Workshop and Timetables

• Do I need a partner or to pre-select my workshops?
• How many workshops can I do?
• Workshop Timetable
• What level workshop suits me?
• Brazilian dance styles on offer.

Do I need a partner or to pre-select my workshops?

When you purchase your congress pass, you are not required to pre-select your workshop program and it is NOT compulsory to attend the congress with a partner. To ensure the workshops are run to our standards, a host will facilitate each room on the following basis.

• In the case of uneven partner numbers, participants will be asked to adopt a formation that allows for partner rotation.
• Workshops will start and finish as close to the scheduled time as possible.
• In the event that a workshop room is full, the host will advise which alternative workshop room has capacity to accept more participants.
• If you have any concerns during the workshop, you can alert the host so that the issue can be addressed immediately.

How many workshops can I do?

No matter what your level, you can do up to 6 workshops per day!

The Old Museum has sprung timber floors in each of the 4 workshop rooms. Two rooms are fully air-conditioned and there are industrial fans in the others. Every day there are 6 workshop timeslots in each room, and at every timeslot there is a level 1,2, 3 or open workshop to choose from.

This ensures you get the maximum value for your dancing dollar. Plus the international instructors are teaching over 60% of the workshops; that's exceptional!

Workshop Timetable

Workshop timetable released August 2011

Until this year' s timetable is released, please use the link below to download a copy of the last year's timetable to give you an idea of the variety of workshops. Whilst we offer a comprehensive selection of Brazilian dance, the majority of our workshops are on zouk lambada.

What level workshop suits me?

A congress is a workshop intensive and as such we expect that participants will have at least done a foundation level course with a specialist Brazilian dance academy if they want to do any of our level 1 workshops. However, those with ballroom experience or other partner dance experience may be able to convert and comfortably do a level 1 workshop. For more information see our descriptions below. If you are still unsure if your experience is suitable, please contact us.

Level One – you're on your way

A minimum requirement for these workshops is knowledge of the basic step & movement, as well as basic knowledge in dancing with a partner. These workshops are not designed for the absolute beginner.

Level two: you know the ropes

For dancers with a solid grasp of basic moves, the ability to change direction and execute turn patterns easily. A basic understanding of high cambres and basic boneca will be helpful for zouk lambada workshops.

Level three: guaranteed to challenge!

Dancers should be proficient in connecting complex movements, and have a high level of leading or following skills. For zouk lambada workshops we recommend dancers are comfortable with high, medium & low cambres, boneca & variations of boneca.

Open: Everyone welcome!

Open workshops are for everyone, and a basic dance background is recommended. Open level workshops are in dance styles that are new and will be at a level everyone is able to try.

Brazilian dance styles on offer

Zouk Lambada requires a great deal of trust and connection with your partner. Movement is fluid, sensual and meditative with circular turn patterns, upper body decorations & dips.

Zouk Lambada 3. This is zouk lambada danced with 3 people (just in case leading one person was not enough!), usually one male and two females. The leader leads both followers to turn, dip and weave with each other as well as take turns to dance with him in a closed embrace. A great way to increase leading and following skills as well as timing and awareness, it's a whole lot of fun not to mention the perfect solution for when there are extra ladies!

Samba de Gafieira is samba danced with a partner. The feeling is playful and cheeky, with intricate and often fast footwork combined with that Brazilian swing which is so famous. In Brazil, it is one of the most popular partner dance styles.

Forró originates from the north east of Brazil and the music is a combination of native Brazilian and European rhythms. The dance has evolved from a fast paced folk style to include more modern styles such as universitario, started by university students in Rio de Janeiro.

Samba No Pé and Carnaval – need we say more. Literally "samba of the feet", this is what Brazil is famous for. Samba no pé is danced individually and is playful, cheeky and above all energetic.

Capoeira is a dance martial art that was created by African slaves wanting to disguise their self defence practise. When a "roda" (circle) is formed, the acrobatic moves are practised to live music.

Afro-Brazilian dance is a tribute to the influence of the African slaves that poplulated much of Brazil during European occupation. African rhythms with samba influence, the dance style is exuberant, with a lot of contraction and extension in the torso.

Bolero the music, originated in Spain, then developed in Cuba and Mexico. This graceful and romantic dance style which borrows influences from Tango, emerged in Brazil in the 1940's and today is danced to the original bolero music, popular ballads and bossa nova.

Soltinho is Brazil's answer to jive. This simple yet fun dance style is danced to MPB (Popular Brazilian Music), and as always the Brazilian swing is prevalent. The moves are influenced by forró, cha cha cha, salsa and jive.

Axé originated in Salvador, and is a very modern style of dance derived from up-beat music popular with Brazilian youth. Axé is a greeting which means good vibration and is used in the Candomblé and Umbanda religions.

Danced individually, it is a favourite at Salvador Carnaval, and axé routines are performed for huge crowds who follow every move.