Tania Mendonca In Seattle July 18-21, 2015

"Kizomba keeps us together. That was the only thing that we had that made us feel close to home. That's what Kizomba represents to me: HOME...." 

~ Tania Mendonca

Let's welcome Tania Mendonca to Seattle from July 18 - 21. 2015 so let's give her our signature Seattle welcome and make her feel at home.

Tania was born and raised in Angola and now resides in the UK. She will be sharing her personal stories of growing up in Angola, history of Kizomba and Semba, and the relation of the dance and music to Angolan culture along with teaching us more about the dance. 

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

NOTE: The registration link below is ONLY for workshops at the Century Ballroom on Saturday Sept. 18 and Sunday Sept. 19.

Saturday July 18

WORKSHOPS

Mastering Foundations - Back to the Basics. These classes are for masters as well as beginners, to work on connection, musicality, and perfecting the Angolan style.

12:15 - 12:30 Registration
12:30 - 1:30 Mastering Kizomba Foundations Part 1
1:30 - 2:30 Mastering Kizomba Foundations Part 2
2:30 - 3:40 break
2:45 - 3:45 Mastering Semba Foundations

3rd Saturday Late Night at West Hall in the Century Ballroom
DJ Dravid from San Francisco (Special Edition)
11:00 pm to 1:30 am 

Cover $7 (Kizomba Only)





Sunday July 19

WORKSHOPS

Join Tania for a Cultural Talk. Tania will discuss growing up in Angola and what dancing Kizomba and Semba mean to her. She will also discuss the history related to the dance and Angola. Dance classes will be more advanced steps, but with the continued focus of connection and Angolan style.

12:30 -12:40 Registration
12:40 - 1:45 Cultural Talk
1:45 - 2:00 Q&A
2:00 - 3:00 Genuine Angolan Kizomba - Intermediate Patterns & Styling
3:00 - 4:00 Social Semba - Intermediate Patterns and Styling

Monday July 20
Evening Potluck with the Artists - details to come

Tuesday July 21
Dancing - Tania will be enjoying the Paulo Flores concert with us all.
Come out and get ready for some amazing SEMBA!!

More Information and Ticket Purchase: Alma De Angola with Paolo Flores at Nectar 8:00pm

REGISTRATION FOR WORKSHOPS WITH TANIA MENDONCA

Select the option you wish to register and purchase your workshop pass:

Full weekend (includes Cultural Talk) ($90 + $3 service fee) $93.00 USD Saturday Pass ($50 + $2 service fee) $52.00 USD Saturday Pass + Cultural Talk ($65 + $2.00 service fee) $67.00 USD Sunday Pass ($55 + $2 service fee) $57.00 USD Cultural Talk Only ($20 + $1 service fee) $21.00 USD

PRIVATE LESSONS 

Tania will be available for private lessons. Please facebook message Kontien Chan for more info or email kizombaanonymous@gmail.com for scheduling and inquiries.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Tania has danced and taught Kizomba to family and friends most of her life and started to share her talent outside her community in 2010. As an Angolan, Kizomba is more than a dance, it is her culture. She is the Founder of Kizomba Reading and co-owner of HBT Events and Kizomba4Life Charity, which works with the British Red Cross to help relieve starvation in East Africa and give back to the community. Twice nominated for best Kizomba teacher by The Lucas Awards, Tania is an highly reputable Instructor in the UK, sought to teach at most Popular international Congresses and Festivals, focusing in sharing her knowledge on its most traditional form.

TANIA'S THOUGHTS ON KIZOMBA

Kizomba is my culture... As a little girl, in Benguela where I was born, I have memories of these huge parties - family parties in someone's back yard; almost every weekend there would be one. Mum would plait our hair and get me a new dress that she made herself, and there we go, the whole family: mums dads, grandparents and of course, us kids too. In these parties there was always lots of food and loud music. Children would run around playing while adults dance, talk, eat and drink... When it got late, parents would get the straw mats and put us to sleep under the table, and the party carried on till early hours of the morning. As you can see, we were exposed to music and dance from very early age. Things were difficult in Angola, we are children of war, so many of us were sent to Portugal by our parents. Children, including myself, were abruptly separated from home and moved to Portugal sent by our parents, in desperation and hope of a better life and just wanted a better education for their children. They had to stay to work and send us money, but we were nothing but kids, many of us living alone at early age of 15/16 living, with older brothers sisters or family members that we hardly knew. We still danced Kizomba in Portugal, mainly at weddings, family gatherings and of course matinées and African Clubs jammed packed with Angolans and PALOPs longing to dance and party. But it was at the house parties where we really enjoyed ourselves. There we cooked our traditional foods and danced the night way - always accompanied by the fun, joy and laugher that so well characterizes our people. As the night progressed, the slow Semba (music) would come on, and it was the lyrics that filled the room. Strong lyrics that talk to us, about our story, about our parents, about our people and about "Saudade"- a so-called sorrow that has to be felt, with no translation or description possible. Amongst the "passadas" (steps) nostalgia would fill our hearts, tears would roll down our faces and often silence spoke for itself. Kizomba keeps us together. That was the only thing we had that made us feel close to home.... That’s what Kizomba represents to me: Home....


This weekend is a collaboration between Kizomba Eastern Washington and Kizomba Seattle.