Zouk burnout is real. We decided to share an inspiring interview of Julie Meng by Adam at the Zouk Line. A summary below and the video. Also, Julie is currently creating a new event with partner Olivia and Esther Lam and seeking feedback. To submit the google form survey, click here.

Julie Meng’s Departure from the Zouk Scene: Reflections and Future Plans

In a candid interview on *The Zouk Line*, Julie Meng, co-founder of Omni Movement in Oakland, California, shared her journey through the Brazilian Zouk community and her recent decision to step away from the dance scene. Julie reflected on her start in Zouk, which began in 2019 during her last semester of college in Los Angeles after being inspired by Christina Montoya at the Envy Lounge. She highlighted key moments like joining the Zouk Babes team in LA, her first ZoukMX Festival in 2022, and her unexpected victory in an intermediate Jack and Jill competition, which helped boost her confidence as a dancer.

As her passion for Zouk grew, Julie and her partners founded Omni Movement in 2021, a dance school focused on making partner dancing accessible in the Bay Area. However, she revealed that the demands of running the business, combined with her responsibilities as an instructor, eventually led to burnout. Julie explained that the pressures of organizing, teaching, and managing the community became overwhelming, pushing her further into a business role rather than allowing her to fully enjoy the dance.

A pivotal moment in the interview was when Julie described how dance shifted from being her personal passion to feeling more like work. She candidly shared how her love for Zouk began to entangle with the day-to-day stresses of running Omni, and despite her deep connection to the community, she found herself without the energy to continue in the same capacity. Julie also discussed how her new relationship, outside of the Zouk world, made her reflect on her priorities and led to her decision to take an indefinite sabbatical starting April 1, 2024.

While Julie will remain a co-owner of Omni, she plans to step back from daily operations to focus on personal growth, exploring new hobbies like hiking and rock climbing, and investing time in her relationship. She emphasized that this isn’t a complete departure from Zouk but rather a chance to reset, explore other parts of her life, and see if dance will re-enter that space in the future.

Julie expressed immense gratitude for the Zouk community, the support of her mentors and friends, and the personal growth she experienced through dance. Her story serves as both a reflection on the challenges of balancing passion and business and a reminder to others in similar situations to create space for their own well-being.