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Latin Urban Jhon Gonzalez
Latin Urban Jhon Gonzalez
Latin Urban
Jhon Gonzalez
Zumba ® Jammer , USA
SESSION HANDOUT
Presenter
Jhon Gonzalez
Schedule
15 min: Introduction
1 hr: Breakdown of 2 Routines
45 min: Mini Master Class
Final wrap-up/Q&A
(Total: 2 hours)
Session Objective
To incorporate easy to follow moves and Basic Zumba Core Steps to the Latin Urban music genre.
In the mid-2000’s Reggaeton started moving in a new direction. Artists that helped define Reggaeton began
incorporating new sounds to the classic Reggaeton beat. These artists gained popularity by adding new
rhythms to the classic beat and a new genre of music was born.
In 2007 the Latin Music world recognized the term Urban for the first time when artists like Calle 13, Daddy
Yankee, Tito el Bambino, Don Omar and Orishas were placed in a new category at the Latin Grammy
Awards for Best Urban Song. These artists had popular songs that were influenced by Rap, Hip hop and
Reggaeton with a vibrant tropical feel.
Latin Urban became the perfect term to identify artists whose music couldn’t be put into only one category.
This new wave of music now reached a broader population because limiting the categorical presence of
these artists adversely affected their reach into not only the Latino population but the entire music industry.
When artists began crossing over and performing duets in English and Spanish, the Latin Urban genre
quickly made a name for itself. Artists like Prince Royce and Romeo Santos leading the charts in the
Bachata genre, started to duet with American artists such as Pitbull, Usher, and Sean Paul. This
collaboration helped market the music and allowed it to become better known.
Daddy Yankee can be identified as one of the most influential Latin Urban music artists today. Although he
started with mostly Reggaeton, he knew that to reach a larger demographic, he had to incorporate new
sounds and make his music more “ear friendly.” His first Latin Urban Song was “Llamado De Emergencia”
that had his original Reggaeton beat, but with added merengue. With the introduction of this new “flavor” he
had now reached an audience that would have otherwise overlooked his music.
Latin Urban is the evolution of Reggaeton into a marketable sound that covers many genres of Latin Music. It
comes down to the way Latin Urban makes you feel rather than the way it sounds. Whether it is Rap, Hip
Hop, or Reggeaton, when we hear Latin Urban music, we instantaneously forget about the words and rhythm
and quickly want to start dancing.
Because Latin Urban music contains many rhythms and flavors, incorporating Basic Zumba® core steps will
be easy and effective. When we dance Latin Urban Music, the moves are powerful, grounded, graceful, fun
and easy to follow. Allow your Body to tell you what it feels. You will definitely hear the Reggaeton, Hip Hop
and Rap influences, but you may also hear some Cumbia, Salsa, Merengue and dance. Use your Basic
Core Steps chart to choreograph Latin Urban.