Last weekend there was a Kizomba instructor visiting OKC from Dallas.
I knew nothing about Kizomba. The event notice said, "Kizomba is an African dance, a hybrid of Bachata and Argentine Tango." It got me interested, so I went and took an hour introductory class.
The instructor, Charles Ogar, was enthusiastic and was very good at teaching the basics. The class was fun.
If you can teach basics in an hour enough for a novice of the dance to enjoy the dance, the dance has a potential to gain good popularity quickly. "Easy to learn" is an important character for a dance to invite many new dancers. Tango might be suffering from this a bit.
Since I had some other engagement the next day, I could not attend his other classes. But I did check out some Kizomba videos on YouTube later.
Here is a short summary I figured so far about Kizomba dance.
The "Argentine Tango"-ish aspects were;
(1) The leader specifies which leg she stands on, so he can have some idea about her leg placement, and lead.
(2) As such, it is a lead-follow dance that requires "surrender" on her part.
(3) The leader interprets the song, alternates or chooses basic dance rhythms and invites her to dance with the music. This opens the room for musicality.
(4) It can be danced VERY close. The close-hug basic position is called "kissing position".
The point (4) may require some more elaboration, because, probably this is one of the most striking aspect of this dance for a novice. A roomful of closely hugging dancers, some eyes closed, would have an impact on uninitiated people for sure.
Since I am used to Tango, or, once learned a closed (sexy) style of Bachata from a guy from Houston, I am not easily surprised by "hugging-and-close" kind of dance. But Kizomba is taking it to another level. Tango's milonguero style maintains contact through chest, but the legs are still somewhat apart for adding some "show" or for maneuverability. But in Kizomba you can use entire body, including your leg, to glue together.
The instructor explained that the dance is not showy-flashy kind of dance. I agree. With that kind of closeness, there may not be much room to add extra move to be flashy.
When I checked out YouTube, there are some other Kizomba styles that adding more footwork, in exchange to the glued-together-and-wiggling look.
I saw there is a bit of conflict between "Show and maneuverability" vs "closeness, intimacy and less mobility", just like in the Tango.
But you know what.
It feels so, really, good, if you hug someone that close and dance to the song. It was extremely relaxing. Who cares about the show?
Generally I like somewhat technical dances like Argentine Tango and West Coast Swing. But I'd certainly enjoy the Kizomba dance in the future. The Kizomba basic moves seem to merge well with Salsa music and dance for a change.
Give it a try. It feels so good.
