Musicality & Body Movement (Level 2): 5-Week Brazilian Zouk Series

TAKE YOUR DANCE TO A NEW LEVEL BY LEARNING HOW TO USE YOUR BODY TO FOLLOW THE MUSIC AND SHOW IT TO YOUR PARTNER! Sometimes we get so caught up with the moves and patterns that we forget a crucial thing - without which there is no dancing - the music! In this new progressive series with Gui Prada we will explore and study musicality and body movement, so that we may get out of auto pilot and enjoy the music in a different and interesting way. Mondays at DanceSport Dupont Circle 8:00-9:30pm 5-week series Feb 11 - Mar 11 Each week will build on what you learned the previous week. Topics will include: ● Breaking down the songs – dancing to rhythm and melody ● Upper body movement and isolations ● Matching your dancing to the music ● Enjoying the silence – what to do when the music stops These classes will provide a good foundation for dancers that already know the fundamentals of Brazilian Zouk to dance and adapt to the music and show it to their partners using the entire body. The classes were designed to accommodate a fair amount of practice time, so that students may receive instant feedback. Additionally, after each class we have a practica from 9:30-11pm on Mondays, so you can practice what you've learned right away. Enrollment: $90 for the 5-week series No partner required When purchasing your ticket we ask you to decide if you'd like to lead or follow in the classes. We may switch roles at certain times, but would like to try to keep the lead/follow ratio fairly even. Pre-requisite: this class is aimed at students who are comfortable with Brazilian zouk fundamentals. Students should have completed our Brazilian Zouk Fundamentals series, our Level 1.5 series, or should be at least at an advanced beginner level. If you have questions whether this class is a good choice for you, reach out to one of our instructors and ask. Location: DanceSport DuPont Circle2201 P St. NW (GPS 1520 22nd St. NW)The Church of the Pilgrims Fellowship Hall (Entrance from the south side via stairs going down) Washington DC 20037 Between P & Q St's, 2 blocks west of the Q St exit of the Dupont Circle red line Metro. Directions and unlimited adjacent Embassy Row parking info available at: [hidden] bus lines: G2, D2 & D6, 42, N line to Friendship Hts, S line from Silver Spring & downtown and Dupont Circle Circulator from Georgetown The Instructor: Inspired by the movie "Shall We Dance?", Gui Prada started dancing in 2004. However, it was only in 2006 that he really began to dive deep into dance as a work-study trainee of the Jaime Aroxa Dance School in Rio de Janeiro, one of the most prestigious dance schools in Brazil, which trained some of the most renowned dancers in the country. During his 6 years as a member of the school's team, he learned all Brazilian partner dances (Forró, Samba de Gafieira, Soltinho, Bolero and Zouk) and Argentine Tango. As he matured more as a dancer, he found he preferred to focus less on the steps and more on turning partner dancing into a relaxing experience for the mind and body. In 2009, on his first visit to Buenos Aires, Argentina, he was introduced to the authentic tango hug - the close embrace - and all of its complexity and power to create the ultimate feeling of “conforto, cuidado e entrega” - comfort, care and surrender. After that, he went on to research the close embrace and its application to all partner dances, with the purpose of conveying a sense of well-being and relaxation to dance partners. Apart from dance, Gui also studied and worked as a tantric massage therapist. This work helped him to create a unique perspective of human nature, as well as a deep understanding of the capabilities of the human body. His investigation of the close embrace continued over the years, and through many sources both inside and outside of the dance world. These studies guided him to form a multidisciplinary understanding of the close embrace as a healing and therapeutic experience. Due to its versatility in movement, music, speed and approach, Zouk became the perfect dance to apply this concept and explore the possibilities, which he has been doing since 2016. Gui is looking forward to sharing these techniques with students here in Washington DC to help them improve their close embrace connection on the dance floor. More Info below.