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Zumba Basic Steps: A Complete Beginner's Guide

Zumba Basic Steps: A Complete Beginner's Guide — video by Minie Minarelli Play · 18:10

Video by Minie Minarelli on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Sydney Zumba instructor Minie Minarelli shows how to count the beat, then the main foot patterns and weight shifts for merengue, salsa, cha-cha-cha, reggaeton and cumbia, plus tips for following a class. Ideal if you have never danced.

  • 18 min
  • Beginner
  • Low impact (no jumping)
  • No equipment
  • Latin

Good forDancing for fun

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Step by step 8

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Counting the beat: Zumba songs are in 4/4, so count 1 to 4, or 1 to 8 as dancers do. 1:33
  2. Merengue: march right-left on every beat, then forward and back, diagonals, a V step and a square. 2:51
  3. Merengue side steps and the side-and-cross step, shown slowly, the weight moving from foot to foot. 4:30
  4. Salsa: step on 1-2-3, pause on 4, keeping one foot as an anchor and coming straight back to it. 5:44
  5. Cha-cha-cha: a salsa-style 1-2, then three quick alternating steps on 3-and-4. 7:45
  6. Reggaeton: the accent is on the 'and'; side stomps, step-step-double, knee lifts and low walks. 10:04
  7. Cumbia: one lazy leg follows the other; side walk, diagonal step and the machete, turning on the toes. 12:43
  8. Class tips: follow the song's structure, watch where the instructor goes and stay on your toes on turns. 15:36

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Get the feet right first; add the hips and arms once the step feels easy
  • In salsa, keep one foot as an anchor and come straight back to it
  • Watch the instructor's feet and stay on your toes on turning steps to protect the knees

What it works

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses light on the joints

  • Hips movesside steps, forward and back steps, hip swing
  • Knees movesmarching, weight shifts, step-touches, knee-up bounce
  • Ankles & feet movesfoot patterns, toe turns, small bounces

Easier option from the coach: Advises staying on the toes on turning steps to protect the knees

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by Minie Minarelli; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety