Get ready to experience an incredible amount of content to build or improve your dance! 


In Zouk Essentials we take a deep dive into some of the most-used fundamentals, then key principles for zouk's famous head movement, and we finish by covering interesting - and numerous - transitions. 


This course is the combination of a series of 3 separate courses that were taught over 3 months by Gui Prada and Julissa. We cover an extensive curriculum - check the curriculum section below - and provide enough material to keep you busy and learning for 12 weeks. We know you are up for the task.



IS THIS A SOLO OR A PARTNER COURSE?

It's a combination of both. This course was designed to teach leader's and follower's parts separately to be put together later. Some of the classes, however, will require a partner to be fully absorbed. Therefore, if you don't have a partner now, no worries. You can still watch, learn the material, and practice with a partner later.

WHY SHOULD I JOIN?

This course will provide you with a lot of detailed content to help build your dance technique and possibilities. 


In the first 8 classes, we go beyond the simple execution of movements and explain the intricacies of each component. We detail for you the neutral and comfortable ways of leading and following fundamentals and the very first head movement components. 


In the last 4 classes, we present a library of transitions and possibilities for you. 


You'll also be joining a thriving and exciting community of dancers that love Brazilian Zouk! You'll have the opportunity to share your videos, ask for feedback, and pose questions to improve your learning experience.

PREREQUISITES

This class is was designed for those who have been dancing Brazilian Zouk for at least 6 months. 

Since we are going deeper into some of the fundamentals, talking about head movements, and giving a bunch of ideas on transitions, knowledge of some classic and fundamental patterns will make your experience more fruitful.  

WHAT IS THE CURRICULUM?

Fundamentals (Class 1-4):

  • Lunges and Openings

  • Traveling Turns

  • Soltinho

  • Walking Techniques and the Control Step

Head Movement Technique (Classes 5-8):

  • Preparation for Head Movement

  • Circular Head Movement in the Vertical Axis

  • Frango Assado - Head Movement in the Horizontal Axis

  • Combining and transitioning between these techniques

Transitions (Classes 9-12):

  • Transitions from closed position (Leader's left leg free and Follower's right leg free)

  • Possibilities from Soltinho

  • Viradinha transitions

  • Possibilites from Abertura - side opening

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN THIS COURSE?

  • One-hour long recorded classes

  • Recap Videos of the Classes' Topics

  • Demonstration Videos of the Classes' Topics

  • Complementary videos with more details and possibilities

  • Opportunity to ask questions to our instructors

  • Stored content so videos can be accessed and reviewed later (for up to 90 days)

Price

Purchase our Zouk Essentials and join us!

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Get access to 30+ recorded courses, plus additional benefits to enhance your learning experience. We have 3 amazing options for you to choose from. Click on the button below to know more!
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Instructors

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.

Assistant Julissa Hernandez

Julissa, a Washington DC native, was formally trained for over a decade in classical ballet and several years in modern dance (Alexander Horton technique). She discovered Zouk while traveling in Brazil in 2012, but did not begin to learn it until the NYC Zouk Festival in 2016. Since then she has traveled to various festivals in the states and internationally to learn and dance as much as possible. Her biggest sources of inspiration have been Kuna Malik Hamad, Anderson & Brenda, William & Paloma, and Hudson & Jessica. She has taught alongside artists such as Kuna Malik Hamad, and Jerry Lai. She is eager to grow as a student and teacher, and help inspire more dancers in this community.