Kizomba

Festival Line-up

Here are the instructors for this year's festival:

Benga is a Nigeria born international dancing sensation, with backgrounds in several African dances, ballroom dances, American dances, and latin dances. From Waltz to Tango, Makoussa to Kizomba, hip hop to west coast swing, and Irish dance to Bollywood. Benga has intensive dancing experiences all across the globe. An Afro Beats and Afro-cuban solo performer, and a latin dance instructor well known to many now as the Da Beatz. With 26 years of African Dancing and 6 years of professional latin dancing, Benga is teaching and promoting at every Latin events possible with his own vibrant style of Fun Swagness

Published in Kizomba

Cymeone Mopao (France)

Cymeone Mopao is a well known kizomba instructor based in Paris. He is one of the first instructors to have taught kizomba in France beginning in 2009. Born into a family of musicians, he was accustomed to lots of music and quickly adapted to the dance lifestyle. As he immersed imself into dance, he became proficient in African style dances such as ndombolo and coupé décalé. When he was 18, he joined a group of dancers called " les coeurs brisés ". From there he became interested in other Afro style dances like Zouk, Kompa and Kizomba. He gave his first Kizomba class in 2009 and became one of the most wanted instructors in international festivals.

In 2010, he was the first French instructor to teach Kizomba in the United States (New York).

In 2011, he brought Kizomba to Reunion Island and created the KIZOMBA EVENTS association in which he taught along side international instructors like Curtis Seldon.

In 2012, he began to learn other genres of dance like the LINDY HOP and STEPPIN. He began, after advanced training, to teach these dances in 2015.

Cymeone is a real world class instructor with an incredible enthusiasm for the dance which makes him one of the most wanted instructors for dance festivals and congress's worldwide.

Published in Kizomba

DJ Guelas (Atlanta)

DJ Guelas (pronounced “Geh-Luss”) is one of the most prominent personalities in the African immigrant entertainment community, with fifteen years of experience in spinning music. His collaborations are a who’s who list of the Afro-zouk and Kizomba world of celebrities. Some of these notable names include Kaysha, Nelson Freitas, Ali Angel and Susana Lubrano. Guelas is an award nominated international DJ. From Lisbon and Rome to San Francisco and Washington, D.C., Guelas has attracted fans from across the globe with his diverse and exciting DJing sets.

Published in Kizomba

Fleur & Aziza (France/SF)

Our background: Aziza Mitchum started dancing Kizomba socially in 2012 and hasn't stopped since! She has been trained with the best instructors known for their love of traditional musicality and movement, Lucia and Joao. She has assisted numerous instructors in many festivals including SFIBF, MBKF, and Isemba. Anyone who dances with Aziza can attest that dancing with her is like dancing with butter! Fleur Leguay started dancing in 2013 in France, where she was introduced to "French style" kizomba, what is also known today as Urban Kiz. When she arrived in the US, she fell in love with traditional kizomba and semba, and has since worked relentlessly to improve every aspect of her dance. She has been trained by Eddyvents and Bonifacio and assisted incredible international phenomenas such as Sonja Kikizomba (Belgium), Stou (France) - and more- at different festivals like MBKF, Tabanka, SFIBF... When you dance with Fleur, her smile and passion is so infectious, you can't help feeling like you're walking on clouds

Published in Kizomba

Javier Avitia (San Diego)

Published in Kizomba

Joseal & Nemesi (LA)

Jose "Joseal" de la Torre, is an enthusiastic and charismatic dancer and instructor who fell in love with kizomba 4 years ago. Since then he has dedicated himself to learn the culture, music and dance as well as different styles within this discipline.

He has trained with international instructors and attended numerous congresses in USA and abroad.

He has worked very actively in California, being part of congresses like LA Zouk Congress and Kizomba invasion, BKS, LA Bachata Festival and many others. He has also taught internationally in Mexico and Spain.

Joseal is as well a promoter and has been a kizomba host in various events and congresses (LA Salsa Congress, LA Grizzly Congress…)

He believes that kizomba is more than a dance, is a culture and a very profound and unique way to interact and build meaningful relationships with people.

Nemesi “Nemi” Lomeli, a seasoned social dancer (Salsa, Bachata, etc) at heart, Nemi began her Kizomba journey 2 years ago. However, in that short time, she has quickly risen to become one of the top dancers in the SoCal region! She was immediately drawn to Kizomba because of the music, dance, and richness of the culture it expressed. She then invested countless hours practicing and training under the likes of Eddy Vents, T boy, Rico Suave, Jamba & Adorée, Isabelle, and others. She has assisted in different events and festivals in California i.e. BKS, San Diego BKS, LAZouk Congress, and several workshops. This, combined with her natural dancing talent, led her unique style - authentic, fun, and a whole lotta Ginga!

Published in Kizomba

Luiz & Ignacia (LA)

When you get Ignacia for Kizomba, you also get Luis. Over the years, the have grown in the kizomba world by learning from world renown teachers. The husband and wife team, also the founders of IE Kizomba Nation, are dedicated to teaching you the most accurate and pure essentials of Kizomba. They are the owner of Dance Soul Connection Studio.

They teach weekly Kizomba classes on Mondays, but also look for monthly Workshops and Socials.

Published in Kizomba

Luiz y Ignacia (Inland Empire)

Spreading the love of kizomba, tarraza, zouk, ghetto zouk, Afro beats, and more African music and culture in the Inland Empire of Southern California, Luiz and Ignacia own and dance studio and has been teaching kizomba, salsa and bachata fro many years. You can see them at many festivals all over California, teaching and social dancing with everyone.

Published in Kizomba

Yasert Ortega (SF)

Yasert Ortega, originally from Mexico City, now resides in San Rafael. Yasert has danced to various types of music like merengue and cumbia, and his favorite; Dominican bachata and kizomba and semba. He has learned from several world masters. He teaches in the Bay Area on a regular basis.

Published in Kizomba