"Zouk India" is an initiative by Thank God For Dance (www.tgfd.in), in collaboration with international Zouk artists worldwide to spread the love and joy of Zouk dancing in India and beyond! We take pride in the fact that we are sort of pioneers in introducing Zouk into India in an organised way. The instructors of Zouk India train abroad on a regular basis from best of international artists. Zouk
India has already hosted artists from Brazil, Netherlands and Hong Kong. Zouk India has also performed and taught at some international latin dance festivals. Brazilian Zouk is a group of closely related dance styles based on or evolved in the 1990's from the lambada dance style of Brazil and is typically danced to zouk music or other music containing the zouk beat. The name Brazilian Zouk is used to distinguish this dance form from the Caribbean Zouk dance style that originated in the French-Caribbean islands of Guadelupe and Martinique in the early to mid-1980’s, which is historically related to, but very different from the Lambada dance style. The Brazilian Zouk rhythm is a three-step, “chick-chick-doom,” often described as “quick-quick-slow.”
The dominant forms of Brazilian Zouk or Zouk-Lambada are the Porto-Seguro style and the Rio-style. The word Lambazouk is often used to refer exclusively to one or the other style depending on the region. The Zouk-Lambada dancing styles are among the most popular non-ballroom dances for couples in Brazil, others being Forró, Lambada, Samba de gafieira and Salsa. It is mainly danced in Brazil (Rio and Brasilia), Spain and other latin countries. It is a modified, slower, smoother, even more sensual version of the lambada. Today Brazilian zouk is also danced on R&B, Latin pop and Arabic music, mixed with a zouk music beat. Brazilian zouk is led by more parts of the body, noticeably the glued-to-each-other hips of the partners. Thus, in a basic sideways movement, it is the hips that move first, followed by the rest of the body, and this is part of what makes the dance so sensual. However, in various moves the dance partners are also connected by eye contact, legs, arms, shoulders, head, etc. The “chick-chick-doom” rhythm is not uncommon and can be found in many musical styles, such as R&B, Reggaeton, HipHop, Club/Pop, and the songs of many popular artists from the Madonna, to the Giypsy Kings to U2. All of which, allows the zouk dancer a much wider range of music to dance to, and with the opportunity a greater freedom to experiment and play with the rhythms. In short, zouk dancing is far from a codified or stuffy institution — it is, instead, a living and continuing passionate exploration. Zouk is sometimes also known as the dance of love. It's sensuous and portrays the woman in the most beautiful way through its unique style and look of the steps.
