Put some spice into your marriage with Kizomba
COMMUNICATION is an important part of any relationship. Successful marriages and relationships depend on a mutual understanding of each other, and deciding when one partner should lead and the other provides support. Those, too, are some of the basic principles of Kizomba — a partner dance originating from Angola, Africa.
“Kizomba gives people, especially couples, an opportunity to celebrate each other’s progress and fix the mistakes together openly and without fear of judgement, since we are all in a learning environment,” Kizomba dance instructor Matthew Hann explained to All Woman.
This type of dance is not very popular in Jamaica, but Hann hopes to change that very soon through monthly workshops, along with his co-instructor Shawna-Lee Tai. He explained that the dance is not difficult to learn, and its African origins make it ideal for Jamaicans to catch on.
“The music almost has a Caribbean flavour and as a dance it is characterised by close partner connection and smooth, grounded movement,” Hann explained. “Movement with the music is the priority, and one can dance Kizomba with only four or five moves. Mastery lies in the subtlety of movement and of the lead-follow connection.”
Hann, who is also the marketing manager at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, was introduced to Kizomba through a dancer who was visiting Jamaica from the United States. Although as a dance instructor he often danced to partner-dances like Salsa, Bachata and other Latin genres, he was blown away by the moves and the music of Kizomba.
“It’s the Kizomba music that really connected with me as it sounds and feels closer to what we’re accustomed to here in Jamaica and the Caribbean, but in a partner dance form,” he said.
After researching Kizomba extensively, he realised that it is the perfect genre to help Jamaican couples to increase not only their physical activity, but also their communication.
“Communication is essential to a partner dance, both verbal and non-verbal,” he said. “The lead-follow communication improves awareness for your partner because the dance is heavily based on non-verbal cues. Yes, the man leads a movement, and the woman moves based on that lead. However, the woman’s movement, her feedback, is just as important as the man’s original lead. So roles really are shared.”
He added: “As for verbal communication, when cues aren’t enough couples are encouraged to speak up, but in a way that is constructive. Since we are all in a new environment of talking about movement, I watch couples fumble as they try to communicate feelings, what’s wrong, what’s right, and especially why. After a while, though, the communication flows clearly both ways and it all becomes an enjoyable, no-pressure experience.”
Kizomba not only helps couples to relieve built-up tension, but it also uses it as a tool.
“We often talk about tension in a bad way. In dance, however, tension between two people is a good signal of balance. If one partner is too rigid everything seems forced. If one partner has absolutely no rigidity then the relationship fails because there is no avenue for the two persons to communicate and receive necessary feedback. Good tension between couples is just enough rigidity to lead and be led. Same too in a relationship these kinds of non-verbal cues are important. Sometimes there is a difference between what we say and how we truly feel, and feelings can be transmitted through the simplest change in touch,” he explained.
In addition to improving the flow of communication between couples, both persons benefit individually from the exercise.
“Kizomba is one of the best sources of exercise because you also have to account for your partner’s weight in your steps as well. Muscles work overtime to balance, counter-balance, yet maintain an impression of grace and flow. Also, because of the volume of movement involved, dancing promotes circulation, coordination, agility, flexibility and is great for your heart, lungs, muscular strength, endurance and motor fitness,” Hann said.
Kizomba is perfect to try if you want to try something new with your partner, put some spice into your marriage, or just to get some quality exercise with the one you love. The first two workshops were held on the first Saturdays of March and April, and Hann was delighted that couples returned for the second month, and also took their friends along.
“Each workshop is four hours total and takes you through the basics of Kizomba through to a routine. We focus heavily on the lead-follow relationship so that people actually dance together versus stepping based on memory.”
The next workshop will be held on May 4 at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, and will be led by Hann and Tai.
“We post our event updates on our website www.mvmtnatn.com. Also our FaceBook and Instagram pages ( @mvmtnatn) (Movement Nation) have recently been launched,” Hann shared. You can also unwind to Kizomba at Latin Night at Regency Bar & Lounge at Terra Nova.
