Blog


Today’s Google doodle celebrates salsa legend Celia Cruz.  We are currently using Rie y Llora as our attitude- filled cha cha cha.   The lyrics tells us:

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My favorite Zumba shoes are on sale for $30 at Zulily. Now, everyone’s feet and preferences are different, and unfortunately you cannot try on and return. But I will say I have worn this model and ONLY this model of shoe for teaching Zumba for YEARS.

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Whew! What a class! I left soaking wet, exhausted and starving, and ready to hit up YouTube for some of that dancehall music. 

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So now you already know about Monroe Hall. Here are a few other events you might be interested in this weekend.  So many great options!  How will you decide!

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From someone with no gardening skills yet the desire to eat more healthily, I thank you for generously sharing your fresh goodies. They are appreciated by the whole family. Feel free to unload your surplus on me any time! (p.s. I just got a new camera. Can you tell I’m lovin’ it?)

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My daughter says this video reminds her of me. Is that why you all are smiling so much during class?

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So ok. I didn’t get a whole lot of writing done in 2012 after the half. But I did get to spend a lot of time with you all doing one of my favorite things – Zumba!  A picture is worth a thousand words, so here are several:

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Get out your calendar again because one week after our Zumbathon in Windsor, you will want to head over to Santa Rosa for a Zumba Party featuring the Tres Amigas:  Ruth Taylor, Leticia Ortiz, and myself. 

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Join me and 4 other fabulous Zumba instructors for this fundraiser benefitting the American Cancer Society via the Windsor Relay for Life.  My incredibly energetic friend and colleague Roseanne Nichols along with her team of wonderful volunteers has been working hard to organize a super fun event for a great cause.  See you there!

8-6-2013 10-08-27 AM

Click image above for all the details or visit http://www.facebook.com/events/318527434883057/

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I’m going to sneak over here for a few free classes/workshops while my kids are at birthday parties. Hope I see you!

JASDance Academy Grand Opening part-2

Sunday, April 15, 2012
10:00am until 5:00pm
3181 Cleveland Ave. Suite E
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

JASDANCE Academy, is opening their new dance studio.

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I just bought my ticket to this one. I can’t believe Lauren Drinkhall scored Sarina Jain to come up to Sonoma. Way to Go Lauren! Sarina Jain is a big deal in fitness and you know I have a new love of Indian dance. Really looking forward to it.

A Magical Night With the Creator of Masala Bhangra, Sarina Jain
Public Event · By Lauren Drinkhall

Thursday, May 3, 2012
6:30pm until 8:30pm
The Presentation School
20872 Broadway, Sonoma, CA 95476

Looking to put a little spice in your workout….Then come see what all the RAVE is about!

Sarina Jain, creator of the Masala Bhangra Workout is coming to Sonoma to teach a two hour master class.

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An Exhilarating Zumba® and Samba Experience
Public Event · By Efren Buzzo and Tika Morgan

Saturday, April 14, 2012
11:30am until 2:00pm
2 and 1/2 hr of PURE energy and fun!

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Below, a hypnotic fight scene that will mesmerize you until the last second when you realize you’ve been holding your breath and not blinking the whole 8 minutes — performed by two groups of fierce women dancing with simmering aggression barely restrained by elegance, twitching their skirts like a stalking cat’s tail.  The movie Carmen is based on the play/opera, a tale of a dance troupe putting together a performance.  This is not watered down touristy flamenco.  It is gritty intense and worth blocking out some uninterrupted movie time to treat yourself.  I stayed up very late watching this after everyone else was in bed.  Hope you can find a copy! I am two thirds through the trilogy and loving it. This from someone who generally does not like gritty intense movies.

Watching this scene will give you a taste.

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I frequently tell my newer students to try not to get overwhelmed by unfamiliar moves they encounter in Zumba class.  I know well the unpleasant frustration of not being able to do or understand something (see pic).  When you hit that point, it’s decision time: do you shut down or push through?

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I ran across videos of dancer and fitness instructor Dennis Thomsen when looking for inspiration for the song Sheila Ki Jawani. From what I can tell from their website, locolatino.net, Dennis and Tina Thomsen are a husband-wife team that teach dance, as well as Zumba, Masala Bhangra and several other forms of dance fitness. I just love their style which is bouncy, cheerful, and carefree. It seems they barely touch the floor! Enjoy these videos and seek them out if you happen to be traveling thru Denmark!

I mean this is how much energy they have in an empty room:

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One of my students asked if I’d seen this video – and I actually had found it previously and watched for inspiration for flamenco style moves. Enjoy!

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