Dance Styles
Brazilian Beatz Students and Teachers
What is Brazilian Zouk?
Brazilian Zouk is a form of couple dance that was transformed from Lambada to become an easier way for everyone to be able to dance. Brazilian Zouk can be danced to many different Genres of music including Pop, RnB, Dubstep and more. The couple works together creating beautiful flowing movements. It is a fast growing dance which is now in many different places all over the world.
To see what this dance looks like take a look in the Videos section on the Tabs above.
What is Bachata?
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Often referred to in the West as "authentic / Dominican" bachata, the original social dance was created in the Dominican Republic during the 1960s and was danced only in closed position, like the bolero, often in close embrace. Bachata basic steps was inspired by the bolero basic step, but evolved over time to include a tap and syncopations (steps in between the beats), helping dancers express the more dynamic music being commonly played. The hand placement can vary according to the position of the dances, which can range from very close to open to completely open.
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The Bachata Sensual dance style was created in Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain, by Korke Escalona and Judith Cordero.
Korke learned the basics of western "traditional" in 1998, but with no more information than the basic step (four steps to the side) and inspired by bachata music, he started developing his own dance style inspired by contemporary and Brazilian zouk dances by understanding how the leader could lead the body of the follower to interpret the music. The result is a novel, independent dance form with strict principles of leading and following, with mostly circular movements and body waves, but also body isolations and dips when the dancers feel the music calls for it.
Boléro
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Danca de Salão is the name given for the Ballroom Styles of dance from Brazil these include Bolero, Soltinho, Samba de Gafieira and the added extra of Forro. Bolero is a slower dance which is soft and romantic, sometimes it is used as the Special dance at ones Wedding. Soltinho is a little faster it is fun and energetic often danced to Pop Music.
All of these styles are Couple Dances.
What is Forró?
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Universitário forro, with its origins in the big southern cities of Brazil, is the more popular style outside of the Northeast. Its basic step is forward-backwards — slightly similar to traditional bolero or salsa in line. With many more moves, steps and turns are.
So much fun dance style.
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Since 2008, several forró festivals have been held annually in Europe; since 2016, festivals have also been organised in North America, Oceania and Japan. In 2019, over 70 international festivals are planned outside of Brazil
​Forró is the most popular genre of music and dance in Brazil
Brazilian Zouk evolved from a Brazilian dance called Lambada. Lambada grew fast, it was a fever especially in Brazil, however at the beginning of the 90’s it started to lose its popularity. While it was popular, Lambada was a dance that took over most night clubs in Brazil, especially in Rio de Janeiro.
In mid 90’s Brazilians discovered the rhythm Zouk from French Caribbean which had many similarities with Lambada music due to Lambada music have many influences from the Caribbean rhythms. The Lambada lovers so an opportunity to continue dancing their beloved dance style. In Rio de janeiro there were many Lambada dancers who wanted to continue dancing the style. Soon the Lambada dance started to adapt to the Zouk music. However the Zouk music was slower than the Lambada, so it was necessary to make alterations to the dance including to it’s basic steps.
This transformation happened in many states in Brazil. In Rio de Janeiro, Jaime Aroxa, Renata Peçanha and Adilio Porto at Jaime Aroxa Dance School realised that in class it was difficult to teach the Lambada basics on the spot and with the influence of other Brazilian dance styles such as Samba de Gafieira they modified the basics from being on the spot to travel forward and backwards. The linear Salsa also influenced them to create liver movements like “Lateral” and “Bonus”, because the Lambada movements were all circular. These changes helped students to learn easily. Following that other movements came up such as “Raul” and “Bonus”, which gave origin to our popular basic kit.
Because this dance evolved from a Brazilian dance Lambada, it is a Brazilian dance. It is not because the name is not Brazilian that the dance will not be from Brazil. All Zouk professionals then decided to call this dance style Brazilian Zouk (Zouk Brasileiro), with the objective to protect our own culture and also with the objective not to interfere with different culture’s interpretations of Zouk.
Soltinho
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Danca de Salão is the name given for the Ballroom Styles of dance from Brazil these include Bolero, Soltinho, Samba de Gafieira and the added extra of Forro. Bolero is a slower dance which is soft and romantic, sometimes it is used as the Special dance at ones Wedding. Soltinho is a little faster it is fun and energetic often danced to Pop Music.
All of these styles are Couple Dances.
What is Danca de Salão?
Danca de Salão is the name given for the Ballroom Styles of dance from Brazil these include Bolero, Soltinho, Samba de Gafieira and the added extra of Forro. Bolero is a slower dance which is soft and romantic, sometimes it is used as the Special dance at ones Wedding. Soltinho is a little faster it is fun and energetic often danced to Pop Music.
All of these styles are Couple Dances.
Carnival is the most popular holiday in Brazil and has become an event of huge proportions. Except for industrial production, retail establishments such as malls, and carnival-related businesses, the country unifies completely for almost a week and festivities are intense, day and night, mainly in coastal cities.Rio de Janeiro's carnival alone drew 4.9 million people in 2011, with 400,000 being foreigners.
This cultural manifestation is generally an extension of Afro-Brazilian culture.
Do you Know the Benefits that dance Brings to you?
Benefits
+ Get Fit
+ Make Friends
+ Keep your mind healthy (release those feel good endorphins)
+ Memory
+ Coordination
+ Increase Energy
+ Improved condition of your heart and lungs, increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness (Some studies showed)
+ Better Balance
+ Reduce stress
and more!
Come and learn this amazing dances and Have a lot of fun!
Do you Know the Benefits that dance Brings to you?
Benefits
+ Get Fit
+ Make Friends
+ Keep your mind healthy (release those feel good endorphins)
+ Memory
+ Coordination
+ Increase Energy
+ Improved condition of your heart and lungs, increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness (Some studies showed)
+ Better Balance
+ Reduce stress
and more!
Come and learn this amazing dances and Have a lot of fun!
Do you Know the Benefits that dance Brings to you?
Benefits
+ Get Fit
+ Make Friends
+ Keep your mind healthy (release those feel good endorphins)
+ Memory
+ Coordination
+ Increase Energy
+ Improved condition of your heart and lungs, increased muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness (Some studies showed)
+ Better Balance
+ Reduce stress
and more!
Come and learn this amazing dances and Have a lot of fun!
We are Passionate Instructors who like to Focus on the Fundamentals of Dance.
We Create Dancers!
Over the past couple of years Leonardo and Becky have been contracted in places all over the world to give Classes and Workshops at various Events and Congresses.
They have given Classes in Paris, Czech Republic, Croatia, Ukraine. Russia, Australia, Brazil, Singapore, New Zealand, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Cyprus, Switzerland and More.
48 Hereford St,
Christchurch Central
NEW ZEALAND
BRAZILIAN BEATZ
Dance Academy