About Zouk Army Inc
Our Story
Zouk Army Orlando was born in November 2019 when Tate Lydia and Marissa Venero began hosting monthly practice parties as a consistent path for local dancers to gather and learn. With organic growth and accessibility as values, a free class was offered monthly.
Our motto was and remains the same: All levels welcome, no experience required, no partner needed. Our collective years of training and experience gave us the unique ability to teach someone who has never danced how to dial in and connect to Brazilian Zouk.
As word spread, dancers from all over Florida joined our program. We quickly realized the power of our forces and formed strategic alliances with strong Zouk dancers in surrounding areas. What resulted was a powerful corps of passionate and dynamic leaders in the Florida Brazilian Zouk community. Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami united made us Zouk Army!
Zouk Army Mission
We believe Orlando provides the perfect destination for dancers to meet, learn, connect and mature in the beautiful, meditative dance style known as Brazilian Zouk.
The goal is to build and develop Brazilian Zouk dancers in Orlando, so that we all may expand, flourish and multiply goodness all over the world!
When one of us grows, all of us grow. Let’s grow together!!
Marissa Ivette
Co-Founder | President | Zouk Army Officer
With a background in performance arts training, Salsa Casino, Bachata and Kizomba, Brazilian Zouk stole Marissa’s heart in 2014. Zouk continues to challenge and bring her the brightest joy today! Dedicated to goal-oriented training, she has learned Lambada, Neo, Rio and Brazilian Zouk from a library of instructors!
In Miami, she ran weekly classes and socials with Ivo Viera Dance Company, choreographed performances, and organized local festivals. Regardless of her locale, the intention remains the same: grow the local Zouk community!
This burning passion drives her to teach, dance, and share music in her own cultural immersion style program, Zouk Army Orlando. Her hope is to inspire others to have fun, travel and Zouk! When she is not dancing, catch her mixing the hottest unheard Zouk tracks from deejays all around the world.
Her advice to new dancers is to find a community of people who are excited to go through the process of learning with you!
Follow Marissa on Facebook and Instagram Below:
