History of the Kizomba
The Kizomba is actually a dance of Angolan origin and means “party” in the language Kimbundu. Because of the Portuguese colonization of Angola, there was a lot of influence from today’s Latin America. In fact, the Dominican merengue, the Argentinian tango, and the Puerto Rican Plena, That being said, the dance has developed over time and became popularized in the Caribbean, which is why we included it in this category. As a whole, Kizomba is a combination of Semba, a dance still found in Angola, and Zouk, which also translates as “party”, a Creole dance found in the Caribbean.
About the Dance
The Kizomba is also known as the “African Tango,” because there are walking patterns similar to the Argentine Tango. However, the influence of Semba has also contributed and it is common to see both bounces and body ripples. In semba, these body actions are “bunda,” or hip actions. Many attribute the body ripples to what you find in Zouk. While there is much overlap, the body ripples make it a difficult dance to learn for beginners. However, it has become an incredibly popular dance in Columbus since it was first introduced in 2015. It is now included in most salsa parties and is a favorite for both zouk and salsa dancers.
Recommended Music List for Beginners
- Uptown Funk, Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars
- Besame Mama, Mongo Santa Maria
- Guajira, Yerba Buena
- Mueve El Cuerpo, Rodolfo Guerra
- De Hombre A Mujer, Donato
- Oye Como Va, Santana
- Lolita, Giants of Latin
- Wabble Cha, Joe Cuba
- El Pollo De Carlitos, Latin Music 5
- Smooth, Carlos Santana