I got an unexpected but very welcome email yesterday from a fellow named Benjamin Nande. Benjamin is the #1 international instructor of kizomba dance. Kizomba, as you might remember, is the dance that my other friend Ana laTunes(previously from Miami but now up around Seattle I think) told me about.
I am still very fascinated by kizomba and I frequently check YouTube to see if there's any new video clips of it. It's a very cool dance and I think it's something that would be very well received by the salsa dancers if somebody would only start to teach and/or promote it.
Back on March 28, 2008 I had done a mention of Benjamin's website but apparently the link URL was now out-of-date. Benjamin reminded me and it's been changed. Now it's www.kizombadance.com . He's also got a very nice T-shirt (although I think it would be nice in some other colors :-)
It's pretty obviious by looking at www.kizombadance.com that kizomba is growing in popularity in many parts of the world although I think probably the only person even discussing it in the US is Ana LaTunes. There's some very fun looking workshop photos on the website. Some of you who travel ought to try to catch on of them somewhere someday.
I have Benjamin's 3 DVDs and I think they are very good. As near as I can tell, he is the only person with any kind of instructional material on kizomba. I'd highly recommend them. I haven't had a chance to try it yet but I think kizomba could be done to some types of bachata music although it actually has a music style all it's own.
Here's some videos.
Here's Benjamin......at a workshop:
Here's a video I've posted before but I think it's one of the most 'natural' kizomba videos I've ever seen. I doubt that many people would ever expect to dance as well as this:
Here's a video of a kizomba class being done, at a club, somewhere in the UK:
Here's a couple who, although I certainly think they're doing their best, it still looks a bit contrived:
Here's a couple who I'd categorize as 'pretty good':
