Introduction To Kizomba

Unlike other Latin dance forms, Kizomba is a much new developed dance form. This dance style got recognition around the world in recent years. Kizomba is also a partner style dance form. There are over 30 basic techniques which you can study from two to four months. Moreover, depending on the closeness with your dancing partner, you can dance in an open embrace or closed. Kizomba dancers are considered as the most versatile and open society which you can ever encounter as the dance form is very cruisey & feels very relaxing & pleasurable.

Origin & History

Kizomba in Kimbundu means “party.” Kimbundu is one of many Bantu languages you can hear in Angola. Initially, in the Palop countries, it was danced a lot in the family and friends gatherings at home or at any social gatherings. Therefore, you can often see fathers and daughters dancing together, two men or two women dancing together, and more. Coming from Angola, it is a derivative of semba, with a mix of Kilapanda and Angolan Merengue. The motion and steps of Kizomba are a clear descendent of semba dancing but evolved to suit the music of Kizomba. The Kizomba music is sung generally in Portuguese. Kizomba dance style is known for having slow, insistent steps on sensuous rhythm as the result of electronic percussion. In this dance form, some more degree of flexibility in the knees is required, owing to the frequent requirement that dancers bob up and down.

Popularity Of Kizomba

Although being a much new dance form than others, Kizomba has gained quite much popularity around the world. Countries where Kizomba is most popular include Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Portugal, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor, Martinique, Brazil, and the territory of Macau. It is also spread throughout Europe, North African countries, Canada, China, and the United States. In Spain, more and more Kizomba is being danced on the dance floors to highlight its popularity in Portugal.People who feel involved with the Kizomba culture have been seriously promoting it worldwide. Belgium and surrounding nations are some of these places from where these people come from. José N’dongala also created an independent Kizombalove academy.

Styles of Kizomba

The three main dance types in the Kizomba Genre are Traditional Kizomba, Kiz Fusion, & Urban Kiz. All three of them depend on connection and lead & follow principals. This dance form basically comes from the flow & energy of this connection. There is some magic one can see & feel when they watch other people dance.Kizomba, also known as Traditional Kizomba, is the most physically connected of all the dance forms. It is a very grounded dance, with each step being weighted on the ground with a flat foot. On the other hand, Kiz Fusion takes the connection, weight transfer & movement of Kizomba & adds more to it. Dancers can play with the music’s rhythm & add new moves from other styles of dance, hence called Kiz Fusion. They usually infuse Hip Hop, Semba, Bachata, Tango, & Salsa. The requirement of correct connection, weight transfer, and lead & follow technique is still intact for it to be Kiz Fusion. Meanwhile, UrbanKiz uses different weight transfer so that appear & feel different. Connection is still the king ingredient of the dance & the flow of the energy between the dancers is equally essential, allowing a different feel from that of Kiz Fusion & Kizomba.

What we teach?

Urban Kizomba , Traditional Kizomba and SembaHere, at Star Dance Company we focus on cover the Traditional Kizomba, along with Urban Kizz (Urban Kizomba) and Semba also. Some people think that Traditional and Urban Kizomba are same. However, that is not the case. Urban Kiz was yielded as a necessity to adapt the Kizomba dance style to new styles of music fused much more varied and modern, and with a greater freedom of expression and movement. And the most significant difference between the two is that the foundation of Urban Kizz is that it is performed in a straight line, while the Traditional Kizomba has traditionally been danced in a circle.While in Semba, the music itself will urge you to come upon the dance floor. Semba music has a delightful rhythm that drives you to move. Moreover, Semba is a much more simpler form of Latin dance styles, as compared to Salsa, Bachata, or even Kizomba (Kizomba and Semba has the same place of origin). It is just walking with intention, circling one way and the other. A dancer finds many other ways to play with the music and with their partners, as the dance proceeds.

Benefits of Kizomba

The rhythm of the Kizomba is usually slow and quiet. The dancers can dance for a long time without getting exhausted. This helps in working on the body for a longer duration of time. Also, the overall movement of the body assists in keeping all the muscles working. One might feel soothed and calmed while dancing Kizomba. It also brings the feeling of closeness with the partner.