AmoZouk

Here's 10 minutes of *just* the standard zouk beat/percussion (no other instrumentals) for practicing Brazilian zouk. If you're looking for more "regular" practice music for Brazilian zouk, check out our list of recommendations here: https://amozouk.com/practice-music Special thanks to DJ Efosa (https://www.mixcloud.com/djeflosa/) to walking us through how to create this simple metronome beat!

Does your neck feel uncomfortable during (or after) you practice head movement? Do you feel like your neck muscles and shoulders seize up, and you wonder how other followers seem to keep things looking soft and effortless? Or are you on the other end of the spectrum and have some hypermobility and are worried about protecting your neck during head movement? One of the best things you can do for all of the above is *strengthening your deep neck flexors,* the muscles in the front of your neck that support the weight of your head when it falls backwards (which is the portion of head movement most followers find most challenging). Join professional contortionist and flexibility coach Dani for this 10-min follow-along conditioning routine to start building up the next strength to help better support your neck and head during head movement. By working on these drills 1-3 a week, you'll be building a stronger foundation for safer, and more comfortable head movement :) **** Want to learn imp

How to sign up for an AmoZouk zouk class (drop in, or using a class pack). Sign up for class: https://www.vagaro.com/amozoukmn/classes Get a class pack: https://www.vagaro.com/amozoukmn/memberships

Learn how to suede your own dance shoes for zouk using adhesive suede sheets - this is a SUPER easy way to make your own dance shoes, and only takes about 5 minutes! *** MATERIALS***************** * CLEAN shoes * Adhesive Suede Sheets (Recommended brand: Soles2Dance), available on Amazon (https://amzn.to/4iZQPwa) or the Soles2Dance Website (https://www.soles2dance.com/Suede-sheet-with-super-strong-adhesive-backing-p/suede-diy.htm) * Marker (pen won't show on the sheet backing) * Scissors Want to learn how to use SCRAP LEATHER to make zouk shoes? Check out this video: https://youtu.be/ypgztfrIjUA

A “traveling tilted turn” refers to any turn where the follower’s upper body is tilted relative to their (vertical) axis of rotation (which is traveling down the line as they turn!). Note that the tilt is constant, meaning there is no head movement during the traveling turn (although it certainly can be added to become a traveling turn with head movement). Discover more moves like this in our ZOUK MOVES DICTIONARY: https://amozouk.com/zouk-move-list

Planada comes from the Portuguese word planar, meaning “to float/soar/glide.” A planada is a single-footed turn where the leader rotates the follower on a stationary axis, helping them effortlessly float or glide through the rotation, almost as if weightless! Discover more moves like this in our ZOUK MOVES DICTIONARY: https://amozouk.com/zouk-move-list

In Brazilian zouk, the “ioiô” (Portuguese for “yo-yo”) is characterized by the follower doing a traveling turn in towards the lead, then doing a traveling turn out in the other direction, just like a yo-yo unfurling then curling back up it’s string!

Upper back flexibility can be a big challenge for zouk dancers (and, frankly, any other dance that uses slinky movements like body rolls. Sensual bachata and pole dance - I'm looking at YOU!). A limited range of motion in the spine, especially when it comes to arching the upper back, can make movements like body rolls and head movement quite the challenge. Not to mention how our low back can get cranky if it spends all night compensating for lack of flexibility in our upper back... So here's a quick 15-minute follow-along routine you can do to work on your upper back flexibility. Soon you'll be cambre-ing from your upper back like a pro! Related blog post: https://amozouk.com/blog/flexibility-drills-for-zouk-dancers Full 60-min "Flexibility for Brazilian Zouk" workshop: https://www.daniwinksflexibility.com/recordings/p/flexibility-for-brazilian-zouk-workshop