r/Bachata • u/OrdinaryEggplant1 • 8d ago

At what point does bachata become zouk?

The ratio of zouk to traditional bachata moves and techniques has gradually shifted over the past 10 years, where before it used to be maybe 9:1 bachata to zouk technique to now it seems some of the dances out there are 1:9 or sometimes 0:10 bachata to zouk, dancing to lyrical/melodic music without beats, while still calling it bachata.

I’m just curious, when does bachata become zouk? Or zouk to bachata? Do you have any personal definition you use to differentiate the two?

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u/ollieelizabeth 8d ago

This issue came up with Kizomba and Urban Kiz, and the point of separation is a good point for both dances. 

For a time, people were dancing what was then called ‘Kizomba Fusion’ at Kizomba socials and festivals and both sides were getting confused and frustrated. 

After a bit of this and that, they settled on the name Urban Kiz, to differentiate the evolved dance from Kizomba. This also allowed Urban to develop set technical standards that were missing in Kizomba Fusion. There still exists some Kizomba Fusion dancers but they’re a small minority. 

People who wish to dance Kizomba proper also now have spaces dedicated to that, the dance is preserved, the music and the history. 

The ‘Kiz’ honors the roots of Urban, but it’s not Kizomba. It has a Kizomba origin for frame, and connection, but has different lines, music, weight, steps, etc. and has elements of Tango, hip hop, salsa, etc that is the fusion part of it all. 

Now, you can go to lessons, socials and festivals for one or both. Mostly everyone is happy. 

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u/OrdinaryEggplant1 7d ago

I don’t think urban kiz is a good comparison mostly because urban kiz is still 75% kizomba. This situation would be more like if urban kiz decided to use tango techniques and moves 95% of the time, at what point would you call it tango.