STUDENTS CORNER
Welcome to our Students Corner! Click the topic or just scroll through.
Music for Practice
Whether you use YouTube, Spotify or Soundcloud we’ve got you covered for your training sessions!
Below is a selection of our fave Zouk DJs and channels to follow, as well as Zouk Fix’s own Spotify playlist we use at class!
Start with our selected Slow and Clear Beat Music below.
(Don’t forget you can slow down YouTube videos even more via settings icon)
Our Class Playlist!
Inspiring Zouk Artists
Below are some of our favorite Internationally renowned Zouk Artists which Trent and Rebekah have also had the pleasure of learning from in person at Zouk congress’s and events!
IMPORTANT NOTE!
These are the worlds TOP Zouk Artists; in these videos they perform advanced head movements. You do Not need to learn these kinds of head movements to dance zouk, but are Optional to learn later on when you are very ready….so don’t freak out! 😉
What to Wear (and what not!)
Zouk by nature involves many big and sweeping movements that can sometimes cause wardrobe malfunctions, especially for the ladies!
LADIES:
for tops we recommend wearing something that allows your full range of motion, so be cautious of stiff fabrics and tailored shirts. Choose breathable and/or natural fabrics for comfort. Make sure your top isn’t too loose (so your partner doesn’t get caught!), and by loose we mean tops such as oversized batwing tops where the sleeves get in the way of your partners arms. Make sure you pin any deep V necks to your bra as well.
For bottoms we recommend anything that has good ‘give’ such as leggings, stretchy jeans and shorts, or is flowing and loose like your nice pair of wide leg pants. We don’t recommend short skirts and dresses as they will ride up, and it’s a lot more fun when we aren’t also trying to pull our skirt hem down! Be cautious of dresses and skirts in general as zouk includes moves where you bend over.
In general, keep your zouk wardrobe on the modest side as it definitely helps you have a more relaxing and fun class or party!
MEN:
no.1 Rule: Everything to the LEFT. And we mean your pocket contents! If you have your cell, wallet or keys etc in your front jeans/pants pocket, make sure it’s in your left one!
For your general zouk wardrobe make sure both your top and pants are loose and/or stretchy enough to accommodate a wide range of movement. Pick breathable and/or natural fabrics for comfort, and always bring a spare top or 2 plus a small towel especially at the parties to stay fresh.
Class and Party Etiquette
Although to us etiquette in class and at parties has become second nature, we have to remind ourselves that to most people beginning zouk or any social partner dance, it can feel a bit foreign, and a little guidance is usually very much appreciated!
So here goes…
First we need to get this off our chest, two words: Mints and Deodorant!! Mints and hand sanitizer will be provided at class, but you must wear your own deodorant please! It doesn’t matter how amazing your dancing is, you need to check these two boxes!
In class we love to get your questions! Most of the time if you are struggling with something or are a bit confused, a few others are feeling the same as well! So please don’t hold back, ask us anything! We try to keep a close eye on everyone’s progress so that no one is left behind and everyone moves forward together, so if you feel overwhelmed, please just have a chat with us, often it may be just that you think you are behind even when you aren’t! And we can help put your mind at ease and give a few different ways of looking at something to help it ‘click’ in your mind, as everyone is different!
Often for first time partner dancers it can feel very awkward to suddenly be ‘partnering up’ with someone they likely don’t know, this is completely normal, and it does fade! There are a couple of things in class we expect so that everyone is as comfortable as they can be.
Firstly, while the instructors are demonstrating and/or talking about a move or concept it is good etiquette to release your partner from dance hold and give them back their personal space while you watch and listen, as opposed to hanging onto them as if you are about to dance, when you are not. Its a bit like the Trumpet icecream advert everyone knows “togs, togs, togs….undies”!
Secondly, people wonder where to look while dancing, and we suggest keeping your gaze towards your partners upper chest, as this helps greatly with staying connected during the dance, without it feeling too awkward like if you were staring into the depths of your partners eyes! You can always give your partner a smile though to show you don’t bite!
As the name suggests, partner dancing involves being in physical contact with another human being you quite often don’t really know all too well ..yikes! It is completely normal to feel a bit awkward or even like your personal space is being invaded….but do not worry! The weirdness does fade away as you begin to appreciate the dance, and realize that your partner is not really thinking about you from a personal perspective but are almost entirely focused on their own dancing and getting their steps and leading/following right, and how they can work with yours. If you are feeling really bad about this aspect of the dance, please talk to Rebekah, she went through her own phase of getting over her personal space bubble!
At parties it isn’t only for the men to ask the women for a dance, and more often than not there is an over supply of ladies and/or follows, and an under supply of men and/or leads. So yes! Ladies do often ask men to dance, and should be doing so more if they want to get on the dance floor! So ladies please don’t be shy, if you want a dance, go and get it! Likewise for the men too ofcourse. Rebekah and Trent both actively ask for dances at parties and don’t simply wait and wait to be asked.
As for accepting and rejecting a dance, we encourage you to accept as much as you are happy to, however do not feel bad if you feel you need a rest. Just say no thank you, and that you are taking a break.
On the odd occasion there may be someone at the party who is looking for more than just a dance and are trying to push boundaries without permission. If you are feeling uncomfortable in this way, do not hesitate in stopping the dance and talking to someone you trust or an organizer of the party/event.
Trent and Rebekah welcome any further questions you may have and are always available to help you on your zouk journey, do not hesitate to get in contact!
info@zoukfix.com Bek 022 154 2868 Trent 027 522 6111