What makes this dance recognizable? What is typical, distinctive or characteristic?

Most sensual of Latin Dances. The lady makes typical oscillations of the head (and hair).

Examples

Somebody That I used to know - Gotye
Rise and fall - Sting and Craig David
I'm yours - Jason Mraz

BPM:

Zouk would be the word for party' in the Kweyol (French Creole).

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Zouk state except for Creole for celebration also for the sound systems that are used at parties.

French dictionary “Le Petit Robert" gives the following definition of the word Zouk: 'A very rhythmic music and dance style from the Lesser Antilles (Guadeloupe and Martinique), which has become known from the '80s ''. The famous Martinican percussionist Henri Guédon indicates that during the 60s the word "Zouk" referred to popular places where people danced. The columnist Michel Thimon is looking at the same angle. According to him, Zouk signified originally a kind of improvised ''Ballroom'' where people came together on Saturday to dance the "lafouka' (a very sensual dance) to the rhythm of popular bands. Others see the word Zouk as a contraction of the word Mazouk, which is nothing else than the Creole dance the mazurka. The etymological origin of the word Zouk continues to this day to be surrounded by mystery. Another origin of the word is found in the Congolese word " Zoka ", this means movement of the body.

(See also: Lambada)

Zouk is the folk music of the French Antilles, that mixed various Caribbean musical traditions with African guitar styles, calypso and reggae. The French Antilles are formed by two countries, Guadeloupe and Martinique. They know in Zouk their most popular music. There are two types of zouk: extremely danceable Chiré (also called concrete) and the ballad form zouk -love.

Roughly between 1950 and 1980 has been developed for dancing and partying their own kind of music from a mix of various Caribbean styles, such as the compass of Haiti, reggae, calypso, African rhythms and its own carnival rhythms on drums of Guadeloupe (gwo ka) and Martinique (tambour and bamboo).

For a form of folk music it is remarkable that zouk usually developed with electric instruments and in the recording studio. The music is usually played with wind instruments, synthesizers, guitar, bass, and a wide variety of percussion instruments. Nevertheless, it is a key feature of zouk music that it not sounds crowded, like many other Caribbean genres do. That's because not all instruments are used simultaneously. And variation is often obtained by processing sound, as is done in dub. Although there are plenty of bands nowadays are usually inexpensive electronic instruments used for the rhythms and melodies. The singers and / or singers sing, in the studio or live on stage, there over. In the eighties, the zouk rhythm was the most popular 'exotic' element within the western pop.

Because of the past colonial life there are many original inhabitants of the French Antilles in France. Kassav, the zouk most popular band on the islands, has always operated even from Paris.

Zouk in the Caribbean

Zouk music genre is magnified in the first instance by the band Kassav (70’s). Their first album was "Love and Ka Dance'. Originally Zouk is a typical Caribbean music genre sung in Kweyol (Creole French). The rhythm of the Zouk has its roots in music such as Cadence, Kompa and Soca. Also in Brazil has Zouk become popular, but under the name Kizomba, perhaps under the influence of Portuguese-speaking African countries.

Other well-known names in the zouk world are Zouk Machine, Edith Lefel, Stephane Nichols.

Description of the dance

Zouk is danced as a couple. While they are pressed against each other, the man grabs the woman stuck in her waist and the woman puts her arms around the neck of her companion. Much comes from the dance biguine or the rhythm of the Carnival of the French West Indies (Martinique and Guadeloupe) called a Sinjan mas ' (mask of Saint - Jean). This contains even funk synthesizers, rock guitars and soukouss, a brass instrument. We also see influences of kompa music from Haiti. Only later was the slower style 'zouk love' originated.

Because in Brazil lambada dancers used the zouk music after lambada music more or less extincted, is a newer variant of the lambada dance also called 'zouk'. This 'Brazilian zouk' does not resemble the original Caribbean variant, but is a mix of modern dance and lambada, in which the long hair of women plays a major role. Especially in the slower zouk songs is the role of modern dance visible. In recent years, even reggaeton and RnB play in the 'Brazilian' zouk dance a major role.

Zouk love

Zouk love is a variant of Zouk music, but the rhythm has a quieter, softer and more sensual character. The texts of the songs are often about love and feel issues. Zouk love style is danced against each other in a sensual manner.

One could argue that the Zouk is the "new Lambada" is. Because the rhythm of zouk is perfect for dancing Lambada is in Brazil Lambada the basis of the dance that we call Zouk. Because many zouk music is French, Brazilian Zouk sometimes is call the "French Lambada".

The original Lambada is a fairly fast dance, which was especially popular in the 1980s. The music is hardly popular. The zouk is quieter and more elegant and ad is therefore perceived as sensual and romantic.

Striking at Zouk as with the Lambada is the many "hair waving": means that the hair by a kink or twist the head are thrown forward -, or sideways - backwards. This can be tough for the neck. By bending backwards for many of the ladies also get back the hard time. These movements scare some people off, because they are afraid of injuries. Yet Zouk can be danced well without these movements.

There are roughly three dances that are very similar. The slow and sensual Zouk, which is stepped up 1-3,4 in a four-four (long - short-short) and counts many deep movement. In addition, the original Lambada which is stepped at 123, and the focus is on the movement above the belt, and which is therefore more suitable for much faster tempo music. And an intermediate form, Lambazouk, which takes the 123 as a base, but has taken over many of the deep movements of the Zouk.

Twist means turn, bend in the opposite direction.

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The twist is a dance that originated in the mid- 1960s. "The Twist" was written by Hank Ballard in 1959.

When twisting the upper body makes ​​a circular motion, with the curved arms lifted. Meanwhile, the lower body makes an opposite movement. Take into account at the same time (as if some squats) to bent the legs slightly.

The twist was a very popular dance that has retained its reputation until the present time.

Chubby Checker jumped useful in on the popularity of the dance and brought the song The Twist in 1960.

What makes this dance recognizable? What is typical, distinctive or characteristic?

Couples turn quickly to a measure of three around the floor and around each other. It looks cheerful, shimmering (but it's heavy stuff...)

Examples

That's amore - Dean Martin, Helmut Lotti, Malando

Que sera sera - Doris Day

Canta y no llores (ook Ay ay ayay of Cielito Lindo) - Trini Lopez, Semino Ross,..

BPM: 56-60

Waltz: rotating, to the flow of water opposite movement. Roller.

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The name suggests that the Viennese Waltz comes from Austria, but the dance is actually originated in Germany (Bavaria) from the 18 -th century in the southern German and Austrian country dances (the Platter). The Landler claims the same. A solid (and then immoral) embrace or hold grip around the waist was necessary to spin the partner around without the feet touching the ground.

The rich and powerful held celebrations in great ballrooms of palaces and there was the "Nachtanz" danced.

Which is seen as the forerunner of the "Viennese" Waltz. However, the French claim that a dance from France called "Volta" was at the root of the Viennese Waltz. The Volta may also have been an Italian twist dance (1559). Fact is that the Viennese Waltz is the oldest of the current Ballroom dancing.

As of 1754, there is already known German Waltzen music. Around 1790, the Viennese Waltz was in revolutionary France a manifestation of bourgeois desire for freedom. Around 1825, at the hands of the music of Joseph Lanner and Johann Strauss Viennese Waltz became a European social company dance. It is one of the most popular and well-known dances. The name Viennese Waltz is easily associated with the music of Strauss. Johann Strauss Sr. lived from 1804 to 1849. He wrote 152 i.a. waltzes and e.g. The Radetzky March. Son Johann Strauss jr (1825-1899) wrote to At the Blue Danube (An der schonen blauen Donau)....

Only at the end of the 18th century the name Waltz, however, was given to this dance. The first real (Viennese) waltz melody "Ach du lieber Augustin" dates from 1770.

Recently scored the Limburg violinist Andre Rieu still hits with as theme the rhythm of the Viennese Waltz.

Because of its uniform motion, with lots of twists and a fast pace, it doesn’t stand that there are few figures are danced. Partly because of this, the dance has become one of the most popular company dances. Generally, the Viennese Waltz is danced fast and in practice is a lot harder than it looks. The Viennese Waltz is a very strenuous dance in which not only left (reverse turn) and right (natural turn) is rotated. The couples can even make more rapid turns at the place: the so-called fleckerls (Austrian diminutive fleck means place, spot).

To start, a rocking motion is made, ​​a run up in the proper cadence.

The Viennese Waltz is a fast three-quarter measure (56 to 60 beats per minute), and is characterized by delaying the 2nd and 3rd beat (qqq, or hum -pa -pa). The first beat is with great emphasis present in a Viennese waltz.

The Viennese Waltz is clearly dominated by the musical Strauss family. So were there Johann Sr., Johann Jr., Joseph, Edward, but also Frederic Chopin and Brahms have composed Viennese Waltzes.

It strikes me that the Viennese Waltz is much more popular, and more couples dance it in dance schools where more figures are teached apart from left and right rotating; like a gap-close, lady twist, turn over ... (is not only the classical Fleckerl and pivots).
That makes it happier, more beautiful, more fun, enjoyable and varied. So no reason to limit the moves, on the contrary.

To (semi) interested men: it has nothing to do with beer tap, or dance around the faucet. It is a form of dance where rhythmic sounds are created by tapping the ground with metal plates on the soles. The dancer does thus a form of percussion.
The tap dance had its origins in the Five Points district of New York in the thirties of the 19th century. At the base is a mix of African Shuffle, and Scottish, Irish and English step dances. Probably the syncopation of African music and dance and Irish jig (style of folk dances and accompanying music) had the greatest impact. Dancers from different immigrant groups competed showing their best steps, on which an American style emerged.
From the thirties tap dance was also mixed with Lindy Hop. Flying swing outs and flying circles are Lindy Hop - steps with tapping in processed.

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The heyday of tap dancing ran from about 1900 to 1955. It was at that time the main show dance in vaudeville and on Broadway. From the thirties the best tap dancers were also on television and seen. inI various movies.

Tap dancing was before World War II because of the music, which was danced, also called jazz dance. Then in the fifties jazz gave way to rock 'n 'roll, so there arose anew jazz dance.

The tap dancers often make use of syncopation. They usually start at the eighth bar or between the eighth and the first measure. Tap dance is also often improvised, with or without accompanying music.

On May 25, the birthday of famous tapper Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, in the United States National Tap Dance Day is celebrated (as law signed by G. Bush 11/07/1989).

Pinnacle guts: go tap dancing in a minefield!

Most taps in a minute were danced by Anthony Morigerato (USA) on Eleanor School of Dance in Albany, New York, USA, on June 23, 2011. He did 1,163!