GET INSPIRED
OUR FESTIVAL ARTISTS 2026
Brenda & William
They share Brazilian Zouk with presence, precision, and a deep passion for real connection. (read more)
Gui & Paloma
Mindful connection where technique and embrace become art. (read more)
Tiago & Emilia
They spread Brazilian Zouk worldwide with precision, play, and a deep love for connection. (read more)
Olga & Fernando
The Zouk Atoms, started a mission to elevate the art of social dancing (read more)
Brenda & William
Brenda Carvalho & William Wegert are an inspiring duo in the Brazilian Zouk world, blending emotional depth with structural clarity to create a dance experience that is both technically refined and deeply human. Their partnership grew from a big shared passion of focusing on how the dance feels, the strong desire to have more people present, alive, comfortable and connected, and common values such as having a healthy approach to movement, zouk, dance and life.
Brenda is known for her soft, fluid, and body-conscious style, inviting dancers to move with presence, ease, and emotional authenticity. William brings a grounded, analytical approach, shaped by his martial arts background and his passion for connection mechanics and movement quality. Together, they balance feeling and form, playfulness and precision.
Their workshops and performances emphasize the power of simplicity—showing that it’s not about how much you do, but how intentionally you do it. With a focus on listening, adaptability, and subtlety, Brenda and William guide dancers to experience Zouk not just as a technique, but as a practice of presence, co-creation, and real connection.
Gui & Paloma
Gui and Paloma are internationally respected Brazilian Zouk artists whose dance is rooted in years of diverse experience and deep connection work. Gui began his journey in 2004 in Rio de Janeiro, training in Bolero, Samba, Forró, Tango, and Zouk with a multidisciplinary approach that shaped his focus on comfort, clarity, and close embrace. Since 2017, he’s been based in Washington DC, teaching locally and internationally, and is a faculty member in Alex de Carvalho’s MAC program for instructors. He is known for his clear, clean fundamentals and his unique approach to close connection. Through workshops like The Universe Behind the Hug, he’s helped dancers around the world understand the invisible language that lives inside the embrace.
​
Paloma has over 15 years of dance experience and has taught in more than 30 countries. With a background in journalism, she brings curiosity and depth to her work, blending dance with somatic studies like Kundalini Yoga and Feldenkrais. She’s also an international DJ, co-founder of Diboa, and a certified judge by the Brazilian Zouk Council. Together, Gui and Paloma embody a philosophy of dance as mindful connection - where technique, emotion, and energy meet to create transformation through movement.
Tiago & Emilia
Tiago & Emilia are passionate Brazilian Zouk teachers based in Cologne, Germany, whose dance is infused with precision, presence, and play. Since forming their partnership in 2022, they’ve traveled the world teaching Brazilian Zouk, nurturing communities, and helping dancers grow with equal care for leaders and followers.
Tiago, originally from Belém, Brazil – where Lambada was born – has over a decade of experience in Brazilian rhythms and holds a background in fitness and sport science. His teaching is known for its clarity, technical depth, and joyful energy. Emilia, from Germany, began her dance journey in 2019 with intensive training under Tiago & Julinha. With a foundation in personal training and a deep love for Brazil’s culture, she brings expressiveness, strength, and structure to her classes. She also teaches Samba de Gafieira, Forró, and solo dances, and is a dedicated tattoo artist.
In addition to their international workshops, Tiago & Emilia run a comprehensive online school, offering structured courses, live classes, and practice programs designed to help dancers of all levels refine their technique, expand their repertoire, and train consistently from anywhere in the world.
Together, they co-create well-structured, inspiring classes that balance solo and partner work, fitness-informed technique, and connection rooted in love – they are also married, and their shared passion radiates through their movement. Whether online or on the dance floor, their mission is to help you evolve as a dancer and human being.
Olga & Fernando
Fernando and Olga started the mission of Zouk Atoms: To elevate the art of social dancing and ignite the natural flow of movement. In a dance world where memorized sequences often dominate, Zouk Atoms brings dancers back to the present moment. Leaders explore real-time possibilities, combining creativity and intuition, while followers focus on refining their technique and readying themselves to move gracefully in any direction.
​
Fernando, from Madrid, started his dance journey after encountering the mesmerizing world of Zouk in 2008 under the guidance of Junior Carvalho in Bremen. His life revolved around dance, teaching, and traveling until the unexpected pause brought by Covid, during which he realized the profound value of his ten years of teaching experience and created the Zouk Atoms method for learning Brazilian zouk.
​
Olga, on the other hand, has a dance story rooted in the traditional Russian folk dance, which she began at the age of 5. However, it was during her university days that she crossed paths with the captivating realm of couple dances. Her heart first swayed to the rhythm of Kizomba and later found its true beat in Zouk. Olga, now a dedicated teacher, brings a keen eye to her classes, observing and fine-tuning every detail.
LOOKING FOR A FESTIVAL TICKET? FIND YOUR BUDDY!
Single follower tickets are sold out, but don’t worry—you can still join us at the festival with a Buddy Pass!
That means:
-
Followers – you can get your ticket by teaming up with a leader.
-
Leaders – by helping a follower, you both save money with the Buddy Pass discount.
To make it easy, we created a Find My Buddy WhatsApp group. Here you can post if you’re looking for a partner, connect privately, and buy your Buddy Pass together.
Join the Find My Buddy WhatsApp group here
Balanced numbers = better dances, more fun, and a great vibe for everyone!
.jpg)
