
← ZoukNerds • Learn | Build | Belong16 sept · 1 h 10 min
Lambada vs Brazilian Zouk: Is It One Dance?
<p>Lambada is like the sun, you know? It spreads the brightness and the energy to everyone around.</p><p><br></p><p>And I'm sorry to say this, but sometimes, in some places, Brazilian Zouk can be like a black hole.</p><p><br></p><p>Vanessa didn't even let me finish. "You just get in." Yeah. You get in, you get sucked in, and everything else disappears. It's my dance, and I say it with love.</p><p><br></p><p>If you've danced Brazilian Zouk for years and still tell people you don't dance Lambada, this one is for you.</p><p><br></p><p>I sat down with Vanessa Meirelles and Iago Hassuike in person, and these two are the nerds of Lambada.</p><p><br></p><p>What we get into:</p><p><br></p><p>→ I already steal one of these. The follower is always looking for Soltinho, and Boneca when there's head movement. I taught it last week and my followers stopped waiting.</p><p><br></p><p>→ The 51/49. Leaders carry 51 percent, followers 49, "and we just have 49 because someone has to be the leader."</p><p><br></p><p>→ Vanessa asked what I should have asked years ago. Nobody fears Urban Zouk, everybody fears Lambada, and Zouk and Lambada are the closer pair. "Who builds their mindset are the teachers."</p><p><br></p><p>→ Then she gave away the secret. "First, we try to trick you all." They teach you a movement you like, wait for the wow, then tell you it was Lambada. Iago: "We set the trap."</p><p><br></p><p>The big takeaway: Lambada came from the street, so there is no right or wrong body in it. Somebody asked Didi about a room dancing every which way. "I'm loving that."</p><p><br></p><p>So which one are you, and what's stopping you trying the other? Tell us in the comments.</p><p><br></p><p>Chapters:</p><p>00:00 Opening highlights</p><p>01:52 Zouk Nerds meets Lambada Nerds</p><p>03:38 How Iago fell for Lambada after hating it</p><p>05:06 Why a Lambada room feels different</p><p>07:06 Brazouka, and jumping into someone else's dance</p><p>09:04 Where Lambada and Brazilian Zouk actually split</p><p>12:20 Teaching Brazilian Zouk with more timing</p><p>15:18 Will Lambada get bigger than Brazilian Zouk?</p><p>17:04 One community, and letting the DJ decide</p><p>20:16 What Zouk dancers gain from Lambada rhythm</p><p>21:36 Why Forró students learn Portuguese</p><p>24:40 Opening or crossing: where each one came from</p><p>27:27 'Chorinho', and bringing Brazil into class</p><p>29:42