LaVida is the only place in the Eastside Seattle area that offers weekly Zouk classes and monthly dance socials!
Zouk is a partner dance suited for all ages. It’s music is characterized by a slow rhythm and a heart-beat-like deep baseline. It takes its origins in both Brazilian and Caribbean dance cultures, literally engaging people into the "Party Time". Today, Zouk is often re-mixed with R&B, Pop, and Electronic music. Experience the party, join us!
Zouk is a fun modern dance suited for all ages. Zouk music is characterized by a slow rhythm and a heart-beat like deep baseline. It takes its origins in both Brazilian and Caribbean dance cultures, literally engaging people into the "Party Time". Today, Zouk is often re-mixed with R&B, Pop, and Electronic music.
For those who have experience dancing other traditional partner dances - many of the moves, techniques, or concepts from those styles can be imported to Zouk. This makes this dance relatively easy to adapt to. In addition, Zouk can be danced to a variety of songs, and a variety of moods, making it a versatile dance to know.
The inspiration for Zouk's style of rhythmic music comes from Haitian rhythms, as well as music called cadence - music of Dominica popularised by Grammacks and Exile One. Zouk music started to become popular around the time Lambada music was fading from the Brazilian dance scene.
Zouk has a characteristic wave-like movement, elongated steps and striking hair movements by the lady. The movements are a rhythmic side to side and a rippling forward and back wave-like motion. Body rolls are reminiscent of the Samba, while hip grinds are reminiscent of the Lambada.
In Brazil, Lambada evolved into Zouk-Lambada. The original Lambada beat became slower and smoother. Zouk-Lambada is danced to a one-two-three beat. Zouk-Lambada maintains the characteristic close embrace, hip-grinding movements of the Lambada. The basic sideways step is led by the hips. It also maintains the head-roll seen in the Samba and Lambada as well as upper-body rolls.
A very dramatic move that needs to be executed with care, is for the woman to lean far back lowering her head below her waist and then whipping her head from side to side. This results in her hair swishing and flying from side to side.
Zouklove is danced to slower music and it is a more dramatic and sensual style of Zouk. Zouklove has its origins in a slow tempo form of cadence sung by Ophelia Marie of the Dominica. Zouklove in turn influenced an African genre of Zouk called Kizomba which developed in Angola and Cape Verde.
Gaining popularity in Brazil is Soul Zouk, a style of Zouk that can be danced to a variety of music including, R&B and Hip-Hop.
