Rio vs. São Paulo for Zouk: The Honest Guide for Gringos (Please Don’t Hate Me)
Please don’t hate me (or give me worse Jack & Jill scores) for speaking the truth.
When I impulsively bought a one-way ticket to Brazil to learn Zouk, I had two real options: Rio de Janeiro (RJ) or São Paulo (SP). But when it came to figuring out which city was better for Zouk, I found almost no good information online. So… here’s the guide I wish I had back then.
By reputation—and what my first teacher told me—Rio is known for high-energy music and traditional Zouk, while São Paulo leans more toward Urban Zouk. That’s mostly accurate. After spending about two years dancing regularly in both cities, I have strong opinions—and I’ll try to be as helpful and honest as possible.
Rio de Janeiro: The OG Mecca of Zouk, but...
Rio used to be the global hub for Zouk. Many of the world’s top professors are still based there—Renata Peçanha’s school, Val & Vanessa, Carlos Oliveira, just to name a few. But here’s the thing: a lot of the previous generation’s top dancers have moved away, and the local scene feels fragmented.
Students in Rio tend to be very loyal to their schools. There’s not much collaboration between different schools, so there’s less cross-pollination of styles. You’ll notice that many followers dance similarly to each other. It feels quite “frame-y,” and it’s rare to see dancers break the basic or stay connected in the hug for long.
The socials are infrequent and inconsistent. As someone who isn’t a Rio local, it often feels like... I don’t quite belong there. For beginners—especially those without an existing school or community—it can be hard to find training partners, a training hub, or even consistent socials to grow in.
That said, if you’re already an intermediate dancer and only in Brazil for a few days, Rio is 100% worth visiting for privates with the legends I mentioned.
As for lifestyle—Rio is amazing. Beaches, nature, beauty everywhere. But... if you’re traveling primarily to train Zouk, I’ll be blunt: you could go to the Galápagos or New Zealand if you’re after nature. If Zouk is your priority, then Rio’s limitations become more noticeable.
São Paulo: The Zouk Grindhouse
If you want to eat, sleep, and breathe Zouk—São Paulo is it.
There’s a social every single night. The schedule looks like this:
- Monday – Narnia at Centro Cultural
- Tuesday – The League of Shadows
- Wednesday – Conexão
- Thursday – Zouk nos Nuvens
- Friday – Zouk Magic, Zouk Dogs, One Zouk
- Saturday – LPZouk
- Sunday – Zouk com Calma (plus random pop-up events)
There are thousands of dancers, ranging from beginners to absolute monsters, all mixing Zouk with other Brazilian partner styles like Samba, Sertanejo, Bolero, Forró, and more.
People from all over Brazil move to São Paulo to become Zouk professionals. You’ll find them training all day at Centro Cultural, teaching privates, and hitting socials every night to refine their craft.
Why São Paulo Wins (For Me)
- Nonstop socials. No exaggeration. Daily.
- A massive training culture. People actually train together outside of class.
- No music dogma. Dance to traditional Zouk, Lambazouk, Flow Zouk, Neo Zouk, Urban Zouk—you name it.
- Diverse dancers. Different styles, backgrounds, and vibes.
- Community. It takes time to integrate (and learning some Portuguese helps), but the community is open, addicted, and welcoming once you’re in.
Yeah... there’s no beach. But if you’re coming for Zouk—not sand—São Paulo delivers ten times over.
Check out my space ZoukRefugio.com if you’re looking for co-living, classes, or just a home base while diving deep into the scene.
Where Rio Shines (And Where It Doesn’t)
If Rio’s scene could learn to collaborate better—share socials, communicate more openly, and embrace the full spectrum of what Zouk can be—it would be incredible. Right now, it feels like there’s an “ideal” way to dance Zouk there, and not much room for deviation or exploration.
If your goal is to learn traditional Zouk from the best teachers alive, Rio might be your spot. But if you also want to explore the full evolution of Zouk, train daily, and be part of a living, breathing dance ecosystem... São Paulo is where it’s at.
Disagree With Me? Good. Let’s Talk.
This is just my opinion (though many share it). I’m happy to debate it, change it, or update it as the scenes evolve.
I hope this helped you figure out where to start your Zouk journey in Brazil. DM me anytime at @musicmovesmo if you’ve got questions or want to connect.