Gui & Kelsey Embrace Zouk in Honululu

Gui and Kelsey are finally coming back to Hawaii! I personally know of several dancers locally that told me that their previous weekender in Hawaii was transformational, either for dance, or life, or both! 

Please watch them here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrZCKhoY-Io

GUI: Gui is one of the primary teachers at District Zouk, the largest and most influential Zouk school in North America.  He is the current lead lecturer of Module 7 of the MAC (Method Alex de Carvalho) program. 

KELSEY: Kelsey is one of the OGs of North American Zouk. She is one of the teachers of the Advanced Zouk team at Salsa Con Todo in Seattle, and is well-regarded as one of North America's finest dancers and teachers. 

In this weekend, Gui and Kelsey will be developing close embrace with the following three goals:

1) Tap into the roots of Brazilian Zouk, dancing entire songs in close embrace

2) Experience the versatility of dancing in close embrace

3) Master comfort and creativity

This weekender will dive deep into the principles to develop this level of Zouk dancing and connection, a layer that requires a different kind of awareness and attention. In this way of dancing, the partners share the same axis the whole time and can notice each other's limits more easily. 

This weekend will be not only about moves, but also about understanding each other's movements to create an experience that is equally enjoyable for both partners.

---PLEASE READ ALL OF THE INFORMATION---

This weekend is progressive, with Part 1 (Friday and Saturday) suitable for everyone who has completed a beginning series of Brazilian Zouk. It is 5 hours. 

Part 2 (Sunday) explores much more complex topics and requires both intermediate/advanced training and the completion of Part 1. Students are expected to be fluent in the fundamentals, including comfort with balao apagado and rollinho/roast chicken. 

Gui and Kelsey may require a short video of social dancing to see fluent fundamentals, including head movement. 

It is another 5 hours. Gui and Kelsey will evaluate participants in part 1 to determine if part 2 is appropriate for them. If you have paid for part 2 and have not reached the level yet, you will receive a partial refund for the difference between a part 1 pass and full pass. 

Together the workshops are 10 hours. 

Pricing:
Beginner/Intermediate pass (5 hours, plus pre-party & parties Saturday and Sunday night): $100 for the first 5 leads/follows. $110 late-bird. 

Intermediate/Advanced pass (10 hours total, plus pre-party & parties Saturday and Sunday nights): $180 for the first 10 leads/follows. $200 late bird. 

Friday only: (2 hours workshop + 1 hour social dancing): $50. 

Saturday or Sunday Social only: $40. 

Schedule:
Thursday, Paradise Tango, 6-9: Preparty with Gui and HNL Zouk

Friday, FAM-ily (Alakea Studio), Workshop #1 (7-9pm, social dance 9-10) 
Building the Embrace and the Principles for Gliding Together

Here is where we begin. Dancing in close embrace can be magical or the complete opposite. Therefore, this will be our most important workshop and the foundation of everything that comes next. In this class we will go over the main aspects behind building, staying, and moving in close embrace. How much tension should I hold, where do my hands go, where do I place my arms, where exactly do I connect? We will answer all these questions and one more, the big one: how do I glide on dance floor? Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we will show you the principles to create smoothness -- smooth enough to make you feel like ice skating.

Saturday, FAM-ily studio (Alakea)
Paradise Tango

Workshop #2 (4-5:30pm): Exploring the Basics - Going Beyond Basic in Place and Linear Basic

There is a lot more you can do with the tum chick chick (or tum tum chick) in closed position. Learning variations on the basics will develop our footwork and already have a big effect on your dancing. In this workshop we will explore a couple of different options of basic footwork so we can start putting the gliding feeling into our bodies. We will also dive into the possibilities of traveling with the basic footwork that, combined with the variations, will create a different feeling in your Zouk dancing.

Workshop #3 (6-7:30pm): The Hips! - Creating the Flying Roller Coaster
Hip movements are an important aspect of Brazilian Zouk, that can change the feel of the dance and bring it closer to its core. When in closed position, we can use hip movements not only to create a different feeling, but also as a way to lead and follow. In this workshop we will see how to use our hips to add tilts and curves to our dancing and make it feel like a roller coaster! We will use the variations we learned in combination with hip movements to provide a feeling that is special to Zouk. Here is where we see the possibilities coming together to develop a different layer to your dancing -- beyond staying in place and beyond having to go into open embrace to do the flowy stuff.

830-12 Party with Gui and Kelsey, DJ Niccolo Gruta

SUNDAY (Intermediate/Advanced)

Workshop #4 (12-2) Heels Class Hawaii FAM-ily (Alakea Studio)
 Flying and Gliding - Advanced Footwork for Traveling and Changing Directions
The feeling of flying and gliding together depends on controlled use of footwork and weight transfers. To continue developing these amazing sensations we will dive into more possibilities with the fundamentals, this time adding lateral and viradinha. We will travel, reverse, and rotate around with our partners. And, most importantly, we will see the adjustments we have to make with every single step. It is not easy and we cannot hesitate, but once we feel it, we get hooked! The workshop will teach you a lot about adaptation and control, two super important tools to be able to fly and glide with almost everyone.

Workshop #5 (3:15-4:45pm) Paradise Tango: Principles for Head Movement in Close Embrace

Here is where we start to get seriously fancy. The way head movements work in close embrace is a little different from open embrace, since we don't have the lower body free and we share the same center of balance and gravity. In this workshop we will see the basic principles to prepare the head movement in close embrace, using hips, dissociation, and the circular frame. Then, we will go into applying basic footwork with head movements in close position. Here the feeling of flying and gliding acquire a different layer, since we see our surroundings going up and down, side to side. It is truly amazing and so much fun!

Workshop #6 (5:00pm - 6:30pm) Paradise Tango: Flying and Gliding With Style - Head Movement Options For Close Embrace

Party 830-1130 Paradise Tango

Once we have the basic principles down for head movements in close embrace and a few options and variations, we will add head movements while traveling in close embrace, using the fundamentals of viradinha and balão apagado. This is where we end our journey, putting everything together in movement and joy. This workshop will explore variations of head movement fundamentals combined with footwork fundamentals to create a unique sensation of flow. We will see how to mix things together to make them feel like one continuous motion. Without interruptions, without resistance, just flying and gliding.

COVID RULES:
Please only attend if you are in good health
Masking and vaccination optional
Please test daily--PCR or rapid acceptable. We will have tests on site. 

Housing available for those flying from a neighbor island or a continent: $50/night for a shared room

Paypal honoluluzouk@gmail.com as friends and family to reserve your spot. You are responsible for any associated fees  or taxes charged by the service--you can pay as "friends and family" to pay without additional fees.