Zouk-Lambada

Zouk-Lambada (also called Lambada-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. There are two dominant styles of Zouk-Lambada called ("Brazilian") "zouk" and "Lambazouk". 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.

Brazilian zouk

Brazilian zouk is mainly danced in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia), The Netherlands 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 by Jaime Aroxa, Adilio Porto and Renata Peçanha 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 Zouk is becoming well known and apart from the original styles Lambada (faster) and Zouk (latter development) some people distinguish other styles like Soulzouk, NeoZouk and Zouk-Revolution. Whether these are truly separate styles or just individual ways of dancing zouk is, however, still a point of debate.

Lambazouk

In many countries, the term Lambazouk refers to the Lambada dance style or a variation of it, danced to Zouk music. It is mainly danced in North-East Brazil (Porto Seguro) and Spain. It differs from Brazilian Zouk in the way the steps are performed on the music. To put it simple, Brazilian Zouk is danced on the dominant beat ("toom-cheek-cheek"), while Lambazouk is danced on the small beats ("cheek-cheek-toom"). In general the Lambazouk/Lambada dancing style is more suitable for fast tempo music, while Brazilian 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.

Other styles sometimes distinguished in zouk

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:

panish Lambazouk

One version of Lambazouk was created in Palma (Spain), by fusion of the Brazilian Lambada and the Zouk of the Antilles, and has also influences of the Spanish Rumba. The technique was created by Jefferson Costa of Oliveira, Rio de Janeiro, who is resident in Majorca since 1991. The term Lambazouk 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 utilize technical happiness in the dance LambaZouk. After seven years the six dancers became the professors of the new dance Lambazouk. Two of the professors are Daniel and Leticia Estévez López that since 1998 are carrying out the work of diffusing the Lambazouk in different environments.

In the year 2000, Jefferson Coast along with his six professors founded the Association Lambazouk of Majorca which was recorded at the Government as a cultural association with the aim to spread Lambazouk by means of contests, seminars, Congresses.

oulzouk

Soulzouk was depeloped in 2005 by China a teacher from Brasilia, Brazil. Soulzouk, (also called "zouk freestyle" by the inventor) differs according to Mr. 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.

Similar to forro, the gentlemen leads not only with his hands and arms, but also with his legs, shoulders and head. Soulzouk uses, just like Brazilian zouk, also the twist steps, “table” cambrés, the “suicide”, and “body jump”.

NeoZouk

Connected with DJ Mafie Zouker from Rio de Janeiro.

Zouk-Revolution

The distinct style of Joao Gilberto, a.k.a. Mr. Dragon, mainly danced on Reggaeton music

DJ's, crews and teachers in the Zouk-Lambada scene

Zouk-Lambada music crews and DJ's

Brazil

*Bamboo Tribe Crew - Arkanjo, Low Rider,Shrek, Beto Street.
*Z.N.L.(Zouk Night Love) - Mafie Zouker, Max Blacksoul, Mr Dragon (Netherlands), Nyx (USA). (Neozouk)
*Cariberio - Lord Feifer, Tricinha.
*RioZouk - DJ T!
*Dj iET, Pedrada, Poi, Ramonzito, DJ Melodia, Biel.

Netherlands

*Zouk DJ's from the Netherlands - Zoukerro, SäntöJr, Krullaine, ManoDJ, Shing, Daan, Naushad, and DJ Ki-Zo, many connected via the Zoukdreams collective.

Australia

*Dj Marcus Pedro

pain

London

Famous dancers/teachers

Brazil

* Renata Peçanha, Jaime Aroxa, Cláudio Gomes, Max BlackSoul, Mafie Zouker, Bruno Arkanjo, China, Ramonzito, Filipi, Braz (from Kaoma fame), Boca da Barra, Patricia Cruz.

London

* Berg Dias, Solange Dias
* Patricia Rezende

Tokyo

* Aochan (Tropical New York)

Australia

* (Brisbane) Tarcisio Climaco, Kadu & Larissa; (Sydney) Amit Arora, Claudio & Monica, Jaime Jesus; Gaspar Ribeiro (Brisbane salsa & zouk congresses) and (Perth) Alisson Rodrigues Sandi.

Argentina

* Gilson Damasco (also in Netherlands)

The Netherlands

* Cláudio Gomes (he started the zouk movement in the Netherlands), Claudia de Vries, Krullaine, Adilio Porto, Pasty, Josta, Vicky, João Gilberto (Mr. Dragon), Maisa Montes.

pain

* Jefferson Costa de Oliveira (Gegê), Maria, Daniel Estévez, Leticia Estévez

List of upcoming and historic Zouk-Lambada congresses

* [http://www.tropicalny.com/zoukcongress/Barcelona_Congress_2004.html "The First International Lambada Congress" Barcelona 2004]
* [http://priscilarangel.com.br/congresso/home "2º Congresso Internacional de Zouk em Brasília" on 17th of Februari 2007]
* [http://www.riozoukcongress.com "First International Zouk and Lambada Congress" in Rio de Janeiro on 4th of Januari 2008]
* [http://www.lambaporto2008.com "Lambaporto Dance Congress 2008" in Porto Seguro on 7th of Januari 2008]

ee also

*Zouk
*Lambada

External links

* [http://www.zoukerro.com/indexLinks.htm Overview page with links of Lambada-Zouk dancing scene websites]
* [http://www.soulzouk.com SOULZOUK Radio, Remix, DJS, video and more]
* [http://zoukbcn.blogspot.com Zouk blog]
* [http://www.sambaworld.nl Zouk party agenda (mainly Netherlands)]
* [http://www.neozoukznl.com Zouk Night Love - Neozouk remixes]