How Dancing Made a World Without Borders for Leandro Nascimento

For some people, like dancer Leandro Nascimento, finding your dream takes time, it requires many steps along the way to point you down the road to success. Nascimento, born in Brazil, has been a dance teacher and competitor for over 10 years, however it took some time to sort it all out. Since falling in love with dance, and Brazilian Zouk in particular, he has made it his life’s mission to make it to the top. This has involved many hours teaching himself, and working on perfecting his technique.

Despite being a latecomer to the game, Nascimento has been a leading force in the Zouk world and has been critical to the recent international expansion of the dance. Known as the King of Jack and Jill, he has dominated in the format which requires you to switch partners each round. His success showcases his outstanding technical and creative ability that allows him to dance no matter his partner. Not letting competition take up all his time, Nascimento is a dedicated dance teacher, and in 2020 he opened Vox Dance Studios with his partner Nayara Celistini. Thanks to his remarkable dance ability, Nascimento has been able to travel the world, something he never dreamed of, today he sat down to talk to us about his experiences.

Is there a country you have been to where you were blown away by their dance style?

Leandro Nascimento: I think that every country has something unique within its dance style that inspires us. We have learned a lot from immersing ourselves in these different cultures and learning not only the moves but the history of them. Spain in particular blew us away, they were able to effortlessly move their body, and their dance culture is ingrained into their society. It is possible to see their passion in their dance style which has a natural sensuality and charm to it. We found our time teaching there very interesting!

What has been your favorite country to visit and why?

There are so many to choose from! This isn’t an easy question, but I would have to say the USA. It is home to some of our favorite places in the world, New York and Hawaii. I know that they couldn’t be anymore different, with New York’s chaotic beauty, and Hawaii’s paradise but both of them resonate with us. New York has such a passion for art and it feels so cinematic on every street, I just can’t get enough of it. While Hawaii feels like it is pure and helps us to reconnect with our ancestral roots in a deeply therapeutic way.

Were there any countries that surprised you?

Our biggest surprise has been Denmark! Being there is like being in a utopia! They are so patriotic, which is no surprise given their high quality of life, their education and attention to public systems. Definitely a place we recommend.

Growing up in Brazil, can you tell us any places to go to experience real Brazilian dance?

Just one? That would be an injustice to Brazil! The country embraces so many dances that are both native and foreign? Honestly the whole country is littered with dancing of all styles, so you can find something you like pretty much anywhere.

Can you talk about the dance in your home city?

Bahia, and the northeastern region of Brazil are the heart of many of our traditional dances. You will be able to find the roots of these dances and experience their natural feel and flow. Here you will experience how to move naturally within the cultural essence of the region.

Can you quickly run us through some of the rest of the country?

In Rio de Janeiro you should be on the lookout for Samba, one of the country’s best known dances!

In the Northeastern region, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Ceará, and Rio Grande do Norte, you will be delighted by Forró which features uplifting rhythms of the accordion and zabumba

In Olinda you will find Frevo's vibrant energy as well as in Recife which also features the Maracatu which pays homage to the Afro-Brazilian culture.

I could honestly list dances and regions for days, as there is so much more that shouldn’t be missed! However, our specialty Brazilian Zouk and Lambada are popular throughout with their hubs being in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

It seems like Brazil almost moves to its own rhythm. Do you feel this now that you have traveled the world?

Since travelling I learned to appreciate Brazil on a much deeper level. The size and geographical divides of our country leads to a diversity of cultures which is hard to find anywhere else. It feels like we are a whole continent rolled into a single country. We have found a way to wrap all of these diverse cuisines, religions and beliefs into one beautifully harmonious country. Most importantly we are a resilient people who find success through any circumstance that we face.

How do you feel the rest of the world sees Brazil?

It’s funny because I don’t think I had ever really considered how deeply rooted dance was in our culture. People everywhere see our fluidity and remark on it, it has given me a deep appreciation for our love of dance. Most other cultures seem not rigid but not as flowing as ours where we dance even when we don’t realize it, like at family events it’s a generational connection we share. I appreciate that we are viewed as joyful and easygoing people who value fluidity and love music.

What has been your biggest takeaway from being so well-traveled?

I didn’t grow up with the ability to travel so being able to travel the world and learn different languages has been incredible. For me, speaking different languages has been the biggest takeaway for me, it has opened up so many doors and allowed me to connect with people. Because of it I feel as if I can absorb so much information which I use regularly.

But travelling has also helped us to understand the meaning of growth: evolving through sharing and staying open to listening, even to what’s left unspoken. Everything has a story waiting to be shared, and we have learned to use our strengths. For me it has been about using my sensitivity to become more inspired, while inspiring others and keeping ourselves open to inspiration along the way.

Any hidden gems—cities, countries, dance competitions—that people should go out of their way to see?

Of course! On our first visit to Paris we were wandering through its beautiful moonlit streets when we stopped into a cozy bar for a drink and some food. Les Trois Mailletz was so peaceful and charming with a piano player serenading us through our meal. If that wasn’t enough, our friend insisted on taking us downstairs. Entering what felt like a cave we were greeted by the vibration of music. The basement opened up to an old school jazz performance area filled with people dancing and enjoying the music. The establishment has been open for over 40 years and many of the people in attendance were over 60! It was a truly surreal experience that filled us with artistic inspiration, a true hidden gem!