About | Zouk Dance Academy

What is Brazilian Zouk?

Just like Salsa, Bachata, West Coast Swing, and Kizomba, Brazilian Zouk is a partner dance, involving a “leader” and “follower”, and danced to great music.

Unlike other Latin dances, Brazilian Zouk can be danced to radio-friendly tunes, such as Pop, R&B and Hip-Hop, Trap and Chillstep songs, and even songs without percussion instruments. Kizomba or Zouk ghetto music from Angola and Brazil are also frequently used.

Brazilian Zouk evolved from Lambada, and was developed in the mid 1990s, after interest in Lambada declined. It is a newer dance, as compared to Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba, but it is rapidly gaining tremendous popularity all over the world. This is partly due to the use of popular and current music in the dance.

To learn more about the history of Brazilian Zouk, click here.

Check out what Brazilian Zouk looks like!

Videos

Why try Brazilian Zouk?

Because it’ll make you happy. Because it provides stress release. Because it allows you to connect with other individuals, while moving to your favorite tunes!

For those of us who dance Brazilian Zouk, we’ve experienced Zouk to be a dance where magical moments are created with another person. It is a dance that allows for trust and connection between you and your partner. With that, you can free your mind, express yourself, and share in a conversation of movement to music, with a complete stranger.

You will experience improvements in strength and balance, posture and coordination, confidence, and an overall sense of achievement.

So, if you’ve got the passion, we’ve got the patience. Come and experience the gift of Zouk for yourself.

Teaching Philosophy

Zouk Dance Academy is dedicated to providing quality instruction in Brazilian Zouk, so as to create Brazilian Zouk dancers that are respectful of others, safe and fun to dance with. In addition to investing in continuous education through private lessons, we organize Brazilian Zouk events in Singapore, featuring workshops and parties with the very best professionals in Brazilian Zouk.

Because the dance of Zouk is dynamic, dancers must have a good connection to each other, to be able to move as one. The synchronicity of movement is also what makes Brazilian Zouk so fun!

At Zouk Dance Academy, we believe in experiential and consequential learning – where students learn about the dance through fun exercises with their partners, and structured, physical drills.

Instead of rote learning, students learn, very quickly, how to lead/follow by experiencing the natural consequences of their actions in a playful manner.

Lessons include games, exercises and drills that focus on improving balance, strength and control. As a result, we often see students exhibiting greater confidence in all areas of life, and a greater sense of well-being.

We invite you to join us on this amazing journey, and experience the transformation for yourself. To be able to express music in a shared movement – that is truly one of the most magical experiences that Brazilian Zouk offers.

Head Honcho

Jean Goh is the pioneer of the Brazilian Zouk scene in Singapore. She has been providing instruction in Brazilian Zouk since 2008, and is lauded by internationally renowned Zouk artistes for creating dancers that are strong in their fundamentals and delightful to dance with. Besides being a Brazilian Zouk instructor, she is also well known for DJing and for her Zouk remixes. Her DJ moniker is “DJ Yen”.

Characteristics

Strict
Funny
No bullsh*t

Dance style

Jean’s dance style (as a lead) is a blend of a variety of Zouk styles, with elements of Rio-Zouk, LambaZouk, Brenda-Anderson style Zouk, and more. She loves combining concepts and elements from different styles of Zouk, and her current focus is on using the principles of elasticity and impulse to create energy flow between dancers. Her dance is guided by the co-creation principle of SoulZouk (by “China” SoulZouk), where dancers are always present and “dance in the moment”. Being of small stature, Jean often encounters followers of similar size or bigger. She has developed leading techniques that are effective without using much strength or force – a skill she imparts to all her students. Jean is renowned for creating dancers that are unique, wonderfully comfortable to dance with, and very musical.

Dance Background

– Gui Prada (2024), in Singapore
– Matheus Franco & Nina Darbello (2024), in Singapore
– Iago Hassuike (2023), in Singapore
– Matheus Franco & Nina Darbello (2023), in Amsterdam
– Felipe Garcia (2023), in Amsterdam
– Val Clemente & Vanessa Bonilha (2018), in Singapore
– China Soulzouk (2018), in Singapore
– Felipe Garcia & Erica Tintel (2018), in Singapore
– China Soulzouk (2017), in Singapore
– Jorge Peres (2017), in Breda
– Arthur Santos (2017), in Singapore
– Layssa Liebscher (2017), in Singapore
– Felipe Garcia & Erica Tintel (2017), in Singapore
– Leonardo Neves & Becky Truscott (2017), in Singapore
– Kamacho (2016), in Singapore
– China Soulzouk (2016), in Breda
– Bruno Galhardo (2016), in Singapore
– Arthur Santos (2016), in Singapore
– Layssa Liebscher (2016, 2015, 2014), in Singapore
– Alex de Carvalho & Mathilde dos Santos (2016), in Penang
– Freddy Marinho & Andressa Castelhano (2015), in Singapore
– Val Clemente (2015), in Prague
– William Texeira (2015), in Prague and Singapore
– Paloma Alves (2015), in Prague
– Arthur Santos (2015), in Singapore
– Layssa Liebscher (2015), in Singapore
– Rafael Oliveira & Juliana Magalhães (2014), in Kuala Lumpur
– Arthur Santos (2014), in Singapore
– Layssa Liebscher (2014), in Singapore
– Carlos Da Silva (2013), in Singapore
– Leonardo Neves (2013 & 2012), in Prague and Singapore
– Renata Peçanha (2016, 2012 & 2011), in Breda, Singapore and Brisbane
– Jorge Peres (2012), in Singapore and Brisbane
– Adilio Porto (2012), in Prague
– Gilson Damasco (2011), in Brisbane
– Monique Marculano (2011), in Brisbane
– Alex Carvalho & Daniela Wergles (2010), in Rio de Janeiro
– Rafael Oliveira & Daniela Wergles (2010), in Rio de Janeiro
– Rafael Oliveira & Larissa Thayane (2010), in Brisbane
– Kadu Pires (2010), in Brisbane
– China Soulzouk & Luciana Guinle (2016 & 2010), in Breda and Rio de Janeiro
– Alisson Rodrigues (2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, 2009 & 2008), in Singapore

Events featured at

Besides giving private lessons and group classes in various countries, Jean has been featured as an instructor at the following Brazilian Zouk events:

– Bali Experiencia Latina 1.0, Bali, Indonesia, Dec 2022
– Zouk Elevation, Cebu, Philippines, Nov 2022
– Brazouky, Melbourne, Australia, Feb 2020
– Brazouky, Melbourne, Australia, Feb 2019
– Zoukaholics, Melbourne, May 2016
– Sydney International Zouk Festival, Jul 2014
– Zouk S.E.A. 2014, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jul 2014
– Zoukaholics, Melbourne, Jun 2014
– Brazil Central Zouk Lambada Congress 2013, Brisbane, Australia, Oct 2013
– Brazil Central On Tour Melbourne 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Sep 2013
– Zouk S.E.A. 2013, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug 2013
– Bali Fiesta 2013, Mar 2013
– Brazil Central Zouk Lambada Congress 2012, Brisbane, Australia, Oct 2012
– Zouk S.E.A. 2012, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug 2012

Jean has been featured at the following Brazilian Zouk events as a DJ:

– Heart Zouk Marathon & Retreat, Hanoi, Oct 2023
– ZoukMe Lah, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jul 2023
– Brazilian Dance Festival, Amsterdam, Mar 2023
– Heart Zouk Marathon & Retreat, Hanoi, Oct 2022
– Zouk Sensation, Singapore, Feb 2020
– Zouk Sensation, Singapore, Feb 2019
– Brazouky, Melbourne, Feb 2019
– Mount Zoukfest, Tauranga, New Zealand, Feb 2019
– Zouk S.E.A. 2018, Port Dickson, Malaysia, Aug 2018
– Zoukaholics, Melbourne, Australia, May 2018
– Dutch International Zouk Congress 2017, Breda, Netherlands, Oct 2017
– Zouk S.E.A. 2016 (including the BZDC Jack & Jill Competition), Penang, Malaysia, Jul 2016
– Zoukaholics, Melbourne, May 2016
– Zouk S.E.A. 2015, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jul 2015
– Zouk & Samba Wave Party, St. Petersburg, Apr 2015
– Zouk S.E.A. 2014, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug 2014
– Sydney International Zouk Festival, Sydney, Australia, Jul 2014
– Zoukaholics, Melbourne, Jun 2014
– Brazil Central On Tour Melbourne 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Sep 2013
– Bali Fiesta 2013, Mar 2013
– Brazil Central Zouk Lambada Congress 2013, Brisbane, Australia, Oct 2013
– Zouk S.E.A. 2013, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug 2013
– Prague Zouk Congress, Prague, Mar 2012
– Brazil Central Zouk Lambada Congress 2012, Brisbane, Australia, Oct 2012
– Zouk S.E.A. 2012, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Aug 2012

Achievements

Jean’s students are a testament to her ability as an instructor; in particular, her aptitude for analyzing movements, diagnosing problem areas, and imparting the skills necessary for her students to become great social dancers. They display a good foundation in the dance, while exhibiting their own personal style. Notable achievements include:
– First place in the 2019 Zouk Sensation Novice Jack & Jill – Ameen Akbar
– Third place in the 2019 Zouk Sensation “Strictly Zouk” Competition – Dev Sasidharan
– Second place in the 2019 Brazouky “Strictly Zouk” Intermediate Competition – Dev Sasidharan
– First place in the 2018 Brazouky “Strictly Zouk” Intermediate Competition – Dev Sasidharan
– Third place in the 2018 Zouk S.E.A. Intermediate Jack & Jill – Dev Sasidharan
– First place in the 2018 Brazouky “Strictly Zouk” competition – Dev Sasidharan
– First place in the 2017 Casa Do Zouk Intermediate Jack & Jill – Dev Sasidharan
– First place in the 2016 International Prague Zouk Congress Novice Jack & Jill – Dev Sasidharan
– First place in the 2015 Zouk S.E.A. Novice Jack & Jill – Dev Sasidharan
– Second place in the 2014 Zouk S.E.A. Novice Jack & Jill – Jasmin Wong
– First place in the 2013 Zouk S.E.A. Novice Jack & Jill – Dev Sasidharan & Jasmin Wong
– First place in the 2013 Zouk S.E.A. Showcase Competition – Dev Sasidharan & Jasmin Wong