sole for less friction on twisting and a pivot point.  They are quite flexible. They are marketed as a dance fitness shoe.  If you are thinking of ordering online, I take the same size in Nike Musique that I take in any other Nike shoe.  So you can try any Nike athletic shoe on in the store and order that size.  Beware- there are different styles of Nike Musiques.  Some have a little bit of mesh on the side.  Others seem to be all leather.  The all leather ones are smelly sweat chambers.  Go for mesh ventilation if possible.  I find these at DSW, Nordstram Rack clearance or on Ebay.
4) I also highly recommend Ryka Transitions. Ryka Women's Transition,Tyre Grey/Metallic Platinum/Metallic Baja Purple/White,10 M US
  They are for average or wider feet.  I have narrower feet and still wear them; they give me lots of toe room and keep the callouses away.  It's good to be able to lift your toes up and wiggle them while you dance.  You don't want scrunched up toes.  The Ryka Transitions have the most flexible soles, which is great for stretch at the end of class.  They also have fairly smooth bottoms and a pivot point.  Again, some have more mesh ventilation than other styles.  Look for the mesh.  I found mine at DSW.  Sizes do not run the same as Nikes.  I wear a half size bigger in Ryka.
5) I just tried on Ryka Influence and liked them a lot.  I bought a pair!  They have good support, cool colors, a smooth, flexible sole, a pivot point and good ventilation.  They have more cushioning than Ryka Transitions.  However, after my studio refinished its floors the surface of the Ryka sticks to the wood.  So I either need to use them with DanceSocks or save them for the tennis court now!
6) I also have two pairs of Zumba sneakers. Zumba Women's Z1 Dance Shoe,White,9 W US  They do the job but really don't have as much support as Nike or Ryka Influence.  They do have a lot of toe room and feel light.  However, they do not protect your feet well from heavy impact such as when you jump a lot.  If your zumba class is not real jumpy, these should be fine.  The surface of the Zumba brand shoes work great with the refinished wood floors.
7)  Due to the refinishing of our floors, I have been trying different shoes.  And I found Asics Noosafast that I think look great, are ultra-light and flexible and react well with my floors.
8) Should you run into sticky floors or carpeted surfaces, keep some shoe gliders such as DanceSocks in your bag.  They're cheap and will save you a lot of knee pain!

Here are some tips for your feet while you are dancing or even just walking:

1) Roll thru whole foot from heel to toe when you walk forward.  Even when you do a merengue march, roll through the whole foot.  When you take the backward step in the salsa basic, land on the ball of your foot and then settle into the heel.  This is why flip flops are bad for your feet.  People tend to walk flat in them instead of rolling through the foot.

2) Don't crash your foot into the floor.  stop your foot before it reaches the floor or as it reaches the floor so the impact  won't be hard and straining to your joints.  The stop engages your muscles also.

3) Dance Latin style with high arches (heels up)- this not only looks good and mimics the high heel look of Latin dancing but stretches your foot at the same time.

4) When you push into the floor with the ball of your foot to get grounded and more hip movement, relax and toes and raise them up.  Don't curl your toes inside your shoe.  That would stress a lot of muscles in your foot.  This is why it's good to have shoes with some toe room.

5) Incorporate foot stretching at the end of class.  For example, during a hip flexor stretch,  your back foot can have a very high arch, where you heel is all the way up and your toes can bend.

6)Get regular foot massages.  Or stand and roll your foot over a tennis ball to give yourself a massage.

7) When you're tired in class and you stop paying attention, that's when you can get hurt.  Always pay attention to what your feet are doing and know where you are putting them.

8) Don't try Zumba moves in high heels at a party.  Dancer use special dance high heels, not just street shoe high heels.