University of Kizomba

🕺🏾💃🏾 HAND PLACEMENT HOMEWORK 🫱🏾🫲🏾

Most kizomba/semba leads are taught to place their right hand on the middle section of the follow's back, i.e. somewhere along her spine. That's the conventional way here in Angola and also in the international festival circuit.

However, there are a few guys in Angola – mostly in their late-40s, early-50s – who like to do it differently. Can you spot the differences in the video below?

Notice how🕺🏾Nkruma places his right hand slightly below💃🏿 Bruna's left shoulder (i.e. on the scapula, to be more precise). The reason for that is probably for him to generate an enhanced "steering" ability over her upper body.

Have you ever tried that? If so, what were the pros & cons compared to the standard style? If not, try practicing it with someone you're comfortable with or with your students (if you are an instructor) and kindly share your feedback/thoughts in the comments section.

GOOD kizomba follows (usually) have good ginga.
GREAT kizomba follows have ginga AND know how to WALK during the dance, which arguably the hardest skill to master (even for so-called "advanced" follows).

💃🏿 LEADING LADIES 💃🏿

A considerable number of ladies in the kizomba scene can also lead. Some do it simply for pleasure/fun, others do out of necessity as a result of the ratio of men-to-women at most international festivals being so unbalanced.

In the video below, we see a lady (Bruna) leading with what we consider to be attributes and skills of great leading in kizomba/semba, namely:

1️⃣ Assertive attitude and posture.
2️⃣ Confident body language.
3️⃣ Clear signals/directions to the follow.
4️⃣ Good overall technique from head to toe – i.e. upper body and footwork.
5️⃣ Engagement/rapport with the follow with verbal & non-verbal language.

If you aspire to be a great leading lady in kizomba/semba, what are your main challenges?

💃🏿💃🏿 Bruna & Mandela

🎶 Orlando Loy – "Homenagem a Tony do Fumo" (2013)