KizombaME was founded in 2012 in Lausanne with the goal of bringing together,
growing and supporting the Kizomba and Semba community in Switzerland.
Now based in Wädenswil - Zürich, KizombaME offers dance classes, workshops and
organizes dance events, and celebrates the traditions and roots of these beautiful Angolan dances.
The main purpose is to connect the PALOP community in Switzerland with the Swiss dance community, creating opportunities to share, connect, and enjoy the best of social dancing and community gatherings.
... few words about Kizomba
... few words about Semba
Kizomba is one of the most popular couple dances and musical genres in PALOP. It originated in Angola in the 1980s. In short, Kizomba music is a fusion of Semba, a traditional Angolan musical style, and Zouk, which originated in the Caribbean islands.
Eduardo Paim and his group named the new music gender in Kimbundu, the language of North Angola - Kizomba means Party.
Kizomba music is generally sung in Portuguese. It is known for its slow, steady, and slightly heavy yet sensual rhythm, created through electronic percussion, romantic music characterized by a strong bass line and an unmistakably African rhythm.
Kizomba dance is known for its unique sensuality, danced in a couple, in close connection. Kizomba should always be danced with respect for a dance partner, offering trust and creativity so that a genuine connection can develop between the two dancers. In this way, partners dance as if they were one body. Kizomba is also meant to be a conversation between two dancers. It is not a performance for others, but rather a shared experience - a moment when two people connect and enjoy the music together.
The leader should listen to and follow the music, maintain the flow and provide the dance, guide their partner clearly, gently, and smoothly, creating the natural chemistry that defines the dance.
The followers respond to the music and to their partner's movements with softness and elegance. They allow themselves to be guided while remaining an essential pillar of the dance - maintaining ginga, dancing, and expressing their femininity with confidence and grace.
Kizomba incudes a wide variety of movements and techniques. Everything depends on the music, the emotions being experienced, the level of trust between the two dancers, the skill level of each partner, and the way the leader guides the dance adapted to the follower in the conversation of two bodies without words.
Semba is a couple dance of Angolan origin, traditionally danced at family and social gatherings in its simplest form. Today, it ranges from social dancing to Semba Show in dance competitions, not only in Angola but all around the world.
Semba is also a traditional and urban musical genre from Angola, which emerged during the first half of the 20th century in Luanda, the capital of Angola. It is considered one of the ancestors of Brazil’s popular music genre, Samba.
Semba developed through a fusion of traditional elements and more modern influences. It combines Bantu rhythms with European harmonies and touches of Brazilian and Cuban influences. Despite these influences, the soul of Semba remains deeply African, with some singers even incorporating traditional melodies into their music.
The name Semba is believed to come from a traditional ritual dance called “Massemba,” meaning “navel touch”.
Semba is distinguished from other related styles by its faster tempo and energetic rhythm. Barceló de Carvalho, better known as Bonga, is one of Angola’s most famous Semba singers.
As a dance Semba is generally dynamic, playful, energetic, and joyful, making it a lively expression of Angolan culture and musical heritage.
Semba also played an important role in Angola’s cultural and political history during the struggle for independence. In the 1960s and 1970s, music and dance became powerful forms of cultural expression, helping to preserve Angolan identity, strengthen a sense of unity, and express hopes for freedom and independence. Semba was closely connected to this cultural movement and became an important part of Angola’s emerging national identity.
Following Angola’s independence in 1975, Semba continued to play an important role in celebrating Angolan culture, history, and identity.
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Source: wikipedia.org & information from Kizomba world