Artists
Teachers and Artists
Teacher, dancer and choreographer, Jefferson Dadinho is one of the most demanded zouk teachers today. Became publicly acknowledged by Brazilian and international society for the adoption of his own style by applying general techniques of Street Dance in social dancing. As a choreographer works with bands performing concerts in Brazil, Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy.
Starting in 2010 he decided to invest more in zouk and soon became a choreographic assistant in Cia Renato Veronezi. At the same time, he achieved excellent results in major zouk national championships. He was vice-champion of Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Brazil and worldwide between 2010 and 2011. Since then he traveled to several Brazilian cities participating in congresses and workshops. Among others are Florianópolis(SC), Cuiabá (MT), Rio de Janeiro, Uberlândia (MG), Brasília (DF).
In 2012, he began his international career, and has been teaching and performing already in Argentina, England, Russia, Holland, Austria, Czech and the USA. Between trips and other activities, he opened classes in Cia Boombox, training teachers of zouk and other social dances, he’s been working there for 2 years now.
Check out few demos performed by Dadinho:
Xandy Liberato is a teacher, choreographer, dancer, therapist and dance researcher.
After numerous years of research on partner dancing, contemporary dance, afro dance, somatic techniques and holistic practices validated by transpersonal psychology, he created the Liberato Methodology.
He currently shares his knowledge in regular classes, workshops, congresses, and his own Retreat, which aims to help people to have a more fluid dance, connecting dance and life as a reflection of one another.
Michael Boy & Aline Borges from Sao Paolo – dancers and choreographers involved with dance for 10 years. Known for their techniques, cleansing movements, and acrobatic dances, they always innovate the way of dancing. During their career they have participated in several presentations and dance competitions, as well as, they taught classes in congresses and workshops in national and international dance schools. Since 2012 they are developing a universal driving system. A set of techniques, from extensive study and research, gathering information with the most renowned dance professionals of the world, among the most diverse rhythms that added to biomechanical concepts can be applied to any dance movement improving its performance
During their careers participated in various performances and dance competitions also taught classes at conferences and workshops in dance schools.
Check out few demos performed by Michael Boy & Aline Borges:
Walter close relationship with dance began 15 years ago with the “Conscious from feet to head” social project at the School of Dance Jaime Arôxa. Later, he joined the CIA DOM known throughout Brazil for his impressive choreographic work, directed by Patrick Carvalho.
Also, he was champion of Gafieira Brazil in 2015 in the group category with his current partner Tais Benite in the team of Kadu Vieira.
Having as masters William Teixeira and Paloma Alves, he also stands out in the Brazilian Zouk. He has been teaching Samba and Zouk in Russia, Israel, Finland, and Belarus
Oksana Andreeva .from Russia, Saint-Petersburg, started her experience with Russian folk dances.
Later she found herself in contemporary dances, she joined the Jazz modern school and performed with the company at different events including festivals and theaters all over Russia and had this experience for 11 years.
In 2010 she came into the social Latin and Brazilian dances and focused on Brazilian Zouk. She got her skills from the best teachers of two schools in Rio de Janeiro, “Núcleo de dança Renata Peçanha”, “Centro de dança Alex de Carvalho” and ” Jaime Arôxa School”. Today she is a teacher and choreographer in the biggest school of Brazilian Zouk in Saint-Petersburg, gives regular classes, travel and performs in Russia and Europe.
Check out few demos performed by Walter Fernandes & Oksana Andreeva:
Bruno Galhardo became a well-known dancer in Brazil, his videos on the Internet have reached more than a million views. In 2011 Bruno highlighted his career on the Brazilian TV show called “Se ela Dança eu Danço” produced by SBT Brazilian channel, where he was ranked among the three finalists.
In 2012 Bruno taught and choreographed for one of the most popular TV shows in Brazil called “Dança dos Famosos” (Dancing with the stars).
In 2016, he traveled to more than 28 countries, participating in major events and dance congresses. He made friends and had students all over the world, his aim has always been to give the best of himself and spread a bit of Brazilian dance across the world.
Throughout his career he’s been surprised by everyone’s affection and could grow personally and professionally due to the experience he’s had with people from different cultures.
With a lot of dedication, he aims at shortening the distance between everyday life and the pleasure people can get from dancing through interpersonal contact.
He seeks through his experience to diffuse a technique focused on the connection as a tool for body expression, in which pleasure and technique are involved in the art of dancing.
- Bruno and Weronika demo at 3rd Cyprus International Zouk'n'Holidays Congress
- Bruno & Sofia improvisation at 3nd Cyprus International Zouk'n'Holidays Congress
- Bruno Galhardo & Lucia Kubasova show at 2nd Cyprus International Zouk'n'Holidays Congress
- Bruno Galhardo & Lucia Kubasova demo at 2nd Cyprus International Zouk'n'Holidays Congress
- Bruno & Paloma Demo, Soho Rooms at 2nd Cyprus International Zouk'n'Holidays Congress
Anna Russa is a professional Zouk dancer, international teacher and choreographer from Russia. Born in Cheboksary, Anna started dancing at 6 years old. As a ballroom dancer she was competing with her brother for several years and became a winner of Chuvash Republic and Volga Several District (regions of Russia).
In 2012 Anna was introduced to the social dances in the dance studio “Rythm” in Cheboksary. In October 2012 she participated in the first Brazilian Zouk workshop with Maxim & Anastasia from St. Petersburg in her city. Anna completely fell in love with Zouk and from that time she started attending all zouk workshops throughout Russia. Very soon she started giving zouk classes, organizing zouk parties and festivals in Russia.
In 2014 Anna debuted as a zouk instructor at Russian Zouk Congress 2014 in St. Petersburg. In November 2014 she was awarded a prize “Breakthrought of the year” in the frame of Russian Zouk Awards ceremony. Now Anna is one of the most famous Zouk instructors in Russia. During the last 3 years alone and together with her partner Mafie Zouker she has participated in international Zouk events around the world.
Aleksandr Levchuk & Anna Galenda are the founders, heads and teachers at Kharkov Zouk Dance Studio in Kharkov, Ukraine. They are considered to be “natives” of Ukrainian social dance community, being reputable teachers, remarkable dancers and outstanding choreographers in Ukraine with more than 13 years’ experience in salsa casino and other social dances and more than 6 years of teaching together Brazilian Zouk and Bachata.
This couple has been giving lots of Zouk and Bachata workshops all over Ukraine and overseas in Russia, Belarus, Crimea, Germany, Cyprus, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia so far. They’ve been invited to most Zouk and Bachata festivals in their home country in order to teach classes and judge championships. Aleksandr & Anna were among the teachers’ line-up, presented workshops and performed Zouk show at International 3rd Cyprus Zouk’n’Holidays Congress 2017 and 6th Warsaw Zouk Festival & Marathon 2018, they are confirmed teachers for Russian Zouk Congress 2018 and International Dutch Zouk Congress 2018. This artists are professional, attentive to details and personal-touch-type teachers and, more importantly, very easy-going and cheerful guys. Among their achievements (apart from being cool and lovable teachers for their students.
Anna and Aleksandr have won Russian Zouk Competition for 3 times (Category: Zouk Couples Masters+Show, Zouk Show) in 2014, 2015 and 2017 and got the Silver Cup at Russian Zouk Competition 2016 (Zouk Show); Aleksandr was 2nd and 3rd and Anna was 4th at International Zouk Rating Competition at Prague Zouk Congress, not to mention countless winnings of Zouk, Bachata and salsa competitions and battles in Ukraine. For two years in a row, in 2016 and 2017, this couple was awarded a prize at Russian Zouk Awards for contribution to the development of Brazilian Zouk in CIS.
Aleksandr and Anna organize their annual Kharkov Zouk’n’Bachata Fest & Competition since 2014, accumulating the best Ukrainian and international teachers like Jakub Jakoubek & Lusia Kubasova, Carlos & Fernanda da Silva, Adilio Porto, Rafael Latiff, William Dos Santos & Joanna Zwierzyńska and eager social dancers from all over Ukraine and abroad. Their favorite dance styles are Brazilian Zouk, as the dance with no limits in means of connection and self-expression and Bachata Sensual/Fusion, and they are always glad to share their knowledge and experience with those, who is in love with sensual dances and cares about connection and musicality, as they do.
Shanie has been dancing since she was 4 (ballet, jazz, contemporary, hip hop, contact, afro) and has been in the latin dance scene for over 8 years, dancing Salsa, Bachata, Samba, Axe, Forro, Samba de Gafieira, Kizomba.. and mostly specializing in Zouk-Lambada and Zouk. 3 years ago she co-founded Zouko Israel as the first Zouk Dance School in Israel, and since then it has grown incredibly and has become a sensation in the Israeli latin dance scene, bringing huge amounts of Israelis to Zouk congresses all over the world and spreading the good-vibe Israeli energy they are known for 🙂
Shanie is known for her special energy, her high level of following sensitivity, fluidity, synchronized breathing, and connecting on many levels beyond the physical…
She has taught at various Zouk congresses, Latin festivals and Tantra conventions, and she is coming to give us a taste of this special connection
DJ Viking aka Petter Nøding from Oslo, Norway. Also known under the nickname “The Zouk Viking” – A modern Norwegian Gentleman, which is a pure, active, dedicated and hard working Zouk dancer, teacher and DJ with a lot of passion and energy to share.
10 years inside the music industry before he started to dance and DJ, and lots of experience with mixing, different instruments, studio work, playing concerts, organizing events, teaching, coaching, fitness etc.
Feeling is the most important to him. Connection, contact and expression is also important, but without true feeling, our dance might be hollow and we never really reach our true and full potential. Connecting the human inside to good technique and respect between two souls, is his mission. In this way, we can really enjoy life and dancing together. Petter is positive and certain he will bring a magical atmosphere and a amazing feeling to the dance floor or through his classes. He loves to share and being around people. Lets enjoy Zouk together. Share the love, share the passion. Move to improve. Express, not impress. Zouk and love.
Julia Gorin & Jonatan Baez are professional dancers, teachers and choreographers. They dance and teach tango salon, also tango escenario and Argentine folklore. Julia and Jonatan live in Buenos Aires, and regularly go on tours with seminars, festivals and shows to Latin America, Europe and Russia. Jonatan has been dancing tango since 1996, and before that since he was 8 years old he had danced folklore. Julia has been dancing tango since 2000 and before she did classical and contemporary ballet since age 6. Together Julia & Jonatan dance since 2011.
In Buenos Aires they teach in various tango schools, such as La Floreada of Alejandra Mantiñan, the ObeliscoTango Escuela, La Escuela Argentina de Tango. They also perform: they were one of the principal dancers in such famous shows, as the legendary Sabor a Tango, Encanto Rojo, Café Tortoni,
Añoranzas Tango and more, and are invited as soloists in many other shows. They performed with a lot of orchestras, such as Color tango, Los Reyes del Tango, Sans Sousi, Sexteto Milonguero, Bajofondo and many more. And of course they also regularly perform at the most prestigious milongas in Bs.As (Salón Canning, Porteño y Bailarín, El Beso, Grisel, Suderland, etc).
Jonatan and Julia are regularly touring with seminars, master-classes, performances and festivals all over the world. Their unique teaching method combines the quintessence of their wide experiences not only in tango, but also folklore, classical music, ballet and theater. There performing abilities are fascinating and diverse: they are equally inspiring, dancing elegant tango salon with very close embrace, or stage show tango performances, or Argentine folklore.
Check out few demos performed by Julia and Jonatan:
Kris Leczek from Poland, an internationally recognized teacher of Soulzouk and student of China Soulzouk. He travels to congresses since he is often hired as DJ for these as DJ SoulZouk
SoulZouk is Zouk teaching methodology developed in Rio de Janeiro which prioritizes connection, comfort, and pleasure of the follower and uses biomechanical leading techniques. SoulZouk is known for the most enjoyable and the safest way to dance and learn Zouk. During the classes, students will focus on their bodies and human anatomy when dancing to improve their stability, prevent injuries and reduce stress and tension for both leaders and followers.
Kris started dancing Zouk in 2011 and during that same year during his first trip to Brazil he discovered SoulZouk and began his training with its creator China. Now he is the first non-Brazilian who is a certified SoulZouk teacher and actively promotes this dance methodology at home in the UK and around the world. The fundamentals of SoulZouk are Comfort, Leading, Contact, and Pleasure and you will discover these aspects in every class Kris teaches.
Rebekah is a London based #Soulzouk teacher and respected Zouk dancer, as well as being a very kind and warm person. She started dancing ballet as a little girl and danced her way through school and college, taking part in school plays and drama productions, making up dance routines on the school field and performing in front of friends and family. In her teens and twenties the nightclub was her dance studio. After the odd class of salsa, tango and contemporary dance, she stumbled across Brazilian Zouk and was immediately hooked. She trained as a SoulZouk instructor in Rio with China and Luciana in 2015 and is the first non-Brazilian SoulZouk trained teacher with her partner Kris Leczek. Now her love of dance takes her all over the world, to dance, to teach, to inspire.
Check out few demos performed by Kris and Rebekah:
DJs
Kakah joined the world of dance in 2009 and while always focusing on West Coast Swing, a rhythm that currently dominates the dance floor in Brazil, she also fell in love with Zouk and became a very famous and wanted DJ!
In 2011, she began to dedicate herself to Zouk, though beginning her career as a DJ producer, having more than 400,000 plays with remixes spread over the internet at that time. She has participated as a DJ in several West Coast Swing conferences in Brazil since 2012, among them: SunCity Swing, br open, Sampa West, Floripa Summer Swing, West in Rio, Swing in Paradise and West in Lion. 3 years ago is part of Global Swing DJs, a group that brings together the best WCSwing DJs in the world.
She is well known internationally for her remixes and productions of Zouk, that already reaches over 1.5 million views on the internet nowadays.
Check out amazing Kakah’s work:
DJ Viking aka Petter Nøding from Oslo, Norway.Also known under the nickname “The Zouk Viking” – A modern Norwegian Gentleman, which is a pure, active, dedicated and hard working Zouk dancer, teacher and DJ with a lot of passion and energy to share.
10 years inside the music industry before he started to dance and DJ, and lots of experience with mixing, different instruments, studio work, playing concerts, organizing events, teaching, coaching, fitness etc.
Feeling is the most important to him. Connection, contact and expression is also important, but without true feeling, our dance might be hollow and we never really reach our true and full potential. Connecting the human inside to good technique and respect between two souls, is his mission. In this way, we can really enjoy life and dancing together. Petter is positive and certain he will bring a magical atmosphere and a amazing feeling to the dance floor or through his classes. He loves to share and being around people. Lets enjoy zouk together. Share the love, share the passion. Move to improve. Express, not impress. Zouk and love.
BRIXX – DJ and Music Producer from Israel, Known as Brian Safdie, has been in the DJing and Music Producing industry since 2009.
After a success of producing multiple Salsa remixes with over a million views on YouTube, he fell in love with the zouk world 2 years ago.
As he dances various different Latin styles, once he fell in love with Zouk, the transition to DJing and producing Zouk Music was very fast and natural. In his live sets, he combines his own remixes unique remixes together with a full range of genres and music styles, in order to make the best live set suitable for each crowd.
Follow Brixx on Social Media:
Instagram – @BrixxZoukMusic
Facebook – fb.me/BrixxZoukMusic/
YouTube – bit.ly/BrixxYouTube/
Soundcloud – bit.ly/BrixxSoundcloud/
Daniel Aroditis (DJ D) has been a Latin Dancer since 2001 and has been DJing since 2012. Trained by one of the biggest Latin DJs in London and Cuba DJ Paulito SalsaFlava he has now taken his skills to a whole different level. As a Latin Dancer and teacher he knows what the dancers want to hear and keep the party going! Mixing both music and videos he keeps up with the latest hits to bring you the best music available to the dance floor.
DJ Zen started his carrier as Zouk DJ at 2013. Since that time his collection of Zoukable song became the biggest of the island! He mixes old school Zouk songs with the latest remixes and RnB/Chillout tunes to make the party cool!
