Zouk Workshop Series

**Zouk Workshop Series Details** This progressive series of introductory workshops will be taught by Rachel Ashley Meth, assisted by Emily Rose Harrington, and will cover the foundational elements for learning to be a competent, creative, embodied, and joy-filled Brazilian Zouk dancer! Our goal with this workshop series is to help create a sustainable, kind, welcoming, fun, and community-centered group of Zouk dancers in the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area! Details for Workshop #3: (You can still attend this workshop, even if you did not attend Workshop #1 or #2.) Date: February 19th, 2022 Time: 1-4pm Cost: $40 or $35 with pre-registration for full series Address: 410 El Dorado Dr NW, Albuquerque, NM Content for Worshop #3: *Working with the element of water *Partner connection and breath *Body waves and sways *Raul *Elástico It is recommended that you know the following steps/moves before attending this workshop, but it is not necessary: *Basic step (in place, linear, and side) *Lateral *Viradinha *Preparation for turn/lunge *Simple turn *Cuddle Because this workshop focuses mainly on body movement and partner connection, it is ok if you do not have previous Zouk experience. However, it is encouraged that you take a private lesson with Rachel to catch you up on the above steps/moves before the workshop if you can. You can reach Rachel via email at [email protected] or cell at (860)306-5173. _________________________________________________ *This larger vision of this series contains three components: 1. Monthly workshops December - April to learn the dance of Brazilian Zouk. 2. Student organized weekly practicas to practice and review materials learned in between workshops. 3. Encouraged community connection opportunities outside of dance in between workshops! *Workshop dates and times are as follows: Workshop #1: December 18th, 2021 Workshop #2: January 22nd, 2022 Workshop #3: February 19th, 2022 Workshop #4: March 19th, 2022 Workshop #5: April 23rd, 2022 *Pre-registration cost for entire workshop series is: $175 *Cost for individual workshop is: $40 ***REGISTER HERE*** https://www.livembodied.com/events/zouk-workshop-series-4 _______________________________________________ What is Brazilian Zouk? If you have never experienced this beautiful and mesmerizing dance, you are in for a treat! Brazilian Zouk, also known as "Zouk-Lambada," is a partner dance with origins in Lambada and traditionally danced to "Zouk" music made popular in the French Caribbean. Brazilian Zouk can be characterized by its smooth and flowing nature as well as its circular upper body movements, dramatic hair whips, dips, and magical connection. As this dance has evolved along with popular music and dance trends, you will now see various styles where partners may deviate from the traditional rhythm to allow for musical interpretation and enhanced partner connection. Brazilian Zouk can be danced to many musical genres including Hip-Hop, R&B, New Age, & Pop (to name a few), lending itself to be enjoyed by a wide range of dancers (or non-dancers) from all backgrounds! _____________________________________________________ Meet your instructor Rachel Ashley Meth has been studying and teaching various partner dances for almost 20 years. Her passion started with a salsa class in 2003 that led to many years of studying different Latin dances. In 2008, Rachel was inspired to move to Buenos Aires to learn tango. Much to her surprise, she ended up falling in love with and learning Brazilian Zouk instead. The moment she saw a room full of Zouk dancers whipping their hair and body rolling, she knew she was in trouble! She spent the next twelve years of her life (the first few years as one of only a handful of Zouk teachers in the US), avidly studying and teaching this dance while helping to build Zouk communities around the country. She also helped to organize one of the first Zouk festivals in the US, and over the years has organized various festivals and retreats and been booked as a featured Zouk artist at a variety of events. Alongside this outward journey, Rachel was also immersing herself in a deep and profound inward journey of meditation practices. This has a great influence on the way that she teaches and the types of events she organizes. She became a pioneer in creating destination retreats that combine Zouk, meditation, nature, and spiritual exploration. All of her classes and events include a flavor of these elements. Rachel currently resides in Jemez Springs, New Mexico where she is building a small retreat on her land. She still runs her organization, Embodied LLC and also works full-time for a Tibetan Buddhist organization. She is dedicated to spreading joyful awareness, loving kindness, embodied exploration, and compassionate connection through every event she offers. ____________________________________________________ COVID-19 Protocol In the light of the pandemic, we want to ensure that everyone is being respectful of our own and each other's health and safety as well as honoring everyone's sovereignty and personal health choices. In this light: *We are asking that everyone wear a mask for the duration of the workshop. The space has a large door to the outside that we will keep open, and we will take breaks outside to get fresh air. *If you would like to come with a partner and stay with that partner all class, we support that. *If you would like to come alone and rotate partners, we support that as well. We will ask/offer the following: *Symptomatic or Exposure: If you have any symptoms that could potentially be COVID-19 or you think you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, we ask that you please stay home. We will offer a full refund if you have any of these symptoms the day of the workshop. *Hand Sanitizing: We will have hand sanitizer available throughout the workshop. *Contact Tracing: Online and at the door registration for classes allows us to keep record of all classes or events participants, and the ability to contact all participants if necessary. *Transparency. We trust that you can and will contact us in the case of infection, and we will communicate immediately to those who might have been in contact with you at this workshop. *Privacy. Your privacy is our priority. None of your information will be shared with anyone or any other entities. *Acknowledging Risk. Please know that even with precautions in place, it is still possible to contract COVID, and you are taking a risk by particpating in a dance workshop. Everyone will be asked to review and agree to our COVID-19 liability waiver. *Personal Choice. In our protocol, we have tried our best to honor personal soveriegnty while also acknowleding health risks. It is your personal choice to attend these workshops if you feel aligned with this protocol.