TEACHERS

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Yeah!

Way to go mob folks! You guys rocked it and we did our first kizomba mob in Seattle today!

I wish I had thought of a live broadcast but this is close enough.

Thanks again for all the help:
Jay - who helped put the choreo together with me and teach it to our group.
Skye - who helped to scope out potential locations
Chanya - (we missed you!) who helped with speakers and general coraling of people
Israel - for being our DJ and speaker master
Maurycy - for being our photographer
Chris and Gin - for hosting practice the night before


To all the folks that came in support and cheered us on - you rock :)
Congrats to everyone for a lovely and fun time.

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Mob Time Yo!

After several months and three reschedules, we're finally here - time for a kizomba flash mob in Seattle.

There's still time to join so if you're at all interested, here's what you need to know:

Check out the choreography by requesting to join the flash mob group.

Friday 5/17 practice from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm to learn flash mob choreography: Detail on facebook

Saturday 5/18 mob time at Westlake Center (outside in the open area in front of Sephora, across from the Starbuck's on 4th and Pine Street from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm. (Details on facebook)

Logistics:
Plan to get to Westlake by 12:30pm
Wear your Kizomba Seattle (or black) t-shirt under something
When you hear the music, take the shirt off, find a partner and gather with the group.
Dance!
When the choreo is done, we disperse and the music fades.

That's it! Let's all gather to take a picture (just because).

If you can't make it to this one, I'm sure we'll have another which you can initiate or work with someone else to ;).

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Kizomba and Spring

Springtime always makes me think of cherry blossoms and haikus.

I think its because when I was growing up, I loved reading manga and had crushes on some of the characters I read about and there was always something special about springtime and cherry blossoms.

All the cherry blossoms and wonderful weather in Seattle has inspired a kizomba haiku:

We walk relaxed, slow
Together we dance as one
A sweet close embrace

The adage "less is more" are words that resonate strongly with me so its no surprise to me that kizomba is a dance that resonates just as strongly with me. These same words can be applied to make kizomba hit that sweet spot every time you dance.

You know how there's a running joke with that other dance-aerobic (and NOT partner dance) form called zumba? Well, I tell people to think of the chant "ohm" while meditating - this dance is so chill its like meditating: so, its "kiz-ohm-ba".

As I continue to learn and teach this dance, I realize how much we relearn movements that our bodies would normally do when relaxed. It has taught me a lot about how my body works and how it works when dancing with someone else. I am constantly learning about what years of outside influences have done to make me (and others) forget what comes naturally.

This dance has a beautiful simplicity that many mistakenly view as easy. Walking with a relaxed stance, in close contact to someone, moving as one, is never quite as simple as it sounds.

Simple and relaxed, that's the key to achieve that kiz"ohm"ba moment.