![]() ![]() This rhythm is taken from the Carimbó and Merengue, with elements from other dances like Forró, Samba, and Maxixe. The dance has a triple-beat: one-two-three. Compared to the original Zouk, this variation has a slower tempo and is smoother. When the Zouk got to Brazil, it merged with the native Brazilian Lambada dance into a hybrid dance simply known as the Zouk-Lambada. The dance is marked by a push on the weighted foot on the first beat, then a sensual sway of the hips on the second beat. In newer Caribbean Zouk dance, people now cut the rhythm to just two beats or slow-slow. So, the dancer will make one long step on the first beat, followed by two fast syncopated (cut) beats. The dance has a three-beat pattern in a slow-quick-quick rhythm. There are four major variants (or “styles”) of Zouk dancing. It’s still a sensual-looking dance, but not nearly as “hot” as the Brazilian variant. ![]() On the other hand, in Caribbean Zouk, dancers usually have more spacing between one another. ![]() It’s the reason why Brazilian Zouk is so popular: the imagery is extremely sensual and romantic. ![]() The partners nearly hug one another on the dance floor as they dance. The dancers in Brazilian Zouk perform almost an “embrace” throughout the performance. The music in Brazilian Zouk is also slower than in the Caribbean, featuring many pauses and sudden changes in rhythms that keep everyone on their toes.īut most notably, the two dances greatly differ in their dancing forms. There are many differences between the Caribbean Zouk and the Brazilian Zouk.įor example, while those performing Caribbean Zouk can either dance solo or with a partner, in the Brazilian variation, dancers always perform in pairs. Although the Brazilian Zouk dance is (arguably) more popular, and it’s what most people would be referring to when they talk about the Zouk, Brazil isn’t the origin of the Zouk.įrom the Caribbean, the Zouk spread through South America and into Brazil, which was adopted by the people here and became hugely popular. There are two styles of Zouk: Caribbean and Brazilian. And the Caribbean Zouk dance is born! Caribbean Zouk vs. The result is an entirely new variation of the traditional mizik zouk, known as the Zouk.įrom the music, people began to devise ways to dance on top of the rhythmic and upbeat music. In the early 1980s, a band known as Kassav’ began mixing mizik zouk with the contemporary, urban sound produced in recording studios. This type of music is a mixture of different music genres, like compas and calypso from Haiti and cadence and beguine in Martinique and Guadeloupe. At the time, people referred to the music played on such occasions as mizik zouk. Originally, the word Zouk was used in Guadeloupe and Martinique to refer to parties that stretch throughout the night. This is why we call the Caribbean Zouk the “main-line” Zouk earlier … The Caribbean is the birthplace of the Zouk! Lucia, and the Dominica Islands in the Caribbean. Specifically, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Meanwhile, the music (also called “Zouk”) originates from the French Caribbean.Īlthough most people knew of the Zouk by way of Brazil, the Zouk originated from the Caribbean. The dance itself takes its root from Brazilian dances like the Lambada and Samba. The dance is even considered to be quite sensual – true to the romantic root of most Latin American dances! The name Zouk is derived from the Antillean French Creole language, which means “Party”!įrom the name alone, you can probably guess what zouk dancing is like: high-tempo and energetic. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |