Lambada is like the sun, you know? It spreads the brightness and the energy to everyone around.
And I'm sorry to say this, but sometimes, in some places, Brazilian Zouk can be like a black hole.
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.
If you've danced Brazilian Zouk for years and still tell people you don't dance Lambada, this one is for you.
I sat down with Vanessa Meirelles and Iago Hassuike in person, and these two are the nerds of Lambada.
What we get into:
→ 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.
→ The 51/49. Leaders carry 51 percent, followers 49, "and we just have 49 because someone has to be the leader."
→ 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."
→ 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."
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."
So which one are you, and what's stopping you trying the other? Tell us in the comments.
Chapters:
00:00 Opening highlights
01:52 Zouk Nerds meets Lambada Nerds
03:38 How Iago fell for Lambada after hating it
05:06 Why a Lambada room feels different
07:06 Brazouka, and jumping into someone else's dance
09:04 Where Lambada and Brazilian Zouk actually split
12:20 Teaching Brazilian Zouk with more timing
15:18 Will Lambada get bigger than Brazilian Zouk?
17:04 One community, and letting the DJ decide
20:16 What Zouk dancers gain from Lambada rhythm
21:36 Why Forró students learn Portuguese
24:40 Opening or crossing: where each one came from
27:27 'Chorinho', and bringing Brazil into class
29:42 How they trick a Zouk room into dancing Lambada
33:57 How to actually learn Lambada, and where to go
38:41 The elastic and the hula hoop
40:55 Followers who attack, and the 51/49 rule
45:01 Soltinho Forever, Boneca, and the embrace rule
48:34 Why the Lambada head movement fits Brazilian Zouk
52:40 How Lambada became teachable
55:06 Who translated Lambada for other bodies
57:48 How far is too far before a dance changes
1:00:14 The three things Lambada has to keep
1:01:14 There is no right body in Lambada
1:02:55 Naming the masters who came before you
1:06:11 Why you should learn both dances
1:08:35 The teacher who nearly put me off Brazilian Zouk
Guests: Vanessa Meirelles and Iago Hassuike, Lambada and Brazilian Zouk artists from São Paulo. Hosted by Alisson Sandi.
ZoukNerds: https://www.zouknerds.com/
Alisson Sandi: https://www.alissonsandi.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zouk.nerds/
Episode: S06 Ep21 | ZoukNerds Podcast
