6 Misconceptions About Kizomba
1) Often i hear people using the term "Traditional Kizomba" or even just "traditional".
So to correct this confusion, there is no prefix for this word, and i believe your desire like mine is to have proper correct information about something you learn and love.
It's simply, and beautifully, "Kizomba" which means "party" in Kimbundu, which is one of many Bantu languages you can hear in Angola.
2) "Kizomba is just Basic steps?"
Not really. Yes, the Ginga is shown the best when doing fundamental steps, but Kizomba has all the levels like every other dance, and all the highest advanced ones with 100s of techniques.
Dancing in front of the partner, there are over 30 basics techniques which you can study from 2 to 4 months even before even thinking about Saida, which often people learn to early in their beginner dancing stage.
3) "Is Kizomba is Sexy dance?"
Kizomba is not a sexy dance, but it is a partner dance. Originally in the Palop countries it was (and still is) danced a lot in the family/friends gatherings at home and street, so often you can see father and daughter dancing together, 2 men or 2 women dancing together, etc.
People like me and you who dance mostly in clubs or festival environment we usually dance it with friends we know, and often with people we never met, so how you dance it individually it can also depend on many things from how you feel in that moment, the music, your mood, what you ate that day, your relationship with that partner, the stars and the moon, and many other things.
So, In Kizomba, You, can be many things, BUT in it's core and what it really is, it's is joyful, beautiful and elegant dance & music.
4) "Paris is the capital of Kizomba in EU"
I heard some people say this, so to correct this info, No it is not.
The capital of Kizomba in EU is Lisbon in Portugal.
Due to it's history, many Palops immigrated there, so a huge number of dancers and musicians are living in and visiting Potugal, with many schools and teachers who teach Kizomba, many yearly festivals, clubs and Kizomba parties every night, Kizomba music being played in the taxis, shops, etc.
5) "Kizomba has to be danced only in a closed embrace"
It's a choice and there are no "rules" on this subject matter. You can dance it in a open embrace, or closed, depending on the moment, with who you dance, hight difference and comfortability, cultural background, shyness or openness, feeling of connection or no connection with that person in that moment, personal hygiene, etc.
Sometimes you dance with someone for the first time, so you start in a open embrace, which can change in only 3/4 minutes if you both feel good and ready to get closer into a closed embrace.
6) "Kizomba dancers love to dance only to Kizomba music"
Actually Kizomba dancers are the most versatile and open community i ever encountered then almost any other popular social dance. On the parties, good DJ's would play Kizomba, Zouk, ColaZouk, GhettoZouk, Coladera, Tarraxinha, Semba, Konpa, Covers, ZoukBass, Afrohouse, Kuduro, etc.
Kizomba dancer love and dance to everything.
Knowledge is power.
Wish you all a beautiful day/night.
Nemanja