Kizomba!... Coming to a dance floor near you! - 24/04/2010

Starting Thursday 27th May, weekly Kizomba classes @ D' Meltin' Pot.,.... Click here for details.

It looks like a tango, except that the way the dancers' hips sway and their bodies rock is unmistakeably African......

This is Kizomba.  Kizomba originated in Angola in the '80s but wasn't really seen in the UK until a few years ago. Recently, however, its profile has soared, thanks to dancer and teacher Iris de Brito. De Brito is a native Angolan, who came to London more than a decade ago. Trained in ballet, jazz and contemporary dance, she was a fixture on the salsa scene before having the idea of introducing kizomba to the wider world. The word 'kizomba' means 'party' in the Angolan language Kimbundo, and it's danced to music of the same name, a fusion of French Caribbean zouk and Angolan semba. The dance shares the same roots.

Weekly Kizomba classes are soon to start at D’ Meltin’ Pot with our newest dance teacher, Brazilian, Jorge.  So if you want to try out the hottest, new trend on the dance floor, keep an eye on the website or at the club for details.  Read on to hear how Iris de Brito describes Kizomba:

'The first time I started advertising kizomba I called it Afro-tango,' says de Brito. 'I hate putting things in boxes but it's a way for people to visualise the dance. The way we move has a lot to do with tango, but it's not as strict in terms of body movement, which is where the African side has an influence, with the undulation of the body.' Kizomba is more laid back than tango, and more intimate, slow and sensual than salsa. It's sexy, but in an effortless way.

'I like the connection you have when you're dancing with somebody,' says de Brito. 'It's a little bit more interior, it's not so much about showing off. The connection is closer and more personal, without being seedy.'