Iris De Brito.com
STUDIO AFRO- LATINO
“Where dance mirrors life”
@The Space Performing Arts/ 31 Falkirk St London N1 6HQ
Fully equipped Dance Studios with mirrors,
bars and wodden dance floor
London is probably the most multicultural capital of the world and I firmly believe that Afro-Latin culture has changed our dance culture and has come to stay. I feel that Studio classes are the best environment for learning a dance form properly. I currently offer the following classes/courses:
MONDAY: LATIN DANCE SCHOOL
'SALSA CBL Style'
10 Week intensive Ladies + Mens Styling Course
with Iris De Brito and Ozzy
Improvers/Intermediate level - 7.30pm - 9.00pm
Starts 14th September - 16th November 2009
This course aims to provide female and male students with a better understanding of their role when dancing with a partner. Knowing when to incorporate personal style and vocabulary learnt in class.
We will push students towards developing their own style and confidence. Also aims to increase awareness of body shapes and lines when dancing while working on posture and musical interpretation.
Classes are structured in a world recognised syllabus and vocabulary.
Course will be taught by Iris De Brito – a qualified Salsa Teacher validated by the UKA and trained dancer and Ozzy a Internationally renowed teacher and trained dancer.
Course aims to deliver content in a fun, non-pressured environment with emphasis on developing technique and style.
Course content Ladies:
- Ladies Shines
- When to style with a partner
- Linse and shapes
- Interpretation and Rhythm
- Memorising and freestyle
Course content Men:
- Footwork
- Flowing Partner Work
- When to style
- Interpretation and Rhythm
- Memorising and freestyle
At the end of the course students have an opportunity to share what they learned in a studio friendly performance with friends if interested or have course content filmed for future reference.
| Book as a couple man/woman - £180 |
| Book as an individual B4 7th Sept - £90 |
| Book as an individual after 7th September - £95 |
TUESDAY: 10 WEEK AFRO-LATIN FUSION COURSE
Improvers - Intermediate level 7.30pm-9pm all levels
Class taught by Iris and guest teachers TBC
Starts 15th September 2009
Do you want to learn Afro- Latin led movement? Do you want to learn movement you can use in your routines or classes? Do you want to give it a contemporary edge? Then this is the class for you.
A class with a true mix of “Africanistic” styles where Iris De Brito’s experience and training (please check on Iris’s profile for more detailed experience of her training background) will provide a unique take on movement.
Ranging from Afro-Cuban to more traditional African dance styles, and incorporating club & commercial styles also, Iris plans to teach a class in movement with a contemporary edge and mixed feel with Jazz and classical even.
This class will help you develop and diversify your body language shape and lines which you can use in other dance styles such as Salsa, Mambo and Cuban as well as give you more freedom to just dance a routine.
| 10 WEEK AFRO-LATIN FUSION COURSE B4 7TH SEPTEMBER |
| 10 WEEK AFRO-LATIN FUSION COURSE |
WEDNESDAY: LUSAFRICA DANCE SCHOOL
KIZOMBA
All levels 7.30pm - 8.30pm + Club
Kizomba is what some refer as “Afro-Tango”. Originally from Angola, it’s a sensual and chilled partnering dance with influences
from the French-Caribbean and Tango.
More about Kizomba
Class teaching style:
- From the basic steps to firmly set routines in the style of Iris De Brito & Kwenda Lima.
- It looks at influences from Semba, Tango and Zouk and the style they introduce in body movement and accent as well as modern forms.
- The importance of having a good frame when dancing and be a good leader, as well as being able to follow correctly and placement.
Please note:
If you miss class or course dates please be aware that fees are not refundable, unless, tutor is unable to teach and not find a
suitable replacement for your class.
SCHOOLS
What is the place for Ethnic Dance forms in modern Dance culture today?
As a Dance artist my multicultural background has taken me to explore and be influenced by different dance forms of my generation and I firmly believe that, like myself, there’s a whole generation of young talent that comes from a mixed and diverse background and identifies itself with more than one culture.
I believe as dance evolves, one must evolve with it and reflect this in our training for future dance artists and artists need to be ahead of time, as so do most cultural organizations.
Taster workshops and short courses in Body Movement, Afro-Cuban Jazz and Salsa also available.
AFRO- LATIN DANCE WHY?
• A rich culture - Provides a wide scope of movement and rhythm
• Students can relate - the natural diversity helps bridge into modern disciplines
• Extra skills - provides students with extra skills into the job market
LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Demonstrate interpretation skills and styles
• Recognize traditional movement in modern & popular dance forms
• Improve flexibility, posture and mobility
LONG TERM BENEFITS
• Provide students with original skill set opening their minds to a discipline outside their common perspective
• Make other dance forms accessible to all
• Promoting a culture of inclusion
Colleges and Dance Centres I currently work with:
Hackney Community College
WAC
East London Dance
London Studio Centre
National Youth Theatre
The CityLit
Westminster Borough Schools
Pineapple Dance Studios
Danceworks Studios
The Basement
Other Teachers with Studio Afro-Latino:
Zela Gayle
ZELA GAYLE began dancing at the age of 5 in Jamaica, learning Afro-Caribbean dance as well as classical ballet. At the age of 7, Zela came to London to train as a competitive gymnast, and maintained her interest in dancing, which was eventually to take precedence over gymnastics.
Zela graduated from the University of Winchester with a BA Hons in Dance Studies. After graduating, she joined the Danza Libre Company in Cuba to launch her professional dance career.
Zela is now pursuing a solo dance career, based in London, choreographing her own original works in collaboration with other worldwide artists , drawing on a wide range of influences from; Afro Cuban, to gypsy, contemporary dance, reggae dance and improvisation techniques.
Ozzy Jean
Oswald (aka Ozy Shyne), of Haitian origin, created Deuce in 1996 and has been the choreographer since then.
For several years Oswald has trained many talented dancers in hip-hop and worked with some of the biggest artists all over the world through his different experiences as a professional dancer.
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In 2001, he was crowned World Champion in Street Dance. Since then, he is widely globally within the Hip Hop scene: he has danced in several musicals and French television programmes including "Gone With the Wind", "The 10 Commandments", "Star Academy", and also alongside international stars including Eminem, Destiny's Child, Jay Z, and many other artists music videos and on stage.
In 2002, he realized his childhood dream of starring in a movie, directed by Blanca Li "Le Defi", enabling him to express his talents as a dancer and an actor. Following this experience, he was contacted by Marc Jolivet and offered the main role in a French TV movie "Concours de dance a Piriac.
He discovered Salsa in the same year and feels he has a real connection and passion for this dance. Today, Ozy is one of the rising stars of Salsa and he still continues his hip-hop career doing workshops and being invited to many different projects around the world.
With Deuce, the Salsa scene was exposed to a musical and artistic diversity marked by an urban style. Since 2005, Ozy’s choreographies reflect the variety of dance styles learned during his career: hip hop, jazz, contemporary, African, Zouk, dance-hall, mambo and on1 and on2, cha cha cha Etc
Deuce, with Ozy, continue to attend various European congresses to present its different shows: The Crash, Heaven, El Pintor, Yelele and Darkness - a beautiful cha cha cha show danced solo, or as a partner work, where technique and fluidity mix with elegance. Each show will take you into a different universe.
About Kizomba
Kizomba is a partner dance native of the African country of Angola, with influences from other Lusofone countries. It was first known as “Passada” (meaning “stepping” a reference to the movement flow) and for having a sensuous rhythm. Kizomba means party in the Kimbundu dialect of Angola.
It’s considered to be a fusion of Semba (a predecessor of samba, traditional Angolan dance) with ‘Zouk’ influences coming from the French Caribbean Islands, although the exact origins are unknown. In the 80’s groups like Kassav or Zouk Machine infused a fast paced and more African influenced sound into the music. In Recent times the style got slightly slower and more romantic and the influence of other dance styles like Tango are clearly visible. In Cape Verde Islands it is known as “cabo love”. Repetitive steps and patterns provide a clear platform where teaching this dance form in a skilled manner is perfectly achievable.
Famous Angolan Kizomba musicians include, among others, Don Kikas, MC Roger and Irmãos Verdade. The Kizomba from Sao Tome is very similar to the Angolan one and Juka- with whom I worked with when he started his career in Portugal - is, perhaps, the most notable among the artists.
Capeverdean Kizomba is different from the Angolan one due to the language used (often Creole instead of Portuguese) and more romantic. It is also called "Kizomba Crioula". Suzanna Lubrano is one of the most successful among Capeverdean performers – she was considered the best African performer in 2003.