About Zouk "N" Play 2020
Now in its fourth 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.
It will be the first concert venue in the US and North America that zouk will be hosted in!!
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 the epic 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 like the BZDC as well as dedicated PEACE OUT PEACE IN room guided by Ruth Gatling will also be hosted. THe festival is expected to begin 1st with ZenZouk Teacher Training
and end on July 6th! So make sure you take off work for the week of JULY!
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. We are
happy to announce our partnership with the Showboat to deliver an exceptional festival.
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 2020
ZOUK N PLAY BEACH FESTIVAL 2019 will offer the following:
⛱ One Hotel and Premiere Venue in one place
⛱ Beach and Boardwalk Access
⛱ 3 Hour ADVANCED TRAINING w/Jaime Aroxa and Kiri
⛱ ZENZOUK LEVEL 1A TEACHER TRAINING
(pre-requisites mus be completed)
⛱ NEWCOMER TRACK featuring talented instructors
hosted by the ZENZOUK CURRICULUM
⛱ Intermediate/Advanced Master Workshops in Rio-Zouk,
traditional Zouk, and Concept classes.
⛱ Dedicated PEACE OUT PEACE IN room workshops in
Yoga, Acro, Thai Massage, Sound Healing, Oil
Essentials, Journaling, and more
⛱ The ZENZOUK COLORS show in the former "House of
Blues" Theatre!!
⛱ Day Parties in the Zen and Buddha Like Foundation
Room - a former high roller suite!
⛱ BZDC Brazilian Zouk Dance Council Competition
⛱ Over 35+ Hours of evening and day dancing.
⛱ 3 Evening Parties
⛱ ZenZouk
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 FRESHEST 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:
Learn 2 Zouk Camp, for those wanting to dive deep into Zouk in a super comfortable environment. 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 (sat/sun) 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.
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!
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.