with big thanks to Alex de Carvalho

He agreed to share his great knowledge of zouk style explanation which make us confused often.

There so many names in zouk world and new people get confused by this.

He make zouk type in three tyles and it helps us to understand zouk lots. thank you.

 

 

Hi guys, how are you?

Let’s study a little bit? 

As we know since the Lambada “explosion”, our Brazilian Zouk has been influenced by different styles and variations in music. This is good as it is a part of the Dance Evolution. However, it is important to make sure we do not invent different names for the dance or exploit it for our personal marketing, and thus confusing people and disrespecting each phase of the dance and its fundamentals. To give it a new name, it would necessitate a significant change of the dance’s fundamentals. 

Arabic songs, R&B, Hip Hop, Kizomba, Zouk, Pop and others give different interpretations to our dance. However, the base and dance structure is the same, which was born many years ago. 

Our Samba de Gafieira, for example, has 2 phases/lines: Samba Traditional and Samba Funkeado. Samba Masters like Carlos Bolacha & Paulinha, Vladeci de Souza & Cristina Ramos, Jaime Aroxa & Bianca Gonzalez and Marcelo Chocolate & Sheila Aquino for example, have different interpretations on how to dance their Samba, however, the fundamentals are the same. They dance to different types of songs such as Bossa Nova, Chorinho, MPB and others but still call it Samba de Gafieira Traditional. This really helps to make our Samba de Gafieira clear and easier to promote. Samba Funkeado created by Jimmy de Oliveira has different body interpretation and fundamentals, especially in the execution of the movements. The difference is even clear when using some movements from Samba Traditional when dancing Samba Funkeado. 

Speaking with different professionals from Brazilian Zouk such as Brno Arkkanjo, Renato Veronezi, Mafie Zoukier, Adilio Porto, Gilson Damasco, Larissa Thayane, William Teixeira, Renata Pecanha, Kadu Pires and Philip Miha, we agree that our Lambada has gone through 3 different phases. These originate from 3 different and very influential lines with specific fundamentals to each moment, giving birth to movements and connections and thus eliminating any other name that can be given to our dance. Other professionals were a part of our discussions, however, we did not finalise the debate and for this reason I am not mentioning their names. 

Below there are some videos of professionals that show the similarity between movements and connections. Each professional utilises their own style and way of expressing the dance, but also with the characteristics that classify them in each phase of it. 

Remember that all styles end up influencing each other. 

So let’s get to know it – 

1. Style – Lambada/ LambaZouk

• Hip movements
• Head movements
• Way of counting the music (123 567)
• Turns
• Downbeat on 1 in the music
• Dips
• Guys lead the girls with no contact (visual lead)
• Circles and changes of partners during the dance
• Energy from guys claps
• Others

Didi e Patricia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFbo1JWke5A
Gilson e Natasha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_CHXTEOgxU
Léo Bruno e Rominita
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNsTS0Mnp60
Braz dos Santos e Patricia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnVOs1ruqCc
Rodrigo Delano, Adriana Coutinho e Naiara Márcia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDGy0Dny2g0
Others

2. Style – Zouk Traditional 

• Front and Back basic (“vertical position”)
• Musicality
• Different dynamic of timing
• Movements with body movement
• Extensions 
• Influences from Jazz, Contemporary and Modern dance
• Upper body movements such as contractions and body rolls
• Use of lifts when choreographing a show
• Others

Adilio e Renata Porto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ahZoaXd8zQ
Kadu Pires e Larissa Thayane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0K8D5jwiqQ
Lidio Freitas e Monique Marculano
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIKqUqunkh8
Jorge Peres e Renata Peçanha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvA572FfnIY
Rafael Oliveira e Juliana Magalhães
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhSfuCtZZ5E
Others

3. Style – NeoZouk 

• Variations of the basic
• Counterbalance 
• Body torsions 
• Body movements 
• Complexity of movements
• Movement Variations from Traditional Zouk
• Others

Bruno Arkkanjo e Diana Werneck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvGVi0RgT0Q
Mafie Zouker e Tamar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxdB3Ghc6JE
China e Luciana Guinle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-ORKWYmO24
Renato Veronezi e Babi Pacheco
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzDhhvl5Jzg
Daddinho e Aline Cleto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJyAwYm9UJU
Bruno Galhardo e Eglantine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoE5bYjGi0g
Xandy Liberato e Evelyn Magyari
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sURdbRPZwaI
Others

Let’s use styles that already exist so we can create more connections resulting in different movements and particularly, in the pleasure of dancing in couples.

Big hug 
Alex de Carvalho

---------