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About Zouk "N" Play

Now in it's third year, Zouk N Play worked hard to find an amazing venue to grow the Brazilian Zouk and Lambada Scene in the US. ZNP will be held at the SHOWBOAT HOTEL in Atlantic City at the FORMER "HOUSE OF BLUES" CONCERT VENUE aka as the Bourbon Room. With over 20,000 square feet, we are expected to massively grow this scene as much as we can offering a variety of activities and focused learnings. Highlights will include launch of the ZenZouk Colors show as well as guest production shows on stages that were once performed on by Famous International artists ie Michael Jackson, Pat Benetar, HUey Luis and the News and More. Team competitions including the first US EAST ZOUK CHAMPIONSHIP as well as dedicated PEACE OUT PEACE IN room and the first ever collaboration with ZOUKTOPIA featuring a US DJ BATTLE/SHOWCASE. THe festival is expected to begin JULY 4th and end on July 7th! So make sure you take off work FriYay!

The ShowBoat Hotel has direct access to Atlantic City's Newest and growing popular casino the "Hard Rock Cafe" and directly next door is the new Ocean Atlantic formerly known as the Revel.
Sun, sand, towering resort hotels, the bustling Boardwalk, the awe-inspiring Atlantic -- this is one beach summer festival you don’t want to miss.

Offerings at Zouk N Play

ZOUK N PLAY BEACH FESTIVAL 2019 will offer the following:

⛱ One Hotel and Premiere Venue in one place

⛱ Beach and Boardwalk Access
⛱ FREE NEWCOMER TRACK 6 Hour Intensive + option to

upgrade
⛱ Intermediate/Advanced Master Workshops in Rio-Zouk,

traditional Zouk, and Concept classes.
⛱ Dedicated Lamba Intensives from Braz Dos Santos/

Lamba Crew and others!
⛱ Dedicated PEACE OUT PEACE IN room workshops in

Yoga, Acro, Thai Massage, Sound Healing, Oil

Essentials, Journaling, and more
⛱ Premiere Launch of the ZENZOUK COLORS show and

surprise Finale
⛱ First US East Zouk Open Championship Competition

(Couples and Team)

⛱ BZDC Brazilian Zouk Dance Council Competition

⛱ ALO American Lambada Competition
⛱ First ZNP and ZOUKTOPIA collaboration DJ BATTLE
⛱ 3 Evening Parties Until 7:00 AM or more and

1 Day Party

⛱ 4 Evening Party Rooms in Brazilian Zouk, Lambada,

Hustle and a Chill Room

Mission of Zouk N Play Festival

A Playground to Seek and Discover

Zouk N Play Festival, brought to you by Founders (Ryel Velandia and Leslie Evangelista Tietjen) of the successful NYC ZOUK FESTIVAL in New York City and creator/director of ZenZouk LLC is one of the FRESEHEST new summer events on the East Coast, situated on the beach and boardwalk of Atlantic City. This will be our Third Year and we can not be more excited!!

The mission of Zouk N Play is:

to grow the Brazilian Zouk and Lambada scene in the United States offering a regional place for local Brazilian Zouk and Lambada communities to grow together
to advance the Brazilian Zouk and Lambada scene in the US by offering International instruction with Master teachers
to provide various modalities that compliment movement and dance for a fresh and fun filled summer together

New To Brazilian Zouk Lambada

An unique & memorable experience

New to this Year!! Learn 2 Zouk NewCommer, a five hour intensive plus a Welcome Party at ZoukNPlay Festival 2019! Taught by the ZENZOUK TEAM, Ryel has developed a fundamentals curriculum through his company ZenZouk LLC. Our expectations during this festival is that you will fall in love with Brazilian Zouk and Lambada by learning it in a clear and concise fashion. We are a unique festival because we will be providing tangible teaching material for you to take home with you in addition to progressive classes (fri/sat) taught by consistent instructors. You will review the history of Brazilian Zouk Lambada, body movements, steps, combinations, etc. and receive consistent attention from both instructors so that you can begin dancing Brazilian and Zouk Lambada and help shape your community. A syllabus and playlist are provided.

Intermediate/Advanced Students

Master Level Instructruction - Summer Intensives

We have some unique structured intensives, which inlude topics surrounding, counter balancing - when to enter and exit, soltinho variations, various and intricate turn patterns, proper alignment, weight shifting advice, head movement, safe and advanced combinations, and a wealth of practicas to make it one amazing summer weekend!

We are working with both instructors and students to shape these workshops and descriptions will be posted soon!

About Ry'el Velandia

It's our Playground - Let's Play

Ryel Velandia, a true Brazilian Zouk Evangelist, shares his passion teaching Zouk to students and is on a mission to provide others the gift of dance and movement. He is an international performer, choreographer, instructor, and dance coach, 2014-16 Bras Do Santos Brazouka’s dance captain / company member, 2013 International Zouk Flashmob choreography winner with his sister Clo Ferreria, 2013 World Salsa Summit champion, a member of the Cast for the famous TV show Mira Quien Baila 1st season (Look who is dancing, Univision) 2010. He performed as part of Cecilia Marta’s dance Company in NYC Summer stage at central park and DRA Gala (dancer responding to aids) and creator/director of ZenZouk, a method of teaching Brazilian Zouk Lambada and over all body movement through multiple exercises and philosophies based on the “elements”, including earth, water, fire, and air - as symbols for analyzing dance and personal movement.

Ryel’s main aim is to educate and cultivate the appreciation for each one of these different styles of Brazilian Zouk-Lambada, building a strong foundation of versatility by embracing evolution through the classics techniques found in the origins of our dance (Lambada).

More about Ryel Click Here.

See his work and artistry here:

Ryel developed his curriculum based on his experience teaching Zouk and movement, and traveling/teaching with internationally known Bras Dos Santos (pioneer of LambaZouk) and the cast of Brazouka. He holds many classes in New York City teaching both LambaZouk and Traditional Zouk, while using his ZenZouk methodology to create awareness in oneself to become a better dancer.

Zoul 'N' Play will focus on

- Movement Freedom in movement will provide students the ability to move with no inhibitions and thinking.

- Flow - Flow is defined as the action or fact of moving along in a steady, continuous stream. At Zouk 'N' Play we like to flow through the infinity thus creating more circular and cursive movements.

Connection - How we relate to others through movement is an important element of Zouk or any partner activity. At Zouk N Play we will help express connection elements to our students and how it plays an integral part of connection.