Kizomba: what is it and where do its origins come from?

kizomba has had a lot of success in recent years, especially among young people, who are more and more passionate about dancing and rhythm. Kizomba is a dance style and a musical genre born in Africa, precisely in Angola, between the late 1970s and the early 1980s. 

Kizomba in dialect is a folkloristic party that brings back to the past and to the miserable back slavery story, that, thanks to dance, were able to resist the hard conditions. 

Kizomba originated, to be precise, on the occasion of Big festival parties known as “Farras Kizombadas” (hence the term Kizomba). 

It’s a fusion of Semba (predecessor of Samba) and Zouk, coming from the French Caribbean islands.   

Dancers drawing from these two styles have been able to create over time a new style, characterized by a slower and sensual rhythm than Samba, a faster and more joyful dance, consequently less tied to tradition and closer to the needs of young people. Kizomba is well-known for its slow, sensual and persistent rhythm in which the body assumes softer and more fluid positions. 

From Africa to Europe it was a short step: the first country to receive its influence and to use the term “Kizomba” was Portugal in the mid-90s, to indicate African music in general, danced in special premises in the majority cities of the country. Subsequently it began to be heard in France and Spain till all the other European countries.  

Today the term “Kizomba” has a more specific meaning linked exclusively to dance, enriched by Argentinian tango and Merengue influences. 

How to dance Kizomba?

How to dance and which are the basic steps?

It’s a dance for couples: you move together and coordinate with empathy making basic steps and more advanced moves. Kizomba dance is perfect for close-knit couples who know how to infuse sensuality, fusion and unique movements thanks to harmony that unites them.  

The basic steps of Kizomba are three, depending on one’s foot movements. The basic position to keep is always the same: the man rounds the woman with his right arm, instead of the woman who puts her left arm around the man’s neck, leaning his head on it. The woman lies towards her partner touching the man’s chest with the upper part of her body.   

During a typical class the man directs the movements and the woman follows him.

Even the knees touch will be useful to lead other movements as well as those with the thigh when, for example, the woman stands next to the partner and not in front of him.  

Everything is about moving sensually and playing with music, playing with your body and with your hip and pelvis. The upper part of your body needs to be still: the head and the hands are fixed while moving your feet, hips and pelvis. 

Kizomba: how to create a good connexion 

In Kizomba dance the connection between the two partners is fundamental and, in fact, the topic comes up very often during the lesson. It starts with a sort of a hug and from that you build up the correct position in order to dance. So, the connection between the two partners is a prerogative of this dance. The huggish and the persistent closeness to the lady allows the man to lead his partner to perform what they want while dancing.  

What do you need to wear at Kizomba class?

Although dancers often wear elegant and particular clothes, what you wear is not that important because you can practice this style even at the gym, as a usual course. The important thing is that the clothes are comfy and allow you to move freely.

As for the shoes, a shoe with heel and a buffalo sole is recommended for women, for men instead a more elegant one is preferred , even though normal sneakers can be used.