During the lockdown, Mumbai-based dancer Mary Lobo, the co-founder of Latin Twist, connected with Amsterdam-based Akram Bouchiba, bonding over their shared passion. Their cross-border collaboration will now take the form of a dancing weekender, wherein Lobo and Bouchiba will share their knowledge of a couple’s genre from Africa — kizomba-semba. 

Lobo, who has been a dancer for 15 years, shares that kizomba and semba are both dance and music genres originating in Angola, Africa. “Semba is characterised by a touch of the bellies, and has an upbeat, carnival feel,” says Lobo. Kizomba, meaning ‘party’, on the other hand is recognised by its slow, sensual and romantic rhythms, and is influenced by semba music. “A very important element of the genres is swift, elegant footwork, which leads to smooth lower-body movements. It’s called ginga for women, and banga for men,” she explains.