Kizomba: The History of the Genre and Its Key Features

Partner dances from Latin America captivate with their sincerity and romanticism. Although Latin American dances are quite revealing, they are hardly vulgar—rather, they are alluring. However, many prefer something less overtly erotic, so their choice often falls on Kizomba.

Kizomba is a modern partner Latin dance. It emerged in Angola in the 70s and 80s from the Zouk style, which in French means "festival," "party," or "celebration." Initially, Zouk developed as a musical genre, and in the 80s, Kizomba was danced to Zouk music.

The new musical direction won the hearts of DJs, musicians, and ordinary listeners. Later, a dance closely associated with Kizomba emerged. Zouk was considered the most romantic and sensual dance, performed to Portuguese lyrics with African rhythms, and its movements inevitably sparkle with hints of tango and traditional Angolan semba. Such a hot and enticing cocktail gave rise to an even more sensual masterpiece: Kizomba.

Watching a couple floating in the rhythms of Kizomba, you might mistake them for lovers. Strong embraces, open passion, close contact, and waves of body movements create real magic between partners and, of course, in the hearts of the audience.

Kizomba is a slow pattern of bodies moving to rhythmic music.
Kizomba is the music of the body, where every note from C to B is expressed.
Kizomba is a language in which you can confess your love.
Kizomba is a stream with its own unique plasticity.
Kizomba is endless passion.

Distinctive features:

- Smooth choreography;
- Emphasis on hip movements;
- Wave-like body movements;
- Sincerity in gazes and the "face-to-face" position;
- Synchronization of partners;
- Strong embraces;
- Lightness of movement;

Tarraxinha
Tarraxinha is perhaps the strangest part of Kizomba—the ability to dance with almost no movement. This part makes the dance so sexual and enticing. Because the man skillfully leads the woman, waves, bends, and sways run through her body that would surely attract a surfer.

Step Technique
Every step a dancer takes must be soft, as if stepping on a cloud, and the bounce step reveals lightness in movement, where the head stays at the same level and does not mimic the bouncing legs.
The lead is also unusual here. For salsa dancers, this technique may seem difficult due to the difference in technique: you must lead and follow from the chest, which does not conform to salsa standards.

Of course, such music and dance could not remain Africa's secret for long, and soon they captivated all of Europe.