Meet the artists

Chamalo & Mirty

CHAMALO

Chamalo grew up in a Congolese family punctuated by music and was always attracted to dance. He took his first hip-hop class at the age of 10. At 15 years old he decided to take classes with the YUDAT CREW, from his talent and his hard work at 17 years old he started teaching hip hop and coaching the younger ones and at 18 he create with one of his mentors his own hip hop crew (CPEF KREW’). His career is diversified with several dances (dancehall, Afro, hip hop, house dance etc …), He was a musician (drummer) and played in churches.

A few years ago he began to take kizomba lessons everywhere in Paris and joined the MOUV’CONNECTION taxi team. In 2015 he and some friends of his created an independent taxi team called THE DREAM KIZ. In 2016 he participates in Africa dançar and became champion of Paris, champion of France with his famous robot show and world champion in Portugal. The first one who won the 3 stages with only one presentation in the contest. Simultaneously he opened his own dance school in Holland in Amsterdam which is now number one there.

MIRTY

When she was around the age of 5 she started with dancing jazz ballet.  When she was 9 years old her mother started her own dance school of salsa, mambo, bachata, merengue, chachacha etc. From the start, she joined her mother at the dance school and learned it from an early age. She started assisting the lessons at the age of 11. At home, her mother played salsa, mambo and jazz music all the time so she really grew up with a lot of musical understanding and feeling. When she turned 15 she also added some hip-hop to her repertoire. 

In 2015 she started to teach salsa at a dance school and that is where she discovered kizomba. She fell in love with it immediately. She is now the partner of Chamalo and is teaching with him since 2017 at his dance school Castle Of Dance based in Amsterdam. They travel the world together to teach and share their passion and love for dance.

Dwe & Gaby

Dwe:
Düedyson Eugenia, best known in the Kizomba scene as Dwé Kizomba, is an energetic and creative mind who combines variety, challenge, style and fun in the right dose. Dwé is the founder and owner of Elevate Your Kiz and has been teaching Kizomba/Urban Kiz since 2016.

What characterizes Dwé as a teacher? Energetic, Creatively, Technically skilled, Musical, Playful – with a strict eye for detail!

Dwé grew up in a very musical family on Curaçao. Where one sang in a band, the other played several instruments. It was therefore not very surprising that Dwé followed in his family’s footsteps and played in several bands in his teenage years. A musical boy with an ear for sound was born here. Despite his passion for music, football was his first love. And although it was his dream to make this his job, life took him on a different path. As a commercial service provider, he already thought outside the box, but as a Kizomba/Urban Kizomba teacher, that became his profession.

At the age of 19, Dwé decided in 2013 to take Kizomba lessons with Stephen Jacobus in Tilburg. After taking classes for 3 months, he decided to discover for himself and to invest more time and energy in dance. His potential and will to develop in dance did not go unnoticed. Soon Dwé was invited to join the then-dance group ‘Kiz-natics’. This was his first step in the kizomba world.

In 2016 Dwé became one of the senior teachers of a large dance school in Rotterdam. Together with his partner at the time, he gave many lessons in the Netherlands, but that was not enough for Dwé. In 2019 Dwé decided to partner with Gaby to conquer the world together. In a short time, they were able to share their vision with people all over the world.

His typical vision for this dance has ensured that Dwé has spread his wings and founded his own dance school in 2022. “Elevate your Kiz” was born. A place where you can always grow in dance, as a beginner or even as a teacher. Everyone is welcome!

Gaby

With my Ecuadorian roots, I grew up hearing and seeing a lot of dances like bachata, salsa and merengue. But besides living room dancing with the family, I started Ballet when I was 4. It was my everything, dancing different types of ballet 4-5 days a week, performing and competing till 19 years old. I always wanted to make a living out of my hobby. But due to an injury, I had to stop dancing and before I knew it, I didn’t dance for 6 years. (Studies, work and life got in the way.)

But then in 2015, I decided to start dancing again. I missed my passion too much and this time I found Kizomba. I fell in love with this dance and haven’t stopped since.
In 2017 I started teaching Urban KIZ and in 2019 I joined forces with Dwe and we have been partners since.

2020 I also started teaching High Heels classes, I missed a space where women could express themselves in a different way than only a partner dance, a space where you learn how to love your body and be confident in your own skin. And now I’m super proud to have created that space. A space where women empower each other to be the best version of themselves.

In 2022 I joined Dwe in this beautiful journey of starting Elevate your Kiz. It’s been only a year but I can’t express how proud I am to be part of this. From the knowledge, we spread to the people we have touched with this beautiful dance. It’s an amazing road and I can’t be more excited to see what the future will bring. Making a living out of my passion like I have always dreamed of.

Roméo-Steph

Roméo-Steph discovered and fell in love with Kizomba and Semba during one of his trips to Lisbonne in 2008.

After becoming a Kizomba/Semba Dancer and Teacher, he opened up to New vibes and felt literally in love with some New styles like Urbankiz, Kizomba Fusion and Tarraxo. He has been dancing and teaching all those styles around the World for more than 7 years now. Besides he is also dancing Kompa, Zouk, Afro-house et many other African/Latin/Caribbean dances.

He is known for his unique dancing style made up of all his dance expérience, and his full of energy during his workshops. Don’t miss the opportunity to attend his classes.

Rico & Manon

Rico Suave
Rico was born and grew up in Guinea-Bissau and moved to Portugal in his twenties, then later to England in 2011.  During Rico’s childhood, he was surrounded by music and dance of his African culture and family gatherings through which he heard music and dance including Gumbe, Passada and later Kizomba, Semba, Kuduro, Soukous and Coupé Decalé.  In Portugal, Rico became involved in the Afro dance scene leading him to both compete and begin to organise events.  After his move to London Rico began his journey into teaching.  Rico is now a much loved and respected international dance teacher and is held in high regard in the genres of Kizomba, Semba and Afro.  He is known not only for his unmistakable smooth and elegant dance style but also for his easy-going nature,  positive energy and never-ending happy vibe.  Those attending his classes can expect first-hand knowledge from his personal experience, creativity and a teaching philosophy developed from his roots and many years of experience mixed together with his contagious passion and lots of fun.

Manon Batrel 
Manon, was born and grew up in France. Moved to the UK at the age of 19. She is a French dancer and dance teacher,  specialising in Kizomba.

At the age of 7, Manon started dancing Ballet and contemporary dances; she then evolves towards African dances from the age of 12 to later go into Kizomba in her teenage years. She learned to dance in Brest, France, with her teacher Mervil Kiavue in 2012 and Morenasso. She moved to the UK in 2017 where she joined DsantosDanceUK where she and Richard Voogt started running the school together. They worked on growing the dance scene in the UK as well as making a successful dance school which is now called “RV Dance co”.

Manon has been travelling around various dance congresses to teach as well as performing. Festivals include: LoveLikeLondon, TransylvaniaSalsaFestival, AllStars, Bachakiz, EagleTours, ABCD amongst others.

In 2020, Manon opened her own dance school called “London Kizomba School” in London, where she offers group classes, training, private lessons …etc and is now running her school as well as teaching classes and performing with her dance partner Rico Suave in various dance events and dance congresses.

Richard Voogt

Richard Voogt, director of Rhythm & Vibes Dance Co, is from Cape Town, South Africa. Richard teaches Kizomba, Semba, Salsa & Bachata weekly at his school in London and travels internationally to teach & perform at events in USA, Canada, Russia, Turkey, Portugal, Spain to name a few. His dance company has been recognized by the Arts Council of England for its contribution to culture as a recipient of the Cultural Recovery Fund in 2020 & 2021.

Richard originally trained as a biochemist (MSc) but first discovered social dancing in 2007 while at university. He was captivated by the welcoming nature of the community. After moving to the USA in 2009 he was introduced to Kizomba, Semba & Afrohouse, and started teaching as a hobby in Burlington, VT where he lived. Richard performed as an amateur at major dance festivals across the USA for several years before he returned to the UK in 2015 to start his own dance school, becoming a professional dancer & instructor.

El Ceprino & Emily

El Ceprino:
El Ceprino Del Mundo (William P J Youlou his birth name) is a London based artist who grew up in Brazzaville (Republic of Congo) with the influence of afro beats, Soukous, Afro Zouk, Congolese Rumba, Ndombolo etc …. which gave him his unique playful and joyful dancing style. In 2000 El Ceprino went to Luanda in neighbouring Angola (Home and heart of Kizomba) and fell in love with the street Semba and Kizomba dancers.

Only in 2013 El Ceprino got the opportunity to start his first Kizomba and Semba classes in London. He is a natural dancer and travelled to international Kizomba festivals to learn from the best teachers. El Ceprino has developed an eye catching dance style. Having lived in Paris for many years, through his love of experimentation and his frequent trips to Paris from London he found and fell in love with UrbanKiz.

El Ceprino is a versatile dancer, he teaches Kizomba, Semba, Urbankiz Suavé (his own style of Urbankiz), Ndombolo (Congolese dance) and enjoys afro rhythms and loves sharing his passion of dance with others and has been doing so internationally ever since.

Emily:
Emily’s dancing journey began in 2019 after accidentally finding herself in the middle of a Salsa social party in Lithuania! Completely amazed by the scene, upon returning to the UK she sought out a local dance community in Cardiff where she began dancing Salsa, Bachata and soon discovered, and fell in love with Kizomba and Urban Kiz.

Her passion for Kizomba was initially fuelled by one of the UK’s most respected and sought-after teachers Jeydikson Lima, where she was later asked to join and now teaches as part of the Kizomba Next Level team. With a keen interest in developing her knowledge and skill, she also started dedicating her free time to learning from, training and collaborating with one of the UK’s top Urban Kiz teachers, Shack Ajuwa. After attending several UK and International Kizomba Festivals and events, it was at Kiz Junction in Bristol that she met El Ceprino, her dance partner, where they decided to join forces and now teach together in various dance events and dance congresses throughout the UK.

Alvin & Raluca

Alvin and Raluca, based in London, UK, have been teaching together since April 2018 and internationally since August 2019. They formed their partnership after meeting each other at a weekly dance event where Alvin and a team of instructors taught regularly. They knew after the first dance that the connection and similar energies that bounced off each other were to be explored. They started training shortly after and formed their dance partnership.

“Dance Distinctively” was then launched in April 2018. Dance Distinctively, solely founded and run by themselves ran until the end of that year hosting 2 hour weekly classes and a 3 hour social in the heart of London. Since then they have been travelling all over the country to teach and attend festivals in support, and to spread their knowledge with all Urban Kiz lovers in the UK. In addition, they were placed as Runner Up in Olympiads of Kizomba UK Selection 2019, and Winners of Battle Kiz UK Selection 2020.

JayJay & Natalia

JayJay & Natalia have been dancing Urban Kiz for several years. They have been teaching Urban Kiz in UK and internationally.

They were first introduced to the world of Urban Kiz through Kizomba. As teachers, they appreciate what it is like to be a student.

Their aim is to share their passion for Urban Kiz and make it a mainstream dance across UK and internationally.

Jeydikson Lima

I was born in Sao Tome and moved to Portugal when I was 8 years old. Before I started my dance career, I used to play 3rd league for the Portuguese football team. In 2000, I found what took my mind to a different dimension all together.

At a young age, I started dancing Hip hop and RnB at my local school. I later developed different styles of dance such as Breakdance, House, Afro-beats, Contemporary and Kuduro. It was at the tender age of 19 when I found Kizomba and I fell in love. It gave me a feeling of peace, love, excitement, sentiment and made my soul ooze with such a passion it was explosive…to the point that when I danced, it spoke many different languages that connected me to beautiful music and other people.

It took me 5 years to learn how to dance Kizomba and my style is all thanks to my master: Avelino Chantre. I moved to the UK in 2014 and decided to challenge my style and show my skill with my dance partner Sonny Varela. We were thrilled to come 1st place in the UK qualification 1st place improvisation international with Africa Dancar 2015 and 3rd international with Africa Dancar 2015,

In 2019 I’ve been recognized as the best Male kizomba teacher in the UK. Kizomba has developed me in many ways and I can honestly say I am in love with every aspect of it.

Bruno & Iulia

Bruno & Iulia decided to team up at the beginning of 2018, to share their passion for dance with others. Their high quality of teaching, their warm friendly nature, lively and entertaining style of their lessons have quickly made them one of the most sought-after teachers in the UK.

Training and working closely with top UK and international teachers such as Lucia Nogueira, Rico Suave & Adda Dociu, has influenced Bruno & Iulia’s teaching style, which has, in time, evolved and gained its unique approach and playfulness.

By popular demand, Bruno and Iulia have been repeatedly back as guest teachers at the major UK festivals and events, as well as international events and soon received UK and International recognition for the high standard of their work, creativity and uniqueness, not just from other teachers and event organisers but from the Kizomba elders.

In their time together, Bruno & Iulia have led and taken part in, various projects, as co-founders of Real Feel Dance Events they hosted RF Dance Festival, bringing some of the finest artists of the dance scene to the North of England.  They designed, developed and lead numerous single and progressive workshops and events, to satisfy their students growing need for further improvements. In 2018 they worked closely and performed in the ‘Ricadda’ team, led by Rico Suave and Adda Dociu.  In 2019 Bruno and Iulia entered the Olympiads of Kizomba competition and conquered 1st place in London, which provided the opportunity to represent the UK in the largest 100% improvisation Kizomba Competition in the world that took place in Paris, where they successfully secured 5th place.

Bruno & Iulia’s aim is to provide high-quality dance instruction delivered by caring, professional instructors in a friendly, fun atmosphere. They focus on inspiring dancers in finding creativity in themselves, helping them to realise and unlock their potential and giving each one the tools they need to take the dance as far as they dream.

Adda Dociu

Adda is widely known for her teaching skills – being able to teach as both a leader and a follower – her musicality and for her “ginga”. Born in Adjud, Romania and growing up in Pordenone, Italy, Adda set her sights on dancing from the mere age of 3 by learning from Maria Pantica where she participated in her first ever dance performance group called —Cubul Copiilor— at Casa Pionierilor Adjud. From 2007 to 2012, Adda attended Amici Dance School in Oderzo, Italy, learning mainly Hip-Hop but also other dance styles such as Modern Dance, Ballet, Line Dancing, Cheerleading, MusicalTheatre, Rock & Roll, Hip-Hop and Street Dance. Moving to the UK in 2013, she stepped into the Kizomba world developing her passion for the Angolan culture. She started dedicating most of her free time learning from and later working alongside Eddy Vents. She then collaborated with Rico Suave for 5 years travelling the world to teach workshops and perform numerous choreographies.Adda now teaches solo as both a leader and a follower and runs her dance school Affinity Dance Academy, founded in 2020 in London, UK.

Maribel Torres

Maribel has been dancing since the age of 12, with Latin Dances. She began to develop her passion for Kizomba/ Urban Kiz back in Spain but did not realise how special it was for her until she moved to England. She has had the opportunity to attend several International Kizomba Festivals, & teach in the UK as well as Internationally, being nominated as a Female Urban Kiz Teacher of the Year in 2019. Currently teaching & organising events in Manchester under her own brand: MCR UKIZ. Maribel defines herself as a girl who has a lot of expression, charisma and passion for what she does and shows it in each of her movements.

Maluka Dance School

Jana Zemanova, Karmele Hernaiz and Sofia Dominguez formed Maluka Dance School in 2021 with the intention to grow the Kizomba community in Bristol and its surroundings.

On their dancing path, their passion made them take a further step and start to prepare themselves with different pieces of training such as Eddy Vents and ALC Kizomba Teaching Training. 

Coming from different backgrounds and places around the world, Jana (Czech Republic), Luke (UK), Karmele (Spain) and Sofia (Spain) created a heterogeneous and resilient group by combining their individual strengths in order to share their love for Kizomba.

Maluka will provide a great atmosphere, where good vibes are guaranteed during the learning process.

Emmanuel & Janna

Emmanuel’s passion for music and dance was evident from an early age; he gained a strong musical foundation by studying piano, acoustic and bass guitars but, most of all, focusing on percussion, which lead to becoming a certified drummer in his teens.

Now, based in Bristol, Emmanuel’s influence has been vital in maintaining and growing the local Kizomba/Semba scene. His love of life, music, dance and people is absolutely contagious and shines through always, whether it be on the dancefloor or in his classes.

Janna Kircin, former student of Emmanuel Ajilore and now dance partner and teacher, was the youngest member of a dance group when she first performed at a Turkish National folk dance competition at age 7.

She moved to UK at the age of 14 and discovered different styles of dancing from contemporary, hip hop, breakdancing, jazz, Latin and ballroom, reggaeton, Cuban salsa, Dominican bachata, samba and most recently kizomba and semba.

Her passion for dancing has always been apparent and she hopes to transfer the skills she has developed along the way to help others.

DJ Lenhy

Dj Lenhy started to mix 9 years ago in the AFRO ZOUK style. His father was a DJ of Caribbean nights and it happens that he play also in those events. He started Kizomba because he always loved this music since childhood. He started to mix in Marseille and increase his skills years after years. After playing a lot in France and in 2016, he started to travel all over Europe (Holland, Italy, Spain, Finland, Swiss, Germany, Latvia, Roumania…..). Lenhy is not a teacher but likes to share some dances because he likes to feel the same dancers feel when you dance.

He is happy to come to discover a new culture and we will let you discover his concept #SENSKIZ and Bushido, his world…

DJ Nice Life

Amsterdam based DJ Nice Life is the perfect combination of music that links the bridges between African & Western sounds. Creator of so many amazing tracks including Mabulu Bulu, Diamond Tarraxa & Toma La Um Cocktail (to name a few), we’re sure you’ll be as excited as we are that he’ll be joining us as part of So We Kiz – Edition 3.0. Just remember to pack a spare pair of comfortable shoes – you’re not going to want to leave the dance floor for this set!

DJ Morelasoul

Morelasoul is a DJ/Producer with Cape Verdean roots, from The Netherlands. The former professional soccer player started experimenting with house music at the tender age of sixteen.

After several years of producing and collecting Morelasoul stood for African House Music, Amapiano, Afrobeats, Kizomba, Semba, Tarraxinha & Ghetto Zouk. He has now fully established himself as an international DJ and is taken the European Kiz scene by storm.

DJ Sabura

It all started when he settled down in Lisbon back in 1999. On a casual boys’ night out at the Mussulo nightclub, he started listening to a catch but strange sound, with a strong beat, not so familiar… He couldn’t stop moving to the sound!

Soon after, he did his first dance moves. He got declined dances by every girl that he asked with “THE” look (awkward)! He went on enjoying his night with a Cuba Libre in hand (his faithful companion).

One night, back in 2003 while hanging out in Paulinha and Joao’s Carib Club, the designated DJ failed to appear. Paulinha, whom he had known for a long time asked him to go to the DJ booth and change the CD… he hasn’t stopped since.

DJ Vasco

For those who do not know Djks Vasco, here are some details: both dancer, teacher and deejay Kizomba / Semba and between other vice-champion of France Africadançar Contest 2011 and 2012 finalist aficadancar represantative the ALGARVE Lisbon (Portugal ) … he bathes in the middle of Cape Verde and Angola since his teens.

If the Guadeloupe is his “country of origin”, he has to appropriate the Kizomba and Semba to get the best.

A look, it retains the essential things that characterize excellent dancers: sensuality, sweetness, precision, efficiency and especially sharing sensations.

Switzerland Belgium France England Usa Canada Portugal or Brazil have the secret for him ..

DJ 5Star KiD

DJ Visser

DJ Visser is one of the UK’s top Kizomba/Urban Kiz DJ’s and a growing international star. Having started DJing in late 2017 he has already taken his smooth mixing style to events throughout the UK, Europe and the USA and is also one of the fastest growing producers of Urban Kiz music. DJ Visser was voted as the Best Newcomer at the inaugural UK Kizomba Awards and continues to go from strength to strength. His smooth mixing style is sure to keep you on the dance floor for hours…

DJ Miro Kikola

DJ MiroKikola’s passion for music started from an early age. Born in Luanda Angola, he moved to Lisbon/Portugal at the age of 12. It was in Lisbon that he saw a performance by DJ João Reis in a well known Portuguese club called Luanda. Listening to the music and seeing the crowd chanting was the motivation that lead him to follow his aspirations. Now based in London MiroKikola’s dreams keep reaching new heights winning the best UK kizomba DJ in 2019, the world-renowned DJ also has collaborations on tracks featuring Sarita and Valdez Pires. You catch DJ MiroKikola performing throughout the UK and Europe playing at various events and festivals.

Dj Muula

DJ Muula (aka Janan Keddi) is known for his work in Bristol and the surrounding areas, playing a mix of Kizomba, Ghetto Zouk, Semba, Urban Kiz, Salsa, Bachata, afro beats and much more in his own unique style.

Starting his career as a DJ in well-known Bristol in 2017 for playing at dance class socials and local events, covering various styles and genres with a focus on Kizomba, Ghetto zouk and Salsa, Dj Muula began playing what he classed as high energy music at events in clubs and festivals local after not being pleased with the quality of music being played. This was soon recognised by other promoters and he swiftly moved on to playing in other towns and countries. DJ Muula also teamed together with the now winners of the 2018/19 UK Urban Kiz Championships, creating the music for their choreography.

You can now find DJ Muula playing at some of the large events in the UK and abroad. With a number of mixes being played at local classes and online on places like soundcloud.

Dj Dico

Eduardo Nascimento (DJ Dico) was born on the wonderful islands of São Tomé and Príncipe.

His love for music began in the early 90s and he could not be without the rhythms of São Tomé and Príncipe bands such as “África Negra”, “Os Úntues”, “Os Sangazuzas” and groups from other PALOP countries like “Livity”, “Rebolados”, “Splash”, “Tabanka Djaz and “Os Tubarões”. But his greatest childhood idol was singer Gil Semedo!

His greatest influence and mentor in São Tomé was Dj Femy and he also found inspiration from international DJ’s such as Dj Amorim and Dj Malvado, the latter serves as his inspiration to this day.

In 2006 he made the decision to relocate to Leeds, England, dedicating himself more to Djing and further investing in his Dj career. It was at this time that he started playing at discos and at parties organised by Palop event promoters.

In 2015, Brendan Nekube (Kizomba Leeds) invited him to play at Casa Colombiana. Along with DJ Pux, together, they became resident DJs and eventually the organisers of Kizomba Leeds.

Throughout his career, Dj Dico has played at countless events and some consider him to be one of the best DJ’s of Kizomba in the UK. He played in Manchester with his great idol Dj Malvado, Mika Mendes concert in Leeds, Djodje concert in Manchester, Oslo Kizomba Festival in Rei Helder concert, Dj Barrata in Manchester, Johnny Ramos concert in Leeds, “Ginga Boo Kizz Festival” in London, “Eagle Dance Fest” in Leeds, “Bachakiz” in Nottingham, “Motion City” in Birmingham, “ABCD” in London, “Latin Force” Newcastle, “Malembe Malembe” in Birmingham, “Karibu” in Birmingham and many more.

Today Dico continues to be an ever popular name and organiser on the Kizomba dance scene. As Bom Balanço Events, he has put together live showcases with artists such as Djodje; and in collaboration with Kizomba Leeds and MKEvents has hosted Ivan Alekxei, Roger and Edgar Domingos.

DJ Amine