I have been dancing for half of my life, Tango, Salsa, and Bachata… but I never encountered a dance with a culture similar to Brazilian Zouk. I fell in love with the way the dance looks, with the beautiful way it is taught and learned, as well as the atmosphere of connection and empathy that is around it. That’s why I was a little surprised when I looked for “the fundamentals of zouk” and I encountered a list of movements.

While these lists are valuable for learning the technical aspects, they felt a bit incomplete in capturing the essence of Zouk.

I will share them with you directly from the BZDC, in case like me, you were not sure if the proper official list existed:

1. Basic Step on the spot
2. Basic Step (forward and backward)
3. Viradinha
4. Lateral
5. Preparação pro giro (Preparation/lunge with turn in place, step pivot for the girls)
6. Giro Simples (Simple turn without lunge preparation)
7. Io Io 
8. Elástico com corporal (Elastic with contraction or body roll)
9. Soltinho (Turn of the guy, turn of the girl)
10. Bônus (Boomerang to the left side and to the right side) 

After I found some of these lists online, some with 7 moves, 8, or 9 depending on the school, I thought that, of course, it made perfect sense that the fundamentals of B.Zouk were moves, because moves are the body of the dance, what you can see, what makes it different from other dances, they are what you can experience… (let’s say) from “outside”.

While these moves are integral to Zouk, I think they only scratch the surface of what makes this dance form unique. It wasn’t until I went deeper into the soul of Zouk, guided by friends and teachers, that I truly understood its essence. Here I share some “inside” fundamentals that resonated with me:

1. Feel: Dance without feeling is a body without a soul.
2. Ground: Energy comes from the floor/stepping/legs.
3. Contact:  We can be comfortable and respectfully close to others.
4. Prepare: Every movement has a pre-movement, nothing is sudden.
5. Breathe: Breathing aids in clear movements and maintaining fluidity throughout the dance.
6. Relax: Avoid force and tension, opting instead for relaxed yet controlled movements, and be optimal in the use of your energy.
7. Leverage: Use your and your partner’s natural inertia.
8. Control: Know your and your partner’s weight and leg position.
9. Comfort/Safety: Comfortable positions not only prevent injuries but also enhance the pleasure of dancing.
10. Adapt: Match your energy, style, and touch according to the music and your partner.
11. Be present: Fully connect with your body, the music, and your partner.

What do you think? 

What is more interesting, is that after I put everything together, I saw that these should be the foundations of every partner dance!
As I reflect on that, I invite you to share your thoughts. What other principles do you believe are essential for Zouk dancing or partner dancing? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments.