District Zouk
Welcome to District Zouk, your reliable source of Brazilian Zouk content in DC! We have online and in-person courses and workshops for you to learn all year round. Scroll down to learn more about us and our offers.
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At District Zouk, we're constantly offering many opportunities to learn. Regular classes, weekend workshops, practicas, and socials are going on all year long with local and visiting instructors. With our email list, you can receive all the updates and be on top of everything.
Our next cycle of classes is coming soon!
Check out our schedule and come learn with us.
Visit our Progressive Classes page to learn about our classes, curriculum, and get your tickets for our drop-in Monday classes.
Visit our page dedicated to our Monday classes for more details and tickets.
New to Brazilian Zouk?
Start here!
On October 22nd we start our Basics 1 course, the perfect entry point to learn Brazilian Zouk! This course introduces the first set of fundamental patterns, designed for beginners to build a strong foundation in this captivating dance style. Under the guidance of our world-class teachers, you’ll gain essential skills and confidence while having fun on the dance floor.
Join us for our drop-in lessons on Mondays.
Every Monday, all Mondays, on Mondays.
Our weekly Monday drop-in classes and practicas are an amazing way to start learning Brazilian Zouk, refresh the fundamentals, and get some practice time in.
If you're new to Brazilian Zouk and want to experience this beautiful dance a little bit, our drop-ins are a great way to get started
See our dedicated page for more information.
Did you know we have a Code of Conduct?
DZ's Code of Conduct helps us promote a safer and welcoming environment to the community.
When attending our classes and events, all participants and instructors agree to abide by the terms of our Code of Conduct. We encourage everyone to read it and get acquainted with its terms. The Code of Conduct also lays out the process one can follow in case of violations.
You can have access to our entire library of online courses!
We have 3 different options of memberships for you to choose from. Visit our membership page to learn more about them.
Check out the courses we have for you.
We separated everything into categories to make your life easier.
Our Instructors for this cycle
Each cycle of progressive classes we rotate our instructors to provide you with a great variety of teaching styles
Senior Instructor Gui Prada
Gui Prada started dancing in 2004 inspired by the movie "Shall We Dance?". He began to dive deep into dance in 2006 as a work-study trainee of the Jaime Arôxa Dance School in Rio de Janeiro. Jaime Arôxa, one of the creators of Brazilian Zouk, was the head instructor and was a mentor for the most accomplished dancers in Brazil. During his 6 years as a member of the school's team, he learned all Brazilian partner dances (Forró, Samba de Gafieira, Soltinho, Bolero and Zouk) as well as Argentine Tango. After he left the school, he continued dancing and learning from other remarkable instructors, including Fabiano Vivas, Kelly Reis, Érico Rodrigo, Guilherme Pimentel and many others. Since then he has focused his training and research on taking the best of each of these dances and applying it to the close embrace, with the purpose of conveying a sense of well-being and relaxation to dance partners. In 2016 he attended the first Zouk Retreat in Valencia, led by Xandy Liberato, Brenda Carvalho and Anderson Mendes. After that, his research on partner dancing took a new direction, as he continued working with Brenda and Anderson to seek for the application of the concepts explored at the retreat in different ways by using the references of the other Brazilian partner dances and Argentinian Tango. As a result, the importance of the basic steps and concepts became evident, since it is through them that all dances reach another level. Gui is looking forward to sharing his technique and training with students here in Washington DC to help them improve their basics, comfort and confidence on the dance floor.
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Senior Instructor Alisson Sandi
Alisson Sandi began his dance career at the age of 15 in São Paulo, Brazil, where he was born. Over the years he trained in Brazilian, Latin and International Ballroom dancing with Jaime Arôxa, Renata Peçanha, Alex de Carvalho, Rodrigo Delano, and others. In 2007, he joined the Juan Rando Dance Academy (JRDA) in Perth, Australia, and stayed in Australia through 2019 teaching in multiple cities and around the world. Alisson has held performances and workshops in over 41 countries, and holds titles including 2x Pro World Champion, 3x Australian Pro Champion, and Winner/Finalist of various BZDC All Stars/Champions Jack and Jill Comps. He is one of the the founders and the first choreographers of the International Zouk Flash Mob. He has also been an official judge for the Brazilian Zouk Dance Council since its first competition event. Alisson has a passion for teaching and is known for his attention to detail and effective instruction in dance techniques. Recently Alisson completed the 50-hour lambada certification course with Master Braz, and is looking forward to practicing and teaching more lambada and sharing it with the dancers and community here and in Washington, DC.
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Full Instructor Raven Benko
Raven (She/her) began her dance journey 13 years ago in Latin Ballroom dances in Boulder, CO. She discovered the joy of Brazilian Zouk in 2015 and began teaching in Seattle at Salsa Con Todo Dance Academy in 2017. After placing first in the Zouk US Open in 2018, she taught with District Zouk in DC for a year and helped establish their first Safe Spaces committee. Raven focuses on connection and enjoyment of zouk for social dancing; working to build bodily awareness and empathy grounded in a careful exploration of foundational Zouk technique with her students. She also pulls from her training in yoga to incorporate healthy alignment, muscle control, and personal safety into her teaching.
Senior Instructor Ashley Kent
Ashley Kent has been dancing from an early age, including training in jazz, tap, ballet, modern, west African dance, salsa, kizomba, Brazilian zouk, and lambada. She got hooked on afro-latin partner dancing while living abroad in Ghana and Sudan. When she was introduced to Brazilian zouk in Washington DC in 2012, she fell in love with it. Ashley helped build the thriving Brazilian zouk community that exists in DC today, founding District Zouk in 2014 and offering consistent weekly classes since then. She has continued her own training via trips to Brazil, professional development programs, one-on-one training with some of the top international instructors, and cross-training in other dances. Seeing new people fall in love with Brazilian zouk and lambada and grow in their own dance journey keeps her energized. Ashley loves sharing her love for this dance, building community, encouraging people to learn both roles in partner dances, and creating explosive moments of musicality.
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Full Instructor Elena Rovito
Elena is a Brazilian zouk instructor, performer, and DJ, originally from California. She has a diverse background of many different arts and sports including gymnastics, parkour, ballet/jazz/modern/contemporary dance, and various partner dances.
She began partner dancing in 2014, and has since competed at collegiate ballroom events, completed certifications in multiple dance courses, and taught classes all over North America - from San Francisco to Playa Del Carmen.
Her preferred styles of dance are Brazilian zouk and bachata, but she also dances samba de gafieira, salsa, West Coast Swing, forró, while dabbling in many others.
The nickname “Rhinestone” refers to her love for sparkly accessories, but also to her constant development of inner sparkle and inspiration. She is a passionate advocate for body positivity and acceptance, and she loves to incorporate this into her teaching so that people of all body types can learn to dance! She also blogs about body positivity, mental health, and personal growth (therhinestone.medium.com).
In 2019, she visited DC for a weekend event and fell in love with the welcoming atmosphere and dedication of the local dancers. After a few years, she finally took the leap and moved cross-country to join the District Zouk core team! She is very excited about getting to learn alongside their phenomenal instructors and to help further grow the incredible community in DC.
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Junior Instructor Jamiel Roberson
Jamiel Roberson trained as a martial artist since the age of 3, competing, teaching and honing his movement technique. He has always been a lover of music and dance, so when he was shown the beauty, fluidity, and techniques of Brazilian zouk he couldn’t resist. The first time he ever competed in a Jack and Jill, he won first place, and it was the largest Novice division in North America. Now after 4 years and many hours of training under District Zouk, taking private lessons with some of the best international instructors, and participating in and dancing at congresses throughout the US and Canada, he's looking forward to helping spread the passion and knowledge he has for this amazing art form that is dance.
Our Assistants
Senior Assistant Hermela Alemayehu
Hermela started her partner dance journey in 2016 when she got some friends together to go out salsa dancing. She immediately caught the bug and before she knew it, she found herself learning salsa and bachata and dancing the nights away. Hermela later found Brazilian Zouk in 2017 and fell in love with the connection and fluidity of movement. She immersed herself fully in this style, learning from District Zouk and other local and international instructors. She has attended various festivals and participated in training courses. She is looking forward to sharing her passion and enthusiasm with others.
Assistant Sarah Epling
Sarah fell in love with Brazilian Zouk in 2019. It was an opportunity to experience a physical representation of her background as a musician and artist. In particular, it was the variety of music, flow of movement, and deep connection specific to Brazilian Zouk that drew her in.
Sarah has studied with Paloma Alves, Julissa Ju, Bruno Gallardo, Paulo & Luisa, Jerry Lai, Brenda Carvalho, Pedro & Ana, as well as District Zouk instructors Elena Rovito, Gui Prada, and Alisson Sandi.
Sarah began Assisting at District Zouk in 2022. When she’s not dancing she’s enjoying music, art, nature, being near or in the water, photography, mythology, and being with her dog.
Senior Assistant Megan Randolph
Megan Randolph started her dance career, as many social dancers do, with Salsa and Bachata. After a year, she was introduced to Brazilian Zouk and fell in love with the connection and fluidity. In the six years since, she has traveled across the continent studying with many instructors ranging in styles to soak up as much knowledge of the dance as she could. She has spent time under Bruno Galhardo, Arthur/Layssa, Gui Prada, Anderson/Brenda, Paulo/Luisa, Alisson Sandi and Kadu/Larissa as well as individual training through a spattering of solo dance forms including ballet, contemporary and contact improv. In the last couple years, she has gained experience teaching classes in San Diego and through Zoukville in Nashville where she developed immensely working with the experienced instruction of Gustavo Martins. She continues to expand her dance knowledge through involvement with District Zouk and cross training in other partner dances such as Tango, Samba and Bolero.
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Assistant Brenda Zetino
Brenda Zetino is a part of the District Zouk teaching team. She has been dancing for many years, but formally began taking lessons in a variety of Latin dances in 2012. She dances salsa, bachata, zouk and kizomba but specializes in Brazilian zouk. Zetino has trained at dozens of renowned dance congresses , teacher training programs and festivals as far as Brazil, Europe and Mexico. In the summer of 2018, Zetino enrolled in the Rio Zouk 30 Day Immersion Course, where she received 30 hours of dance training with Núcleo de Dança Renata Peçanha and another 30 hours with Escola de Dança Jaime Arôxa. She has also trained privately with many top zouk instructors around the world. Zetino has dozens of performances under her belt in a variety of dances. She has performed for groups including Ferocity Dance Company, Island Touch, Sara Lopez World Team Project, La Fuerza and of course, District Zouk, among others. She is inspired to keep learning, dancing and helping others along the way.
Junior Assistant Krystal Williams
Krystal started social dancing consistently after a summer salsa immersion program in the summer of 2012 allowed her to experience some of the beautiful things that being a part of a caring dance community can add to your life. Although she’d taken partner dance classes before, the friendships formed from that program were what led her to get more involved. They introduced her to bachata with Ferocity Dance Company in 2014, another nurturing dance community, and then to Brazilian zouk with District Zouk in 2015. Krystal joined the District Zouk performance team in 2016 and has been learning and growing under the tutelage of District Zouk ever since.
Krystal is a dedicated learner who consistently pursues opportunities to learn from both local instructors and instructors from all over the globe. She joined the District Zouk teacher training program in August of 2018 and has been working hard to become a capable facilitator of the District Zouk methodology ever since. Krystal understands the power of a welcoming dance community and seeks to help contribute to cultivating and preserving that experience for future dancers. She also understands some of the hurdles quiet bookish people may face when trying to become a part of a dance community and hopes to encourage both herself and others to get out of their heads and comfort zones and express and connect with others on the dance floor.
Junior Assistant Revathi Murthy
Revathi is passionate about musicality, expression, connection and storytelling – and has a multifaceted background that influences her dance: theatre, conducting, a cappella, live-looping, songwriting, sound design, music production, film scoring, Indian classical and jazz singing, and more. Her partner dance journey started in Seattle (2007), focused on east coast swing, lindy hop, charleston and blues dance. In 2012, she dove deeper into blues dance and started traveling to festivals throughout the US. In 2013, Revathi began dancing kizomba and in 2017, she started learning and performing hip hop and contemporary with the eMotion dance team. In 2019, Revathi fell in love with Brazilian dances during a trip to South America and took regular private lessons in zouk and samba de gafieira during her stay.
Since Fall 2019, Revathi has taken zouk classes and private lessons regularly with District Zouk instructors Gui Prada and Alisson Sandi and began cross-training in Argentine tango. In 2021, Revathi taught her first dance workshop in Houston, focused on follower’s technique in zouk for flow and energy management. That year, she joined the DZ Core Team and has since assisted on musicality and introductory level series.
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