Ghetto Zouk Boot Camp Track mixed by Vitor Tavares Mendes

Ghetto Zouk Music 2 Ghetto Zouk Dance

My name is Vítor Tavares Mendes and I was born in a poor ghetto Pedreira Dos Hungaros in Lisbon, Portugal to Cape Verdean parents. When I was 22, I have moved to London, where I lived for 8 years. It was there, where I started using my dancing styles as a motivational tool for a very diverse young audience.

In 2002 in London, I completed a course in contemporary dance and began teaching Capoeira and traditional African dances as follow up on my first dancing steps in Portugal. I gradually enriched and implemented my own style under the influence of other dances and rhythms such as Kizomba, Coupe décalé, Kuduro, contemporary, RnB, hip hop and Ghetto Zouk.

In 2010 I moved to Prague, started a family and continued my dancing journey professionally. Some of my public appearances became an eye-opener to many; it wasn’t just my dancing, also the cultural background of my style. Some examples of this would include performances at ABC and D21 Theatres. Some TV work at “Cesky Lev” film awards, on TV Nova or on Slovak Markíza. Similarly, different press publications have covered my work; like the newspaper “Mlada Fronta Dnes“ and various magazines like “Dieta“, “Lide a Zeme“ and “Tema“.

Whilst doing this I never lost sight of my roots and their influence on my work and as an individual. Because of this, I took the task to promote our Portuguese-Afro-Hispanic culture and organized various cultural events. One of my biggest successes was the multicultural festival “Afro-Bailar“, which was held in Prague and Bratislava for four consecutive years (2010 – 2014).

In 2012 I started teaching Kizomba and since then I have traveled to and taught in more than 47 cities.

In 2013 I became a certified Fitness instructor. I provide a unique approach to fitness for women and men of all ages, abilities, and shapes.

Since 2015 I have dedicated a big part of my professional time to the creation and development of Ghetto Zouk Dance. I can say GZD is nowadays a successful dancing method which tries to satisfy the need for a dance that Ghetto Zouk music has implicitly been encouraging and inspiring for years.

In 2018 I got back to my roots and started to write new songs for my new music album which reflects on my life and my previous experiences.

Sports, fitness, and dance represent who I am and have always accompanied me in life. Alongside with my professional dancing history in teaching and choreographing I’ve been working as a personal trainer for 4 years. I still learn from my day to day experience with my students and clients and take pride in sharing my knowledge with them. I believe life is an unstoppable learning curve. 

Ghetto Zouk Dance refers to a dance method developed as an inherent part of Ghetto Zouk music originating from CapeVerdean producer Adilson Ben-David.

The main base of Ghetto Zouk dance is Kizomba further developed by its CapeVerdean / Portuguese creator and educator with Cape Verdean roots – Vitor Tavares Mendes and his team.

Ghetto Zouk Dance method is characterized by close frame, higher dynamics, fun, flow, and precision that follows the ghetto zouk beat. It combines the basic Kizomba steps and techniques with faster rhythm in footwork requiring firm posture and a higher level of power, pressure and movement control from both partners.

The main principles of GZD method:

Leading 50/50 (shared leading)

– the idea of shared leading as an alternative to the current standard Kizomba techniques means a shared responsibility without resulting in a clash of interests or disconnection. The key to maintaining the flow between both leading parties is the use of natural body pressure, tension and impulse. The Leading 50/50 method can help minimize mistakes and maximize communication, promotes a greater freedom of interpretation whilst encouraging technical precision.
Syncopated rhythm... to be continue at 
www.GhettoZoukDance.com 

🙏🏽✨

GhettoZoukDance vs KizombaPrague