GOdanz Kizomba
805 Dovercourt Road M6H 2X4 Toronto, ON, Canada

Hi dance community! We are still waiting to see when businesses...new studio spaces..will stabilize. In the meantime there is open-air dancing... not sure yet if i will organize this but others are in any case. (ill post if i know) Happy good weather and take advantage of no lockdown ..dont get used to staying in your cave. Get out there..reach out!

HI everyone!!!! I know I know, it's hard. Im sorry I havent changed the website, or updated this page. It's very mentally hard. We are gonna wait a little while longer and when we do come back, it'll be on Sundays first. Things will be quite different as well but we'll adapt. ... So hang in there, and crossing fingers by winter when we REALLY NEED DANCE, we'll have something juicy for you. Have fun, explore Ontario (he he), get into winter sports (he he), go for walks, learn about music, take ballet or hip hop online classes, do shines classes in salsa or afro house /afro beats. Look outwards. There's lots to learn! Learn Portuguese, Spanish. YOu can do it with someone live on youtube! Hang in there!

https://www.facebook.com/events/660483190780037/

HI everyone!!!! I know I know, it's hard. Im sorry I havent changed the website, or updated this page. It's very mentally hard. We are gonna wait a little while longer and when we do come back, it'll be on Sundays first. Things will be quite different as well but we'll adapt. ... So hang in there, and crossing fingers by winter when we REALLY NEED DANCE, we'll have something juicy for you. Have fun, explore Ontario (he he), get into winter sports (he he), go for walks, learn about music, take ballet or hip hop online classes, do shines classes in salsa or afro house /afro beats. Look outwards. There's lots to learn! Learn Portuguese, Spanish. YOu can do it with someone live on youtube! Hang in there!

Happy 9th yr anniversary Sunday Kizomba Social (salsa social is 16!) We miss you and can't wait to dance with you again miss social! Kizzes and virtual hugs!

What is serving you and what isn't? What feels great, and what doesn't? Are you heeding to your inner self's needs? Are you making time for you and really going deep into calmness? Are you writing down what you're grateful for? Are you listening to music feeling joy (not sadness)?... Are you doing any little tiny thing towards learning that new language? Remember you don't have to believe all your thoughts :) You can re-shape your reality every second on micro levels. This is really a projection :) Maybe it could be useful for you? Listen to the birdies, admire the flowers, pet the cats on the street and take an extra minute to have a conversation. Happy Sunday, happy breathing, happy moving through.

Happy Day n take this time to evaluate, explore, improve, enlighten! Let me know how ur doing if. we re not on fb!Happy Day n take this time to evaluate, explore, improve, enlighten! Let me know how ur doing if. we re not on fb!

Happy 9th yr anniversary Sunday Kizomba Social (salsa social is 16!) We miss you and can't wait to dance with you again miss social! Kizzes and virtual hugs!

Hi hope everyone is well! Keep your chin up and take this time to listen to music, sing to it, choreograph, look up artists! Lots of love!

Happy Day n take this time to evaluate, explore, improve, enlighten! Let me know how ur doing if. we re not on fb!Happy Day n take this time to evaluate, explore, improve, enlighten! Let me know how ur doing if. we re not on fb!

Hi hope everyone is well! Keep your chin up and take this time to listen to music, sing to it, choreograph, look up artists! Lots of love!

Of course we are closed til further notice.Of course we are closed til further notice.

Unfortunately we will be cancelling this Sunday s event out of precaution and to not propogate the virus. Classes Tues-wed will continue!!!! Pls support. Let s see for next Sunday...one week at a time. March will be rocky as you can expect.... It s very hard on Bowie and myself who rely on our dance event to live. We ll keep you posted. Be well, be safe. See more

Body Isos to the music! Express yourself more clearly and have more fun! 7-9 tonite followed by drills n exercisesBody Isos to the music! Express yourself more clearly and have more fun! 7-9 tonite followed by drills n exercises

Body Isos to the music! Express yourself more clearly and have more fun! 7-9 tonite followed by drills n exercisesBody Isos to the music! Express yourself more clearly and have more fun! 7-9 tonite followed by drills n exercises

The socials are every single Sunday ! Salsa 6 to 11pm Kizomba 7 to 11 with classes from 5pm (&sometimes special wkshops at 3pm)The socials are every single Sunday ! Salsa 6 to 11pm Kizomba 7 to 11 with classes from 5pm (&sometimes special wkshops at 3pm)

Wednesday features an intermediate workshop Mix and match Moves with Movement. Some people only do moves, OR stop and do movement on the spot. To reach an intermediate level leaders can start focusing on the music and expressing it through their body like an instrument, instead of only focusing on figures and executing them. This will really bring out the fun, playfulness and even emotion which will connect you more with the music and your partner. Followers need to juice accents with movement even if not being lead, inserting small movements for their own enjoyment, especially whenever she's given a 2 count hold! 7-9pm Followed by advanced course 9 -10:45pm

Today is Lead N Follow (syncopations and slows....the stuff of Urban Kiz) Be a superior leader where your partner says, wow that was so clear and fun! You cant be musical til you have your lead/follow technique on POINT! This technique will help you in most partner dances. Follows be the lightest, most responsive, adaptable as possible so leads love being able to express their musicality with you! Flow, absorption, balance, musicality follow once your frame is 'awared' haha ...i made that up. 7-9pm See more

Here's the March Wkshop schedule: (yay it's almost March!) **Wkshop WEDNSDSAYS 7-9pm March 4-Mix Figures w/ Movement... March 11-Body Isos w Music March 18- Lead/follow skills March 25- Waves in douceur n tarraxo ******** Specialty Wrkshp Sundays 3- 4:30pm March 1st Tarraxa vs Tarraxo March 22 n April 5 LEARN A 1 MIN CHOREO AND PERFORM IT AT THE SOCIAL ! (performance optional) March 29 will be a no-obligation rehearsal not new material. Sign up by PM ing me pls coz i need more commitment in order to do this project. Let's do it! **********

Happy sunny Monday! The best thing that happened today was it was daylight at 5 30pm. That means...oh yess.Happy sunny Monday! The best thing that happened today was it was daylight at 5 30pm. That means...oh yess.

Happy Valentine's! This Sunday give your ears the love they deserve Musicality workshop 3-4:30pm! THIS WILL CHANGE HOW YOU HEAR MUSIC! Remember ladies who are advanced need to step up their musicality game (and body isos) for urban kiz. ... It's 50/50! See you there, first floor and pls be on time! If you can bring a pen and notebook, even better. See more

"Master 3 Urban Kiz steps" 7-9pm Adv Drills and exercises for body awareness in Urban Kiz 9-10:45pm"Master 3 Urban Kiz steps" 7-9pm Adv Drills and exercises for body awareness in Urban Kiz 9-10:45pm

DanceReflectsLife Do you recognize yourself in this? "They are wrong...I know. "... There are many examples in life. I'm right and I know how you should be, run your life, act, behave, dance. This is highly effective way to...suffer! In dance sometimes we put others down and expect them to do things either our way, or what we are told is right instead of enjoying what is. As if we are right all the time. Stay curious, stay playful, and go with the flow. Surf it out. There are many waves-many opportunities to start over as your joyful neutral loving self. Look at this thought pattern at home, at work, on the team, with your bff, at the bank, with the waiter, and see how it affects you. It's pretty mind opening! I chose this photo of Utah coz of the river riding to the ocean and the freedom, the air, the smell of pine, and this is so perfect and it's to remind us that being right takes us away from those perceptions. It's a conscious decision! Thank you for sharing this with me! Happy Sunday!

Today's Sunday specialty workshop features LEADING N FOLLOWING including *using your core and what that actually means * adv concepts of focusing more about your partner than you (which directly creates connection) *turning space, movement and pacing into a game (so you don't put so much stress on yourself to be right/perfect) *trusting your anchor/ground to move ... *owning yourself as a learner who is ok with 'glitches' and can simply move on (great life tool!) * matching energy and moods (deeper connection) *intention - it's all about guiding, surrendering to being guided and the momentum, rhythm or music- it's not personal. We will use some non-kizomba and non-beated music to get outside the box! I know for me, as soon as i hear a pumping beat, omg i just have to hit them and my body gets very hyper which means i have to focus better and ground myself. See you at 3pm today Feb 9 on main flr at Dovercourt $20 or add $5 for Level 2 + 2 socials Free street parking Meant for int/ adv levels of urban kizomba dancer Last 2 weeks of February will be about various themes on MUSICALITY. Not to be missed! Includes ear training!

Take Everything with a Grain of Salt Whenever a dance instructor says, 'DONT do it this way DONT do that, THAT's not the real way... take that with a grain of salt, do your own research and ask if there are other options. ... There are different versions of the same thing. Some functional dance techniques or laws of physics are pretty incontestable, for example when it comes to gforce, or the fact that without frame/core you cannot lead n follow. But there are slight variations that are usually possible especially stylistic ones. You can trade one thing for another like if you separate the top of the chest you'll compensate by using way more core and arm muscles. It s hard to know what right is, or the other right, so Id ask the teacher. Hopefully your teacher has had other dance training or has had many years in teaching but it still doesnt mean anything necessarily. Complie your data and see what works for you. Avoid telling other people they re doing it wrong when you ve only had 3 months of classes with one teacher in one city. My 2 cents. Also beware of 'popular' or international teachers. They may have very strong opinions and stuck ones. (Who are they, what s their training, are they still learning? Are they good teachers or just good dancers?). In the world of kizomba there are many excellent and humble teachers who consider themselves to be a messenger and teacher/student at heart. Others will defend the culture of Angola and have never lived there or been there but someone told them Angolans do it this way so respect the culture..and they just believe them. They bought into what is deemed right and have pride and defend. Watch the defense! There are many rights and wrongs. In other words, try everything and be open inatead of adhering to one way of doing things. Remember the salt, and pepper your dance with technique, spirit, connection, music and authentic expression and all will be well! #donttellotherswhattodo #balanceeverythingout #observeandwatch #doyourownevaluating

Tonite Master 5 kizomba semba steps 7 to 9pm Adv course is 1/4 weeks of drills n exercises to take your urban to the next level!Tonite Master 5 kizomba semba steps 7 to 9pm Adv course is 1/4 weeks of drills n exercises to take your urban to the next level!

February s schedule!

See you tonite! 7 to 9pm for beginner plus! (semba at 8 is a lot of info for a complete beginner)See you tonite! 7 to 9pm for beginner plus! (semba at 8 is a lot of info for a complete beginner)

Look out for the 2 musicality workshops last 2 weeks of Feb on a Sunday 3pm. TIP: When you have timing and can play around with a few classic/common rhythms you can dance to any pace you want no matter if the song is fast, medium or slow. You need to know phrasing...and how to create contrast in your dance. For that you need to channel your energy, do your ear training, and understand at least how to do long lines and short dots with movement. ... There's more of course, but that's a good start :) Today while dancing at the social, notice if you dance to the same pace for an entire song, or if you are able to add contrast. Are you aware of yourself and your moves/movements? Are you aware of what instruments or rhythms you are dancing to? Are you aware of your energy? #Beyourownmusic #Youchooseyourrhythm #Eartraining #Movementtechnique

Today I'm teaching Slowdanz aka 'douceur' Let's relax into a chill connecting vibe!Today I'm teaching Slowdanz aka 'douceur' Let's relax into a chill connecting vibe!

Get off that couch and come dance! You'll be happier and feel more vibrant! #TropicalTuesdaysGet off that couch and come dance! You'll be happier and feel more vibrant! #TropicalTuesdays

Did you think about my last article on what it means to be an 'engaging' dancer? It's very interesting to think about that. I took a fantastic business workshop (and when those are good they're always spiritual and about your highest vision, so not just about 'business') by one of our students. She reminded me that it's so important to come out of our heads and into our bodies. I'll do more exercises that help to access this. Fun! Breathe. Get calm. Let the body feel safe a...nd surrendered. Let go of anxieties just for 2 minutes (then you're allowed to have them back haha). Move your feet, your ankles, knees, squeeze your calf, quad muscle, glutes, lower abs, push your hips side to side or circle themtwist your waist, upper abs, stretch your (back) erector muscles by handing down or lifting your arms way up, loosen your traps by shrugging, roll your shoulders, shake elbows, wrists, hands, fingers by piano playing in the air...nod, say yes and feel that coming from the upper neck that meets the cranium, purse your lips, open wide, twitch your nose, move eyebrows up and down (surprise and concern), and pull your hair to sensitize your scalp. That's what i means to be in your body! For starters. Less mind, more body in oyur dance. Scan. And in order to scan you need awareness, focus and a lil knowledge of anatomy! Godanz and go get calm, coz you are the source of everything.

What does it mean to be an ENGAGING dancer? Such an interesting word and topic! For leaders, the 3 main concerns are, the follower saying yes, her enjoying the dance, and worried about not having enough moves to entertain her. To be engaging may mean: Regard for partner - gentlemanliness- poise and politeness- finesse- bringing partner to the dance floor by the hand- confidence- clarity-connection-emoting in the dance (not just thinking and using the mind). Self-awareness a...nd aware how he affects her. Notice how it doesn't say repertoire or variety of moves. For followers, the 3 main concerns are, the leader saying yes, him thinking she's a good follower and dancing 'right', and wanting to feel connected, or even special to him. To be engaging may mean: focus on her partner (not wandering thoughts looking bored) -smiling- openness (relax n receive)-mirroring him- emoting- being in her body vs in her mind and guessing. Self-awareness and aware how she affects him. Dance isnt about how many moves you know. It's about dancing 3 moves at best from the inside out. It's about switching off the mind (technique- what is right and wrong) and connecting to body then spirit. Letting go together. Having respect, trust and regard for one another. Experiencing a song together while creating your own bubble. Dance is using the 5 senses, and feeling more uplifted than when you started. Would anyone like to add anything? Thanks to M for bringing this subject up on Wednesday!

Happy Friday! See you Sunday for our 16th year salsa social anniversary! Kizomba is til 11pm, salsa is til midnite. Kizomba features a special Urban Kiz wkshop for intermediate levels 3-4:30pm.