Workshops at 2nd Sawa Sawa Kizomba Festival DC

Mini Recap.  I participated fully in 2 Workshops- Kizomba Foundation w/Eddy Vents and Chalianna CL and Semba Foundation w/Paulo & Lanna.  I observed 30 minutes of the Ladies Styling Workshop with Lanna. I was surprised to find how much I GENUINELY enjoyed the classes AND the dances being taught. Sum total of my experience in class- OUTSTANDING & EDUCATIONAL!

Quick Notes (NOT FACT But My Understanding of what was taught!!!):

– SEMBA came first. KIZOMBA evolved from Semba. 

– Kizomba & Semba Partners square up but not foot to foot. Ladies Right leg slightly in the middle of partner’s leg to avoid collision during the constant “Walking Step”.

– Difference between Semba and Kizomba Music is NOT the idea that Semba is Fast and Kizomba is slow. It is the instrumentation. Semba uses TRADITIONAL ANALOG instruments and usually starts off with Guitar followed by Heavy Drum Beat (Not Congas), Keys (not synthesizer), and finally anchored by the Singing and the Bass Guitar. Kizomba Music has synthesizers and is DIGITIZED Music. Some Kizomba is actually FAST.

– It was said Once or TWICE that Salsa Dancers move too much of the upper body. Movement in Lower Body ONLY. Comments about Zouk Dancers’ Basic (Non-Carribean Zouk) were not complimentary.

– Basic Step for BOTH Kizomba and Semba is One-Two Side To Side. Full Weight Shift in Play, not just tapping. 

– The Bent Leg resting position of Salsa not advised in this dance. You dance as if you are ready to Walk and not with bent legs.

– I struggled with the Walking Basic Step because it starts with woman’s right foot going back- something my ON2 training has codified in THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION into my muscle memory. I eventually got over this.

– The Count is correlated with STEPS and MOVES but NOT necessarily with the Timing of the Music per the Music Bars. They always START on the ONE to the right but as you continue counting, you definitely may not end up where the ONE starts again via the timing of the music.

– Walking Basic in Semba involves stepping on ALL EIGHT COUNTS. You TURN on FIVE for the Women.

– Funniest moment- In the Eddy Vents & Chalianna CL Kizomba Class, the students were practicing what was taught to music using the Base 2 Step AND Walking Kizomba Step/Move including Cha Cha Step that takes you & Partner Full Circle. After watching us for a bit, He stopped the Music and said, “MY DEAR GOD! If you are going to dance like that when you leave here, do me a favor and don’t tell anyone you took my class!” HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.