Photo Credit: Seattle Times
If you’re new to social dancing, zouk is one of the most beginner-friendly dance styles. It’s a 3-rhythm dance, so it’s not intimidating to learn. Most of the moves from traditional Latin dances are based on zouk, so adapting to this dance style is easy if bachata, salsa, or even West Coast swing are more of your speed.
What is Zouk?
Zouk is a contemporary social dance genre that’s perfect for the younger, fun-loving crowd! What makes zouk so popular among younger dancers is its versatility. It can be danced to different music, suits any mood, and of course, dancing with a partner is fun.
What makes zouk different from other Latin dance styles is the closeness of the dance partners as they dance. Body connection, coordination, and timing are crucial in dancing zouk. Hair whipping or chicote, is also another distinct move that zouk has. While dancing, the lady follower would whip her hair along with body rolling.
Zouk, even the fast-paced pace kind, has a sensual fluidity quality to it. It’s often danced side by side to the music and then forward and back. The bodies of the dance partners should be in sync without any pauses. If you want to learn zouk, there are 5 basic steps to master. Here are some tips:
Basic Step
At its most basic, Zouk is danced in the 1 or 3 and a slow-quick-quick rhythm of 3 steps. The first step is the main step, while the other two steps are marked in small. For men, the mark is always forward, and the woman marks the step back, then vice versa. Hold your partner’s hand, do the foot counts, and feel the music for better coordination and fluidity.
Lateral
This step combines the basic zouk step with a smooth movement to change the position of the dance partner. Connection is very important to pull this step off, so the moves are fluid and coordinated between you and your dance partner. Again with the footwork, the lead marks the step forward, and the follower takes a step back, then vice versa while holding hands. Le the lead set the pace.
Basic Step with Wave
When performing the basic zouk step with body wave, you need to make small, controlled body movements for fluidity. You'll have to learn how to change the beat from 1-2 to 1-2-3 smoothly, seamlessly transferring your weight from one foot to the other.
Zouk has a lot of turns, in a line or on the spot. One thing to keep in mind when turning is to stay in contact with the legs. Do not turn your upper body to the left and right; it should always face your partner in the front. Try to stay connected with your dance partner's upper body and give the energy back.
Basic Chest and Hip Movements
Zouk features plenty of upper body movements like upper body rolls, chest and arm movements. As you dance, you should look as if your body is flowing with the music.
Dance Tips
- In zouk, you should train your body to move musically and on time without crashing with other dancers
- Master the basic steps first before getting creative with advanced zouk dance techniques
- Try the simple movements first until you’ve gained efficiency while dancing
- Zouk can be danced in both open or close embrace
- Choice of hold will depend on your comfort level as well as the dance pattern and tempo of the music
- An open hold is best danced with a stranger, while a close embrace should be danced by partners who know each other and are comfortable dancing very closely
- For men, don’t assume that all women want to dance with a close hold, especially if you are dancing with a new partner. You may be the lead, but a follower’s comfort level should be the first thing to consider when dancing a sensual dance style like zouk.
