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Zouk was originally known as a musical genre originating in the Caribbean Islands. The way we dance Zouk today is far from how it looked in the beginning. Travel and time have shaped it into a magically beautiful movement. Brazilian Zouk is an extremely open dance with an unusually friendly environment. It offers great opportunities for self-expression and interpretation of music. Nowadays, it is danced to a wide variety of music – from traditional zouk music, through completely lyrical, beatless music, to R’n’B, where we can reveal our street soul. Today’s most popular form of Zouk as a dance was developed only a dozen or so years ago in Brazil.
Maria and Piotr are Brazilian zouk instructors associated with the Abra Studio dance school in Warsaw. Together, they are developing the zouk scene in Warsaw by conducting regular courses, workshops, and dance projects for beginners and advanced dancers. Piotr is one of the most respected Brazilian zouk instructors, as evidenced by the numerous dancers who have developed their skills under his wing. He was one of the first instructors in Poland to obtain the prestigious MAC (Methodology of Alex de Carvalho) certificate, one of the most recognized methods of teaching zouk in the world. In their joint work, Maria and Piotr focus on the quality of the connection between partners, conscious leading and following, and building comfort in dance from the very first steps. Their classes are characterized by a relaxed atmosphere and a focus on the individual needs of each participant. In their joint work, Maria and Piotr focus on the quality of the connection between partners, conscious leading and following, and building comfort in dance from the very first steps. Their classes combine solid technical foundations with lightness, musicality, and attentiveness to the other person, thanks to which participants quickly gain a sense of freedom and pleasure from dancing. They are known for their warm, supportive atmosphere and great attention to the needs of participants. They create a space where you can enter the world of zouk without stress, develop body awareness, and learn to dance in a natural and accessible way. They regularly conduct beginner courses and thematic workshops, inspiring both beginners and more experienced dancers to develop. At the festival, they will lead introductory classes in Brazilian zouk and workshops devoted to
the quality of connection in a couple, inviting participants to discover dance as a space for contact, flow, and the joy of movement.
Abra Studio is a well-known social dance school in Warsaw, run by Agnieszka and Bartosz Abraham. It specializes in bachata and Brazilian zouk, combining a high level of teaching with an atmosphere of openness, connection, and genuine joy of movement.
The school focuses on a conscious approach to dance – a combination of technique, musicality, and mindful work with the body. It organizes courses, workshops, and events, creating a strong, integrated community of dancers – from beginners to advanced.
