Bachata is taking over: thoughts on BachaZouk as a Gringo learning Zouk in Brazil for last 2 years.
They are taking our children!!
The thought that people can't tell the difference between what is bachata and zouk and one day see may zouk and say "hey, wait they are copying bachata" jolts me awake from my sleep.
What makes something bachata, and what makes something zouk? It's not the toalha or the tilted turns (even though that came from lambada, and dancers of lambada created zouk). For me it's the basics, the timing, the feeling.
I think though, they did this not as homage to pay respect to zouk, but as a marketing differentiating tool for an increasingly competitive bachata sensual market. I doubt that bachalambada will become popularized simply because it doesn't sound as cool as bachazouk, and this is my point- zouk is sexy and it sells - at least the movements.
Zouk is all about the basics. All these cool movements come from combinations of basics pieced together with head movements like the balao, frango asado and stepping on time to get the Toalha. Head movement can take years of effort to learn, but there are workshops teaching these movements (with certification) in just a weekend!
The problem is people are not doing Toalha's properly (safely), while it may look good, it doesn't feel good, without understanding the basics first. Zouk to me, is about the feeling, the creativity, not just the speed and quantity. I often watch bachazouk videos on instagram and never see a single zouk basic, just weight transfers, tilted turns, and stepping without keeping zouk timing.
So my question is: are they really dancing brazilian zouk? If it doesn't have the zouk basic or the zouk timing, can we really call it zouk?
On the bright side people are getting introduced to Zouk, but my fear is that they aren't really getting the essence of zouk: the connection, the texture, and the feeling. Instead they are getting a few movements, taught in bachata movement focused style, and getting certifications in a weekend. I worry they might believe they are learning zouk, when they are really just learning movements- which is not what make it zouk.
The reality is teaching zouk is really hard, and the actual process of learning and training zouk even harder. Why go the long way when all people want is a video of them doing a toalha, not all the training to do it correctly.
I was a former bachatero, when I was first exposed to zouk I had realized the zouk connection was what I was looking for in my dance.
I think for many, the idea of going out, getting exercise and meeting people may be fulfilled from bachata and so there may be no need to explore zouk, but for those who enjoy dancing itself, and want to explore deeper what a dance connection can mean, zouk is a deep learning journey that I highly recommend.
It is a feeling so pleasurable and deep that I have found no close substitutes and to simply say that because you know how to do a toalha and calling it zouk just misses the mark for me on a deep level. If you are lucky enough to have a friend who knows how to lead zouk well, maybe ask them to dance?
Or if you are really curious and willing to invest, come check out our bachata to zouk learning immersion, designed to take you from zero to zouker. You can find out more on our website or by reaching out to our team at zouk refugio.
Closing thoughts: Cultural sharing
Combining lambada and bolero and mixing it with new music, such as French Carribean Zouk, is what made Brazilian Zouk. This is cool. Safety and feeling is the most important aspect. Zouk steals RnB, hip hop, melodic techno, electro house, and any music that can be slowed down. People can dance however they want and express themselves as they wish. I think this is beautiful. So yes people can take Toalha's and even the wifi boneca finishes.. but please teach it with care. Take care of our children.