Zouk/Lambada

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.

Zouk is considered to be one of the most sensual Latin Dance Styles. It relies heavily on partner connection and interaction.

Video Zouk LDA Pro-Team

The name Brazilian Zouk is used to distinguish the dance from the Caribbean Zouk dance style, which is not related to 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. 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.

Video Jaime Jesus & Amy Mills

Rio-style

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 the 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 and Zouk-Revolution. Whether these are truly separate styles or just individual ways of dancing is, however, still a point of debate.

Porto Seguro-style

The most wide-spread style of Zouk-Lambada is the Porto Seguro-style. It is mainly danced in North-East Brazil (Porto Seguro & Sao Paulo), Argentina, Spain and the UK. The Porto-Seguro style is closer to the original Lambada style than the Rio-style zouk, because, just like the Lambada:

•   up-tempo music, is used,
•   the whip-like movement of the body is central to the dance,
•   the 1,2,3="quick-quick-slow" counting is used.

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 Rio-style in the way the steps are performed on the music. To put it simple, Rio-style zouk is danced on the dominant beat (1,2,3="slow-quick-quick"), while Porto Seguro-style is danced on the small beats (1,2,3="quick-quick-slow"). In general the Porto Seguro-style is more suitable for fast tempo music, while 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.



Other styles sometimes distinguished in Zouk-Lambada

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:

Lambazouk (Estévez López-style)

Video Daniel & Leticia

One version of Zouk-Lambada, called 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.

Soulzouk

Soulzouk was developed in 2005 by China a teacher from Rio, 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.

NeoZouk

Mafie Zouker & Little Liz

Connected with DJ Mafie Zouker from Rio de Janeiro.

Zouk-Revolution

Mr Dragon & Maisa Montes

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

Lyrical Zouk

A style invented by Lindale Thompson, it’s 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.

LAMBADA

Lambada refers to the Portuguese verb, meaning to whip or flog, this term describing the rhythm and style of the dance. The origins of Lambada are debated, it being evolved from many different influences. Some say it is derived from 'forro' and others say it's origins lie in the Carimbó - a popular dance in the north of Brazil since the 1500's.

Originally this was a dance where the man and woman stayed apart, but later changed so that they danced together to a two beat rhythm.

It is possible that the Lambada music originated in Northern Brazil, in Belem, during the 70's, as a result of influences from the Salsa, Merengue and Reggae music that could be heard on the Guyanese and French Guiana Radio.

This new mix of music and style of dance moved a little further south incorporating influences Maxixe in Salvador before reaching and staying in Porto Seguro, Bahia. Bahia is Brazil's most musically creative state and while the dance grew in popularity, its spread worldwide began when French music producers who visited Bahia in 1988 to search for new forms of music. The French took the music back to Europe and with a new band called Kaoma, made Lambada the number one hit worldwide.

During this time, as Lambada was being introduced to the rest of the world, it was danced with the steps from side to side. But In many films and promotions, as a result of the lack of skilled dancers and influences from Salsa, Merengue and Rock, steps were improvised and switched to forward and back.

Today the dance itself can be found in quite a few countries around the world, including Argentina, Australia, England, Israel, France, Germany, Japan, Mallorca, Martinique and Spain.

This style has faded out in recent times and is rare to be taught or even danced in the clubs and gatherings of Sydney.

SALSA	SAMBA	ZOUK/LAMBADA	BACHATA
ZUMBA	GAFIEIRA	CHA-CHA	RUEDA
BRAZILIAN CARNIVAL	CAPOEIRA	SUMMARY OF ALL STYLES AND OTHERS