KIZOMBA
SONJA KIKIZOMBA
FEB - JUN 2024
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WHAT IS KIZOMBA?
Kizomba is a beautiful couple dance, originating in Angola. Often described as African Tango to the interested newcomer, it developed from the Angolan dance Semba in the 80’s and 90’s before starting to spread over to the other Portuguese-speaking countries. Especially Lisbon as a melting pot of Luso-African culture was crucial in the further development and spreading of Kizomba. It continued to conquer the rest of the world and is danced today all over Europe, the Americas, Asia and beyond.The essence or soul of Kizomba is characterised by the flow of movements, the soft body movement of the dancers also known as Ginga, the connection and embrace of the partners, and the feeling and expression of the captivating rhythm.
To this date Kizomba also has inspired many other dance forms or fusion versions of itself like Urban Kiz, sensual Kizomba, Tango-Kizomba, Neokizomba, and other fusion styles. In some of these the essence of Kizomba is intentionally altered or removed.
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Level 1
WEDNESDAY 19:15 - 20:15
Studio Art Deco (1st floor)
€180/ €153 for students (-25j)
15 sessions
Language: EN/NL
Are you looking for a dance partner to join us or want information about our lessons, and more.?Join the Shoonya Dance Forum and connect with our vibrant dance community!
*Please note that for Kizomba classes, registration with a dance partner is required.
*During the break between the two lessons, there will be a dedicated time to practice and connect with the Kizomba community at Shoonya Dance Centre. -
Level 2
WEDNESDAY 20:35 - 21:35
Studio Art Deco (1st floor)
€180/ €153 for students (-25j)
15 sessions
Language: EN/NL
Are you looking for a dance partner to join us or want information about our lessons, and more.?
Join the Shoonya Dance Forum and connect with our vibrant dance community!*Please note that for Kizomba classes, registration with a dance partner is required.
*During the break between the two lessons, there will be a dedicated time to practice and connect with the Kizomba community at Shoonya Dance Centre.
SONJA KIKIZOMBA
As a pioneer of Kizomba teaching in Belgium, Sonja KikiZomba looks back at more than a decade of experience.
She first fell in love with the dance in 2006 during her studies in Coimbra, Portugal. Previously a ballroom and Salsa dancer, she was asked to start teaching Kizomba in 2011. With Kizomba being virtually unknown in the area, she was forced early on to assume the role of leader and follower alike.
Complementary to the devotion for the dance, Sonja underpins her cultural knowledge with her academic background in linguistics and politics. She holds a master degree in Lusitanistics which allowed for a thorough insight into the languages and cultures of the Lusophone world. Understanding both Cape Verdean Kreol and Angolan Slang later proved precious for a wholistic pedagogical approach in Kizomba. She dedicated her post grad thesis to the economic and political transformation of Angola after the end of the civil war, followed by several travels across the country in a quest to ever more deeply experience Angolan culture.
Sonja's love for the roots of Kizomba, her enthusiastic teaching method, and precise explanations got her booked in over 20 countries across 4 continents. She was solicitated to all major high-quality festivals (such as Miami Beah Festival, Sawa Sawa Washington, Tabanka Texas, Las Vegas Festival, LIKE Festival Lissabon, Luxembourg Kizomba Festival, Istanbul and many more).
Over the years Sonja has been appointed to the Jury of different Kizomba competitions in Germany, Belgium, the United States, and Central America. With "Kizomba Continua" (which is a reference to the independence slogan "a luta continua" ), KikiZomba organised the first ever Kizomba Festival in Belgium back in 2013. In 2014 Sonja took up DJ-ing in order to provide the scene with more authentic music. The same year KikiZomba was awarded for preserving and promoting Angolan culture in Belgium.
