If you’re dancing with a partner, face each other so that your legs are staggered. If you have a partner, decide who will be the leader and who will be the follower so that you can move more naturally and fluidly together.
As you’re doing this, you can bend your arms at your elbows and move your hands and arms and small circular motions to the beat of the music.
Once your feet are together, you can step back to the right on the next beat, or shift to a forward or backward step. You may hear some instrumental music before the bass comes into the song.
From there, you can mimic those movements to move backward again, starting with your left foot. If you’re dancing with a partner, remember that the follower will be moving in the opposite direction with the opposite foot. When the leader steps forward with their left foot, the follower will step backward with their right foot to match the movement.
Some kizomba instructors say to rest 20% of your weight on your partner, but this can be difficult for beginners. Start out by holding your own weight, and when you get more comfortable with your partner, you can lean on them.
Squeezing your partner or holding them too close to you can be restrictive and make dancing more difficult than it needs to be. Your hand can rest on your partner’s back or their side, depending on your preference.
Avoid squeezing or hanging on your partner’s shoulder, as the tension can cause them to drop one of their shoulders.
This is different from other more traditional ballroom dances, since you won’t be leading with your arm in kizomba.
If you’re dancing in a club or dance hall, don’t be afraid to switch partners between songs. This will help you improve your dancing skills by making connections with partners who have different dancing styles!
The leader of the pair will dictate the length of the steps. If your leader has long legs, the steps may be longer. Whenever you move forward as you dance, you should also plan to move backward at least 1-2 steps once you reach your destination.
These take a lot of practice, communication, and coordination with your partner. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it the first time!
