15–29 Dec 2021
My first Zouk festival in Brazil was Zouk Factory, a small and friendly event organized by Kamacho in Rio — and it was the perfect introduction to the Brazilian Zouk scene. The event wasn’t just a weekend… it lasted 15 days straight. Fifteen days of dancing, connecting, and truly getting to know each other.
The parties went all night long — literally. I remember dancing until the sun came up, then heading straight to breakfast at a little local spot nearby that was always open. There was something magical about walking through Rio’s quiet early-morning streets after a night of dancing, grabbing a fresh juice or an açaí bowl, and just soaking in the Brazilian vibe.
I absolutely loved how lively the city felt — how I could find food or incredibly delicious fruit juices at any hour. The mix of music, dance, tropical flavors, and the open-hearted energy of the people made me fall in love with Brazil instantly.
It was still easier at first to bond with the other foreigners, since I didn’t speak Portuguese yet and most locals didn’t speak English — but the shared language of dance helped bridge that gap. This experience truly felt like the beginning of something new. My dream of dancing Zouk in Brazil was finally coming true — and this was only the beginning.
