What is Brazilian Zouk?

Brazilian zouk is a social partner dance (meaning one partner is leading a movement, and the other is following) originating in Brazil in the early 90’s with heavy influences from lambada (dance) and Carribean zouk music.

Even as a relatively “young” dance style, zouk has evolved, adapted and branched to have different sub-styles and today is often danced to music beyond the “traditional” zouk music, including R&B and hip hop, pop music, and contemporary.

Despite differences in styles, zouk is generally characterized by:

  • use of both “open” and “closed” connection and full body leading

  • off-axis tilts, turns, and movements by the follow

  • “head movement” (sometimes jokingly referred to as “hair movement”) from the follow as their lead through upper body tilts

Check out some of our own Minneapolis zoukers dancing downtown (note: these are not choreographies, they are social dances. Everything they are doing is being led and followed!)

Topher & Angelica dancing in the Amber Box at the Guthrie Theater

Lydia & Gabriel dancing in downtown Minneapolis

Even as a relatively “young” dance, zouk has a wide range of sub-styles, with dancers evolving and adapting the dance based on their own dance backgrounds and comfort. Here are a couple of more examples of some of the variety you can see in the dance:

Zouk-Lambada

“Traditional” (Rio) Zouk

Hip-Hop Influenced

Contemporary Influenced

Emphasis on Close Embrace

“Switch” Zouk (Role Swapping)

Is Zouk Hard to Learn?

Out of the more “popular” social partner dances (salsa, bachata, swing, etc.) zouk is admittedly a bit more challenging to get started in (because there is much of zouk that can be led with the “whole” body, it can feel challenging for beginners). But that doesn’t mean you need previous dance experience to learn to zouk! While many people find zouk by way of other dances (like seeing it at a salsa bachata social), plenty of dancers pick zouk as their first partner dance, so you’re in good company! Check out Raj & Alli’s beginner-friendly zouk classes Thursday nights 7-8pm at Tapestry Folkdance Center to see what the obsession is all about :)

For dancers who DO have experience in other dance styles, examples of things they typically gravitate towards zouk for are things like:

  • Sensual Bachata - body isolations, body waves, head movement (and how to lead these comfortably, not just because it’s part of a choreo pattern!)

  • West Coast Swing - the floorcraft and “elasticity”

  • Blues, Fusion, & Contact Improv - playfulness and improvisation

  • Salsa - a deeper lead-and-follow connection, more full body movement, than salsa typically offers

But to reiterate the important part: you do not need previous dance experience to learn zouk!

How Do I Know if I Should Learn to Lead or to Follow?

It’s totally up to your personal preference. If you’ve never done a partner dance before, give both a try and see which role you like more! Maybe you want to just specialize in learning to be a clear “lead,” or maybe you’d find more joy out of learning to be a responsive “follow,” or maybe you’d like the mental challenge of learning both roles so you can dance with anyone at a social!

Where Can I Dance Zouk in Minneapolis?

Check out the Classes & Events page for more details on weekly classes (group lessons), socials (informal dances), and even the occasional special workshop with visiting instructors!