Zouk-Lambada (also called Lambada-Zouk or Brazilian Zouk) is a group of closely related dance styles based on or evolved from the lambada dance style and is typically danced to zouk music or other music containing the zouk beat. The name Brazilian Zouk is used to distinguish the dance from the Caribbean Zouk dance style, which is historically related to, but very different from the Lambada dance style. The two dominant styles of Zouk-Lambada are the Porto-Seguro style and the Rio-style. The word Lambazouk is often used to refer exclusively to one or the other style depending on the region you live. The word Lambazouk was originally used to refer to the dance style developed by Daniel and Leticia Estévez López, although they use the term M-zouk nowadays (for Mallorca-zouk) The Zouk-Lambada dancing styles are among the most popular non-ballroom dances for couples in Brazil, others being Forró, Lambada, Samba de gafieira and Salsa.
Contents |
Rio-style Zouk (also called Carioca Lambada meaning Rio-style Lambada), was first developed in Rio de Janeiro. It is mainly danced in Brazil (Rio and Brasilia), Australia, The Netherlands, Spain and some other European countries. It uses a modified, slower, smoother, even more sensual version of the lambada and is typically danced on Zouk-love style music. In the Netherlands this dance style goes under the name of zouk-love.
The Brazilian zouk dance style was first developed in the Ilha Dos Pescadores in Rio de Janeiro around 1989. In the Netherlands it was first introduced (in the early 2000s) by Claudio Gomes. Today Brazilian zouk is also danced on R&B, Latin pop and Arabic music, mixed with a zouk music beat.
Unlike salsa, which is led with the hands; Brazilian zouk is led by more parts of the body, noticeably the glued-to-each-other hips of the partners. Thus, in a basic sideways movement, it is the hips that move first, followed by the rest of the body, and this is part of what makes the dance so sensual. However, in various moves the dance partners are also connected by eye contact, legs, arms, shoulders, head, etc.
When practicing zouk in dance classes, teachers generally warn women to be very careful with their backs and necks, as two of the most distinctive and commented-on movements are the cambré (arching backwards to a greater or lesser degree, sometimes even below the waist) and the specific 'hair movements' or ' head movements' for the woman. If not done properly this could lead to injury.
As of today Brazilian zouk is becoming well known and apart from the faster original style Lambada (Porto Seguro style) and the latter development Brazilian zouk, some people distinguish other substyles of like Soulzouk, NeoZouk, LatinZouk and Zouk-Revolution. Whether these are truly separate styles or just individual ways of dancing is, however, still a point of debate.
The most widespread style of Lambada-Zouk is the Porto Seguro-style and is often claimed to be the same as Lambada. Although it is a fast and energetic dance, it flows smoothly and the moves are continuous and the dancers are constantly orbiting around the partner(s).
It is mainly danced in North-East Brazil (Porto Seguro), Argentina, Spain, the UK, the west coast of the US, Israel, Japan & recently also in Malaysia. The Porto-Seguro style is very close to the original Lambada from which it derives. It is characterised by:
One way in which the present Porto-Seguro style differs from the original Kaoma-like Lambada style, is that the wiggling shoulder movements (also sometimes seen in Cuban-style salsa) have disappeared. Instead the shoulders are kept fixed while the hips are moving.
The Porto Seguro-style differs from the Zouk in the way the steps are performed on the music. To put it simple, Rio-style zouk is danced on the dominant beat (1,3,4"), while Porto Seguro-style is danced on the small beats (1,2,3"). In general the Porto Seguro-style is more suitable for fast tempo music, whereas Rio style zouk is more suitable for slow tempo music. It is also very common practice to switch fluently between these dancing styles during a single Zouk music song.
As mentioned above, several new styles can be distinguished, although they are seen as simply personal styles and interpretations by some. Nevertheless, some examples are:
One version of Brasilian Zouk, called Mzouk was created in Palma (Spain), by fusion of the Brazilian Zouk and the Zouk of the Antilles, and has also influences of the Spanish Rumba. The technique was created by Jefferson Costa of Oliveira (also known as Gêgê), Rio de Janeiro, who is resident in Mallorca since 1991. The term Mzouk was created there. Jefferson decided to experiment on 6 dancers. They studied the adequate way of the position of the body and established adequate exercises to in make Mzouk a safe dance. After seven years the six dancers became the teachers of the new dance Mzouk. Two of the professors are Daniel and Leticia Estévez López that since 1998 are carrying out the work of diffusing the Mzouk in different environments.
In the year 2000, Jefferson Coast along with his six teachers founded the Association Mzouk of Mallorca which was registered with the Government as a cultural association with the aim to spread Mzouk by means of contests, seminars, and congresses.
Soulzouk was developed in 2005 by China a teacher from Rio, Brazil. Soulzouk, (also called "zouk freestyle" by the inventor) differs according to China from Brazilian zouk in the way it connects with the music.
The Soulzouk dance style is, just like Brazilian zouk, not only based on the pace, but also on the melody of the song. It can be danced to zouk music, but it is also taught to be danced with a variety of other musical genres, like rap or RnB, that don't have the zouk beat.
Connected with DJ Mafie Zouker from Rio de Janeiro and became extremely popular. The music is mixed and fused with trance and modern music with basic Zouk beats, the original French or Portuguese lyrics are omitted as Neo-Zouk ethuthiasts have better connection with transcendental music.
A style invented by Lindale Thompson,its the first style coming out of the London Lambada Zouk Scene. The style concentrates on the connection between partner and music, working with the internal chemistry between the couple and reaching outwards. Although it works with the rhythm, there is also an emphasis on musicality and working with and through the music, although initially taught in the one-two-three style,dancers are encouraged to really connect with the music and to look for options in movement and travel. Lyrical zouk is taught not only with zouk but with a wide range of musical genres ranging from classical to swing.
A fusion of Rio-Zouk & Neo-Zouk. This fast growing style is seen in many performances by instructors from Australian dance schools. Zouk in Australia is heavily influenced by years of teachings of resident Brazilian instructors such as Kadu Pires & Larissa Thayane, Claudio & Monica, Alisson Sandi and Gaspar Ribeiro as well as non residents such as Mafie Zouker, Renata & Jorge, Adilio Porto who left a strong influence in the country.
| Country | Dancers/Teachers |
|---|---|
| Argentina | Claudio de Oliveira, Gilson Damasco, Rominita, Gus Saborido, Oscar Migdal (osky), Chango, Mari Hodges, Pablo Schmoller, Maru Cremaschi, Carlinhos da Silva, Eddy, Sil, Seba Lozano, Leticia Loffler, Pato Borghi |
| Australia | Tarcisio Teatini Climaco (founder) (Brisbane): Kadu Pires & Larissa Thayane, Angelo Salgado, Carolyn Frost & Daniel Pinto, Gaspar Ribeiro, Helen Gramotnev, Ian Corbett, Jada de Goey Teatini Climaco, Mark Waden, Tennyson Choi; (Sydney): Allan Dantas, Amit Arora, Claudio Gomes & Monica Leite [1], Jaime Jesus, Little Liz, Duncan Stark, Jane Gamarnik, Oliver Pineda; (Perth): Alisson Rodrigues Sandi, Audrey Isautier, Ben Stowell; (Melbourne): Minx, Alex Bryan, Ebony Berrell |
| Austria | Tania Onca |
| Brazil | Jaime Aroxa (founder), Alex de Carvalho, Bebe Genivaldo Moreira Duarte, Braz (from Kaoma fame), Sergio Almeida e Clarissa Dias, Annik Matos e Leonardo Bruno, China e Luciana, Cláudio Gomes, David e Deywylla -Zouk Magia, Edson Nakasone e Marina Gerevini, Elaine Pereira, Luís Florião, Israel Szerman e Patica Borges, Janssen Gomes, K-Yo e Gabi Póvoa, Lidio Freitas, Mafie Zouker, MarceloEstilo, Max Blacksoul, Patricia Cruz, Patricia Rezende, Paulo Camacho (deceased), Paulinha Leal, Philip Miha, Renata Peçanha, Rodrigo Delano |
| Canada | TORONTO, ON: Junyan Boon & Danielle Nash (Mazouka Dance) [2], Renata Lisa (Toronto Dance Zouk), Darius Zouker (dZouk Productions) [3]; MONTREAL, QC: Jules Bertrand & Sindali Sandoval (Interfusion Danse), Renaud Ayotte (San Tropez) [4]; Luiz Fernando e Priscila Gomes; QUEBEC, QC: Julia-Maude et Charles (Samba-Québec) |
| Czech Republic | Carlos & Sofie da Silva, Fernanda Vitória |
| France | Sébastien Massaro [5], Stéphane Massaro [6], Alex Lima [7] |
| Hungary | Ronaldo Magalhaes (also in Brazil) |
| Israel | Liza Listvinsky (founder of Zouk Lambada Israel, http://www.zouklambada.co.il), Eyal Siag, Yuli Portnoy, Leon Gordin |
| Germany | Antje Köstering, Ailton Silva (Berlin), Daniel de Souza Forbes (Hannover), Dark Lion (http://www.darklion.eu), Junior Carvalho [8], Ramnish Gupta [9] |
| Japan (Tokyo) | Aochan (Tropical New York), NECO (Japan Association of Zouk) |
| Malaysia | Jaxen Tan & Cecilia Chua [10], Cherie Thum |
| Netherlands | Cláudio Gomes (founder),Claudia de Vries, Dark Lion, Gilson Damasco, Josta O'Neill, Krullaine, Mr. Dragon, Pasty (Edelmaar Peiternelle), Vicky Derks, Ray Olymph, René Bijkerk, Willem Engel |
| Romania | Trandafirescu Tiberiu (Brazilian Zouk) |
| Russia | Marcelo Bal and Irina, Leandro Wakko Oliviér & Masha Velichkina |
| Singapore | Wendy Yee & Jean Goh (Two Left Feet) [11] |
| Spain | Olaya White [12], Gabriel Papagaio, Fabio Mancuso, Daniel and Leticia Estévez http://spiraldancerszouk.com/ (Mzouk Style), Jefferson Costa de Oliveira (Gegê, Mzouk style), Luciano gomes, Spiral Dancers http://spiraldancerszouk.com/ (Mzouk Style). |
| UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) | Samantha Ho, Nayan De Abrew, Karen Cruz, Pedro Mesquita |
| UK (London) | Berg Dias, Solange Dias, Patricia de Cruz, Luis "Lula" Filho, Tania Onca, Patricia Rezende, Lindale Thompson; Gary Carr and Marisa Gulino of OndaAmor [13] with Przemo Bania, Gareth Evans, Lucia Kozmova, Anna Karczewska, Viola Palmai and Louisa Caddell; Sarah Gibbons and Marcos Fonseca, Mohammed Ali and Nataliya Grigorova (Brazilian Zouk London) [14], Ruben Pedrosa and Danielle Opocyznski, Kleber Castanheira Saude |
| USA | Ryan & Mea-Lynn Wong (SoCal-Zouk) [15] - Los Angeles, CA; Juni Shimizu (Tropical New York) - New York City; Kim Rottier (ZoukNY) - New York City; Fabiano "Nyx" Trofino and Lais Trofino (MiamiZouk) - Miami, FL; Shani Mayer (Los Angeles, CA); Kelly Rice (San Diego, CA); Adrian Atoro, Amy Rocores & Auntie Ox (Zoukalma) [16] - Washington, DC; Rachel Meth (ABQZouk) - Albuquerque, NM; Ian Orr & Kendra Haynes (evoZouk) [17] - Miami, FL |
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011