What is Lambazouk?

In the beautiful tropical paradise of north-east Brazil, there is a city named Porto Seguro,  Bahia. It is in this city that a Portuguese explorer “discovered” Brazil in 1500, and it is also where the dance Lambada was born!

Lambada, with its tropical music & energetic dancers, exploded with popularity in the 1980’s and 1990’s throughout Brazil and the world with bands such as Kaoma and Beto Barbosa. Kaoma toured extensively internationally bringing the joy of Lambada to huge success in Europe, Asia, and South America. Famous dancers in Kaoma included Chico & Roberta, and brothers Didi & Braz dos Santos.

Later, Lambada dancers started dancing to the tropical rhythms of Zouk music from Caribbean & Angola. Hence, the modern dance became known as Zouk Lambada (lambada danced to zouk music). Today there are two main styles of Zouk Lambada: Rio de Janeiro-style, and Porto Seguro-style. Both of these styles were developed from the original Lambada of Porto Seguro.

The Rio de Janeiro-style Zouk Lambada is heavily influenced by contemporary and ballet dance movements. It is always danced on the 3 count, is more linear in its movements, and is typically danced to slower zouk music.

The Porto Seguro-style Zouk Lambada (also known as “LambaZouk“) stays true to the original Lambada spirit, keeping many of the original Lambada movements & combinations and is typically danced to Caribbean/tropical-flavoured zouk music. It can be danced on both the 1 or the 3 count, is circular in this its movements, and is characterised by its sense of freedom, happiness & big energy.

Masters of the Porto Seguro-style Zouk Lambada (LambaZouk) that teach/perform internationally & inspire dancers world-wide include Didi dos Santos and Braz dos Santos (from Kaoma), Josy Borges, Patricia Cruz, and Bebe.

The biggest & most prestigious Zouk Lambada Congress in the world is held bi-annually in Porto Seguro, Brazil: the birthplace of Lambada and one of the most beautiful places on this earth!

%d bloggers like this: