Apr 10, 20196 min read

Brazilian Zouk Styles and History Background

Updated: Nov 27, 2019

'Brazilian Zouk is a couple dance that is coming from Lambada in Brazil. The name Brazilian Zouk is used to distinguish the dance from the Caribbean Zouk dance, which is historically related to, but very different trom the Lambada. The three dominant lines inside of Brazilian Zouk are Traditional Zouk, LambaZouk, and Zouk with different styles.' [1]

Beginning in Lambada Dance

'Brazilian Zouk evolved from a Brazilian dance called Lambada. Lambada grew fast, it was a fever especially in Brazil, however at the beginning of the 90’s it started to lose its popularity. While it was popular, Lambada was a dance that took over most night clubs in Brazil, especially in Rio de Janeiro. Night clubs played only Lambada. One day the DJ’s started to fell uncomfortable about all that success and decided to get together to deflate the music. This initiative from the DJs contributed to Lambada’s fall. Another important reason was the fact that it was a fast dance style with many challenging body movement, which made it harder for people of all ages to learn.' [2]

Caribbean Zouk Music

'In mid 90’s Brazilians discovered the rhythm Zouk from French Caribbean which had many similarities with Lambada music due to Lambada music have many influences from the Caribbean rhythms. The Lambada lovers so an opportunity to continue dancing their beloved dance style. In Rio de Janeiro there were many Lambada dancers who wanted to continue dancing the style. Soon the Lambada dance started to adapt to the Zouk music. However the Zouk music was slower than the Lambada, so it was necessary to make alterations to the dance including to it’s basic steps.' [2]

'This transformation happened in many states in Brazil. In Rio de Janeiro, Jaime Aroxa, Renata Peçanha and Adilio Porto at Jaime Aroxa Dance School realized that in class it was difficult to teach the Lambada basics on the spot and with the influence of other Brazilian dance styles such as Samba de Gafieira they modified the basics from being on the spot to travel forward and backwards. The linear Salsa also influenced them to create liver movements like “Lateral” and “Bonus”, because the Lambada movements were all circular. These changes helped students to learn easily. Following that other movements came up such as “Raul” and “Bonus”, which gave origin to our popular basic kit.' [2]

Traditional Zouk - Rio Style

'Traditional Zouk style was first developed in llha Dos Pescadores in Rio de Janeiro around the mid 90's when Lambada songs stopped being composed. It was developed and first taught by Adilio Porto and Renata Peganha in Brazil's most famous dance school for Brazilian couple dances of Jaime Aröxa. They danced to the slower music of the Caribbean Zouk, thus making it easier to learn and vary steps, moves, patterns and combinations. The characteristic steps that were created are the basic step going front and back (from Samba de Gafieira), the opening and lateral step (from Bolero), elastic and bonus (also called boomerang In Europe).

Since adding lots of new steps and changing the characteristics from Lambada, a new name was given to this dance, with was originally 'Zouk Love', later just called 'Zouk'. Today, the Brazilian Zouk has changed and thus, the name 'Traditional Zouk' has been given to the dance that was first taught by Adilio and Renata in the beginning of the 90's, which is now didactically used all over the world.' [1]

'Unlike salsa, which is led with the hands, Brazilian Zouk is led by more parts of the body. Sometimes, in a basic sideways movement, it is the hips that move first, followed by the rest of the body, and this is what makes the dance so sensual. However, in various moves the dance partners are also connected by eye contact, legs, arms, shoulders, head, etc.' [1]

LambaZouk

'LambaZouk, also called the Porto Seguro-style, is often thought of as the evolution of original Lambada, although in its current iteration it has divulged far from original Lambada. This dance is characterized by high energy (energia) and feel good attitude (alegria). Although it is a fast and energetic dance, it flows smoothly and the moves are continuous and rhythmic, and dancers follow circular (and to a lesser extent slot-style) movements as they relate to each other. One way in which the present LambaZouk differs from the original Kaoma-like Lambada style, is that they have removed wiggling shoulder movements (also sometimes seen in Cuban-style salsa). Instead the shoulders are kept fixed while the hips move (swing) to create a sensual effect. A number of movements have been added to the modern version of this dance mainly created by Didi Santos of Brazil.' [1]

'LambaZouk is characterized by the following movements

Head movements (Cabeca - head moves in the same direction as shoulder; Boneca - Head moves in the reverse direction as shoulder for half measure (1-2-3))
(Hair) whip movement (Chicote)
Back arch/dip (Cambre)

The original Porto Seguro style is also unique in the way steps are performed to music (in this sense it is closer to Lambada). Here, the steps are performed with equal emphasis (same amount of travel) on strong beat and the two beats that follow (including the pause after the strong beat). This is done specifically to facilitate musicality by matching sharp movements (Chicote and Cambre) with the strong beat. When danced this way dancers fluently incorporate sharp movements to accentuate strong beat without stopping the dance (pausing to catch up). Even though this timing is popular in LambaZouk, it is by no means exclusive [it is not exclusive]. Many LambaZouk dancers also dance by taking longer step (or turning the follower) on the dominant beat (like Traditional Zouk). It is also a common practice to switch the two timings within the same song (by doing multiple contra-tempo turns tor the follower). For comparison on timing, Traditional Zouk emphasizes strong beat by having dancers take a long step on the strong beat. In LambaZouk style (as explained earlier) a popular way is to step equally (length-wise) on strong beat and following two beats. This creates continuous movements.

LambaZouk is danced to rhythmic, up-tempo music (tempo is generally fast or medium, rarely slow), whereas Traditional Zouk is more suitable tor slow tempo music (often with long pauses). Kizomba music is very popular in LambaZouk owing to its rhythm and pace. Because the music taster, and head movements are more sophisticated and done more often, dancing LambaZouk requires better technique and timing in order to perform head movements without injuries.

LambaZouk is mainly danced in Porto Seguro, Säo Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Argentina, Spain, UK, Israel, the west coast of the US, Japan & recently also in Malaysia. LambaZouk is also evolving to include more modern movements. It is also not uncommon (lately) for dancers to switch fluently these dancing styles during a single Zouk music song.' [1]

Zouk with different style

'As mentioned above, several new styles can nowadays be distinguished. The dance is changing and developing all the time, adding and changing techniques of dancing, leading and following, but keeping the frame and pattern of Brazilian Zouk_ New musics are also part of this development, leading to

various new movements and interpretation of the music. Some styles are mentioned here, which are danced now in many countries:

NeoZouk

It's a variation of Zouk, the new language that aims to show different trends in Zouk , created by Mane Zouker and Ruanita Santos in 2007, where the gentleman uses his lady as inspiration to conduct his dance exploring every articulation, to define each movement, the difference conduct and respond is in the direction in which the movement occurs, because there is times when the lady induces the gentleman to a different path , continuing the movement, Neozouk is the exact metric translation tor the conversation the body and music , where the gentleman and the lady communicate to each other through a connection body - telling. Each body has its shape, therefore unlimited, each dance has the same trait but with a different contour, that's why new. Neozouk is the set of technical , aesthetic , freedom and agility, Neozouk allows those who dance to keep their personality following a single concept , in one same direction.' [1]

FlowZouk

'Related to NeoZouk, Arkkanjo influenced Rio's dance scene a lot with his style 'Flow Zouk'. As the style saying, the movement and leading are very fluent and flowing. There is a lot body contact and body movements in this style.' [1]

Soulzouk

'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, 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. ' [1]

Mzouk

'The only Brazilian Zouk style that was developed outside Brazil. This sub style is from Mallorca and was developed by Maestre Gegê, and his students, Daniel and Leticia Estévez. Being a Capoeira Master, Gegê educated his students with discipline, awareness of the need for the human body to be strengthened in order to dance properly. This style has different basic steps than the others, and is rather “molecular”, rather than “step-based”. This means that you are given a set of short steps from which build your dance, your own “formula”. Both right and left sides and directions are trained and used equally, which is not always the case in the other sub-styles.' [3]