Most people interested in Latin dance know that the dance style we now call ‘Zouk’ evolved from Lambada – which is a type of music as well as a dance style.During the early 1990s, the Brazilian music that gave birth to Lambada started to fade away, and the dancers began to use other musical sources to continue practicing the Lambada dance. Among these rhythms were the Flamenco Rumba (such as from the Gypsy Kings and some Arabian music).When Lambada music eventually disappeared, dancers took the original movements that were danced to Lambada across to the new, more popular music: Zouk.
And as dancers became more connected to the idiosyncrasies of the new musical style, the sounds of this music encouraged dancers to respond in smooth wave-like movements. New moves evolved new shapes and combinations: the emphasis shifted from fast-moving hips to a more flowing, all-over body movement.
Along with new the moves, Zouk got a fashion makeover: gone were the provincial costuming associated with Lambada (white fishermen’s outfits and sandals) to be replaced by a more sophisticated urban look.
But, unfortunately, some dancers have chosen to interpret the new flavours by entering into what some experts consider to be an over use of trance-like movement, with followers appearing like zombies in the process (Zombie Zouk).
But don’t worry: it’s not something we do at Smooth Latin Groove. We have strong affinity with the flowing, liquid-like flavour of Zouk R&B, and we use dips and cambres as a decoration to the dance, rather than as a basis for the dance itself.
For us, Zouk is a smooth-flowing and elegant dance. It’s never zombie-ish! Using consistent Zouk Foundation technique, the dance partners intertwine and flow freely from one movement to another in a mesmerizing but completely human way.
-- Ian Corbett
