Famous Dancer ≠ Good Teacher

Let’s be honest: most of the professors in Zouk are dancers first, teachers second.

They got good because they trained hard, learned from the big names in Brazil, maybe went viral, maybe got invited to congresses. They hustled, they performed, they toured. Respect.

But here’s the problem: none of that automatically makes them good teachers.

What happens is this—famous dancers show up to group classes or privates and default to teaching movements. Why? Because it’s easy, it’s flashy, and it keeps students happy. And when you’re tired from traveling every weekend, teaching a random combo is the path of least resistance.

The result? Students collect combos like souvenirs but never actually improve their fundamentals. Forget the move, and you’ve basically wasted your time.

The Real Work of Teaching

A real teacher doesn’t just throw moves at you. A real teacher:

• Can watch you dance once and diagnose the gap holding you back.
• Knows how to structure a lesson so you learn one brick at a time without drowning in info.
• Explains not just the “how” but the “why,” including pros and cons of different techniques.
• Leaves you with drills or homework so the lesson actually sticks.
• Knows when to correct, when to praise, when to push, and when to shut up and let you try again.

That’s teaching. Everything else is just showing off.

How I Know

I’ve taken over 100 privates with the most famous Zouk professors in the world. The difference in quality wasn’t about fame. It was about passion and experience in teaching.

And I’ve put in the hours myself. Before Zouk, I taught Tae Kwon Do for years. I learned the hard way that being a two-time national champion meant nothing when I was in front of twelve three-year-olds who couldn’t care less about my medals. I had to learn patience, structure, and how to break things down one simple idea at a time. Later, I ran a school in NYC for six years teaching both kids and adults. That’s where I learned the real art of teaching: empathy, clarity, and discipline.

So when I say I know the difference between a dancer and a teacher, it’s because I’ve lived it.

My Expectations for Zouk Refúgio Professors

If you’re going to represent Zouk Refúgio, here’s what I expect from you:

1. No Combo Factories – Students don’t need another 8-count souvenir. Teach fundamentals first.
2. Clarity Over Complexity – Break it down, demonstrate it, make it feel simple.
3. Student First – Meet them where they are, not where you wish they were.
4. Brick-by-Brick Growth – Scaffold lessons so they build real skill, not just collect moves.
5. Homework Required – Every private should end with drills or assignments. No exceptions.
6. Empathy and Discipline – Teaching is not about showing how good you are. It’s about making the student better.

At Zouk Refúgio, we don’t care how famous you are. We care if you can actually teach.