One of the steamiest new dances to hit the, already hot, Latin dancing scene has now officially been added to the Arthur Murray curriculum.
The following is a story of how two Arthur Murray consultants traveled thousands of miles for a competition, and returned with something they didn’t plan for. In fact, what they brought back would change the landscape of social dancing at Arthur Murray studios across the globe.
Bringing The Zouk to Arthur Murray
It Started In Brazil…
Tommy Belmontez and I were asked to judge the Tropical Dance-O-Rama in Brazil. While we were there, we had been told we should learn some Zouk because it was a dance we would love. So Mauricio Ferrari, the franchisee in Brazil, taught us the first couple basic steps.
He was right.
During the competition, I found myself grooving along to every Zouk rhythm that came on. By the time we left Brazil, I was hooked. I went out in search of the dance when we got back to the States, and took every opportunity available to learn more. When the opportunity came to help collaborate on the Arthur Murray Zouk syllabus, I jumped at the chance.
That’s how obsessions work. They start small – a few basic steps, a rhythm that gets stuck in your head – and before you know it, you’re redesigning curriculum for an international dance organization.
The Challenge: Integration
Gabriella Young, Tommy Belmontez, and I spent a lot of time putting our heads together to make the syllabus as easy to teach and learn as possible; while still keeping the dance authentic.
I was so excited by the process of deciding what belonged where as we developed the syllabus. Keeping things based on the student’s skill level and integrating this with the Arthur Murray interrelated system was not an easy process. I really enjoyed being able to discuss the theories and ideas with two other really great Arthur Murray people.
Keeping in mind what Arthur Murray students and studios need when it comes to a new dance was a rush I think only a true dance nerd would understand.
So after countless hours of collaboration, the Arthur Murray Zouk Syllabus was born!
Concerns?
Well, I know there was some initial concern about whether the dance was too sexy for our professional environment. We sent Bob Long, President of the Arthur Murray dance board, the videos of what we had come up with.
They approved.
If anyone can make a sexy dance still classy it’s Arthur Murray. The key was finding the line between authentic expression and professional appropriateness – and that’s exactly what the syllabus achieves.
The Moves, The Music, The Benefit
The Moves
This dance utilizes so many elements from all sorts of other dances. It has (the ballroom technique) “Rise and Fall” along with (the Latin technique) “Cuban Motion”. It feels like a merger of West-coast Swing, Salsa, and Bolero. What really makes it all more interesting is the use of body rolls, hip isolations, and unique head positions/movements.
If you’ve ever wanted a dance that challenges your body awareness and coordination in completely new ways, Zouk is your answer. The head movements alone will make you realize how much you’ve been neglecting that part of your body in other dances.
The Music
The best way I can describe Zouk music is: Tropical, Sexy, R&B music. Lately, there are even versions of modern American R&B and Pop songs remixed with a Zouk rhythm. The tempo is similar to the dance, Nightclub Two Step.
Here are some Zouk artists that I would recommend:
- Jennifer Dias
- Mika Mendes
- Marvin
Popular American artists with Zouk rhythm remixes:
- Ariana Grande
- Beyonce
- Ne-Yo
The music is one of the biggest selling points. When students hear Zouk music for the first time, something clicks. It’s familiar enough to feel comfortable, but different enough to feel exotic.
The Benefits
There are many benefits you can get from learning this dance! It develops a much better use and awareness of hip action in general. Some steps really create focus on stretching the area of your chest around your sternum for body waves and dips, which helps with posture and topline in all dances.
It also really helps develop an increased awareness of lead and follow through the shapes of the body and transitions from moving patterns to body isolations.
In fact, many instructors report that students who add Zouk to their program see improvements across all their other Latin dances. The body awareness transfers.
The Response So Far
So far, many major cities have a Zouk scene developing and quite a few studios have had requests for the dance lately. I’m getting requests to teach it in Master Classes almost everywhere I’ve been traveling. Students and teachers alike are really catching on to it.
I have to admit I am selfishly very excited for this because I want more people to dance Zouk so I can dance it more!
The growth has been remarkable. What started as a curiosity in Brazil has become one of the most requested dances at Arthur Murray events. Students who see it for the first time – whether at a showcase, a competition, or a practice party – immediately want to know more.
What To Expect In Your First Zouk Lesson
If you’re considering adding Zouk to your program, here’s what you should know:
The Good News: If you already have experience with other Latin dances, many of the foundational skills transfer. Cuban motion, partner connection, and musicality all apply.
The Challenge: The head movements and body rolls will feel strange at first. Everyone goes through an awkward phase. Don’t let that stop you – it’s temporary.
The Reward: Once the movements start to click, Zouk becomes one of the most satisfying dances to perform. The connection with your partner, the flow of the music, the expressiveness of the movements – it all comes together in a way that’s unique to this dance.
One Final Thought…
Here’s a dance that is showing up all around the globe and it’s really, kind of, unreal to be a part of it. This amazing dance really has a little something for everyone, and this company is truly amazing for being on the forefront of this latest dance movement. Arthur Murray Rocks!
The Zouk journey – from a few basic steps in Brazil to a full syllabus taught worldwide – is a reminder that the best things in dancing often happen when you least expect them. All it takes is being open to something new.
Ready to try Zouk for yourself? Talk to your instructor about adding it to your program. And for more on expanding your dance repertoire, check out Salsa Lessons, Tango Lessons, Samba Lessons – Oh My!
