ABOUT RIO BEATZ

Rio Beatz Zouk Festival 2024 is getting bigger and better!

Rio Beatz Zouk Festival 2024

Rio Beatz Zouk Festival is bringing the Brazilian Heat 🔥

We are so excited to be growing our event to a festival! We will keep the structure of intensive learning with the best quality teachers and keep the energy at an all-time high!

Rio Beatz Zouk Festival has been created to focus on intensive training to ensure a better development and process of learning. It will provide the students a better understanding of their bodies and the movements. As our Brazilian Beatz slogan says: “We create Dancers”

This incredible weekend will be full of amazing workshops, parties, good vibes and intensives with incredible dance instructors from around New Zealand and the World! Do not miss the chance to learn from these incredible people!

We will have 10 hours of Intermediate/Advanced Intensive training on Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd of October 2024 with Freddy & Andressa – Marck & Melyssa – Renata & Jorge – Pedrinho & Paloma. Split into 5 hours per day, passes can be purchased separately for the 2 days or together.

In order to attend the Intensive Training, (Tuesday & Wednesday) it is important that you have had more than 10 months attending regular zouk classes.

Note that the passes for the intensives Tuesday and Wednesday are not included in the full pass for Rio Beatz, happening from Friday-Sunday

ABOUT RIO BEATZ

Rio Beatz Zouk Festival 2024 it is getting bigger and better!

This incredible weekend will be full of amazing workshops, parties, good vibes and intensives with incredible dance instructors from around New Zealand and the World! Do not miss the chance to learn from those incredible people!

We will have 10 hours of Intermediate/Advanced Intensive training on Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd of October 2024 with Freddy & Andressa – Marck & Melyssa – Renata & Jorge – Pedrinho & Paloma. Split into 5 hours per day, passes can be purchased separately for the 2 days or together.

Note that the passes for the intensives Tuesday and Wednesday are not included in the full pass for Rio Beatz, happening from Thursday-Sunday.

TICKET OPTIONS

$ 165 Leader

PRE RIO BEATZ
1 Day of classes and party pass

$ 165 Follower

PRE RIO BEATZ
1 Day of classes and party pass

$ 415 Leader

Final Tier
3 Days of classes and parties pass

$ 415 Follower

Final Tier
3 Days of classes and parties pass

LEARN FROM THE BEST

Our Line Up

Start Your Journey

Hundreds of creative and performing classes

— Discover the dance —

Contact

Location

Corwin Ruegg

Corwin:

Corwin Ruegg delivers over 12 years of experience and knowledge in various Latin styles. His journey started with a Bachelor of Music, majoring in musicianship and music theory, before he discovered Latin dance.

Corwin discovered Brazilian Zouk in 2011 and quickly fell in love with the style. He jumped at every opportunity to learn from both local and international instructors. In 2015 he became a student of Professional International Instructors Leo & Becky and joined their dance company Brazilian Beatz Dance Academy where he has continued to train as both student and instructor with Leo Neves. He’s taught at Leo and Becky’s events Brazilian Zouk intensive training event; Rio Beatz and Bachaotearoa and he continues to further his knowledge with highly regarded industry professionals in New Zealand and overseas.

He is known on the stage as a talented choreographer and performer, successfully competing in many competitions both nationally and internationally and uses his connection, floor-craft, and passion for musicality to be a versatile lead on the social dance floor.

Kat Maxwell

Kat Maxwell ignited her passion for dancing in 2013 when she first discovered Brazilian Zouk. Already dancing Latin styles such as Salsa, Bachata and the Brazilian dance Samba De Gafieira since 2012 in Christchurch, she soon started training in Forro, Bolero, Soltinho, Funk, and Samba no Pe with Leo and Becky at Brazilian Beatz Dance Academy in Christchurch, NZ. She has since added Cha Cha and Contemporary as an addition to her repertoire.

Kat is trained in education, she studied at the University of Canterbury in a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning in Primary Education. This coupled with her training with Leo and Becky at Brazilian Beatz as their student since 2015, part of their team from 2016, and then as one of their teachers since 2017, Kat has extensive experience in teaching holistically, incorporating various learning styles into her pedagogy.

Training with Leo and Becky as part of their team at Brazilian Beatz has inspired her to take the skills and techniques she has learnt to competitions in New Zealand, Australia and Brazil. She has taught at Leo and Becky’s events; RioBeatz and Bachaotearoa along with other events throughout NZ, Australia and Bali.

At the beginning of 2020 Kat travelled to Brazil for 6 weeks of intensive training in Brazilian Zouk, to progress her own dancing and to bring back the information, flavour, and passion for her students. This trip saw her competing in the Rio Zouk Congress Intermediate Jack and Jill and completing her certificate in Renata Peçanha’s 2020 week-long Teachers Course. Since then, she has completed Kadu and Larissa’s Teachers and Judges training, and continues her mentorship with Leo Neves, teaching, attending classes, and training every week. As she believes that being a teacher means being a student for a lifetime.

Natasa

Natasa Adam’s dance journey began at the age of 4 with ballet and contemporary dance. With 14 years of performance experience, she’s a dance arts college graduate in Greece.

Natasha’s repertoire expanded beyond contemporary to include Latin and Bollywood dance. She’s a prominent member of Greece’s first Bollywood dance academy, captivating audiences at festivals across Europe.

In 2015, Natasha encountered Zouk, and it quickly evolved into a fiery passion. Her journey led her to train under renowned international Zouk instructors. Come 2023, Natasha embarked on a transformative chapter, training with Leo and joining the esteemed Brazilian Beatsz team.

Natasa’s dance story is a testament to unwavering dedication, ever-evolving artistry, and a lifelong love affair with the magic of movement.

Yuri

Yuri started his dance journey in Christchurch, New Zealand, dancing Ballroom at the age of 8. Over the course of 2 years, he qualified for silver medals in both Latin and New Vogue with high commendations for the NZ federation of dance teachers inc., along with many first, second, and third placings. Over the next 10 years he danced Ballroom intermittently while focusing on his schoolwork in Primary and Secondary schools.

Yuri then went to the University of Canterbury in 2015. It was there that he discovered the University Dance Club – U Can Dance which reignited his passion for dance, this time in Street Latin styles such as Salsa, Bachata and Merengue, and Modern Jive. This led to his discovery of Brazilian Zouk through a 5-week specialty course. After seeing the artists demo, he was hooked, and after the 5-week course was completed he participated in Christchurch’s contingent of the Worldwide International Zouk Day.
During this time he also joined Latin Fire to further pursue Salsa, Bachata and Cha Cha to which he then competed and performed with their team.

Yuri soon joined Leo and Becky at their newly opened school Brazilian Beatz Dance Academy to learn Brazilian Zouk from them which then developed into joining the Brazilian Beatz Team, and then the Teachers Team in 2017. Being a part of the Team at Brazilian Beatz gave Yuri the opportunity to learn and develop in the Brazilian styles of dance such as Brazilian Zouk, Samba de Gafieira, Samba no Pe, Bolero, Forro, Soltinho and Funk.

He has competed nationally in NZ and internationally in Australia in Brazilian Zouk. Placing third in 2018 in the Novice category in the international competition Jack & Jill at Casa Do Zouk on the Gold Coast, then progressing him to Intermediate. He then placed first in the team’s category with Brazilian Beatz, another first in the open freestyle section with Kat Maxwell, both in 2019 at the South Island Latin competition in NZ.

Yuri has an extreme eye for detail, logic and problem solving and has been DJing at Brazilian Beatz for the last few years. This along with his training with Leo and Becky has developed his passion in teaching, giving emphasis to technique, and making dance feel natural and comfortable, giving his students the skills and knowledge to adapt to any kind of music to make any dance enjoyable.

Jorge Peres

Jorge Peres is a registered professional dancer with the Brazilian Association of Dança de Salão and is a highly versatile instructor and performer as well as a Capoeirista (Capoeira Artist).

His repetoire includes Zouk Lambada, Pourterican and Cuban Salsa, Samba de Gafieira, Forró, Merengue, Soltinho, Jive, Rhumba, Chá Chá Chá, Bolero, Waltz, Maxixe, traditional Lambada and Lamba Aeróbica. He is also undertaking training in Jazz, Hip Hop and Contemporary dance.

He is a highly sought after instructor at Zouk congresses throughout Brazil ,Europe, North America, Australia and other countries such as Brazil Central, Casa dp Zouk, Canada Zouk Congress and Dutch Zouk Congress.

He has been Renata Peçanha’s partner since January of 2009, with whom has developed one solid work and renowned all of the world.

A seasoned performer Jorge has danced in shows by some of Brazil’s most famous singers such as Beth Carvalho, Luiz Melodia, Tânia Alves, Karla Sabah, Trio Virgulino and Marcello Furtado.

Jorge has also become a regular DJ at many popular dance hot spots throughout Rio de Janeiro.

Renata Peçanha

Renata Peçanha is a registered professional dancer with the Brazilian Association of Dança de Salão and is a highly versatile instructor and performer. She is one of the directors of Brazilian Zouk Dance Council.

Her repetoire includes Brazlian Zouk, Lambada, Pourterican and Cuban Salsa, Samba de Gafieira, Forró, Merengue, Soltinho, Jive, Rhumba, Chá Chá Chá, Bolero, Waltz, Maxixe, She has also background in Jazz Dance, Modern Dance ,Contemporary dance and Ballet.

She founded her academy in 2000, of which she is the principle dancer, choreographer and director. It has become one of the most reputable and well known dança de salão academies in Rio de Janeiro. She rules one Dance Company since 2008.

Dubbed the “Queen of Zouk Lambada”, Renata is the most well known female Zouk Lambada dancer in Brazil and needless to say, her academy specialises in Zouk Lambada. Renata worked with Jaime Arôxa’s Company for 6 years, Brazil’s premier dance academy. Together with Adilio Porto she created one methodology for teching Brazilian Zouk, which is recognized all over the world.

Renata has choreographed and danced for many reputable television shows and soap operas in Brazil.

Together with her partner Jorge Peres, with whom she has been dancing since 2009, she is a highly sought after instructor at Zouk congresses throughout Brazil ,Europe, North America, Australia and other countries such Brazil Central, Casa dp Zouk, Canada Zouk Congress and Dutch Zouk Congress.

She also organises Zouk and Lambada events such as Zouk in Rio, and the International Rio Zouk Congress, in Rio de Janeiro.

SARAH EVANS

Sarah is a professional choreographer, stage performer and dance instructor, with over 23 years of experience in dance and performing arts.
Sarah has lived with dance in her life for the past 23 years. She started ballet classes when she was just 2 years old at Sayers Dance Centre in Kenmore, Brisbane. For the next 17 years she completed her Royal Academy of Dance Examinations in Ballet. As well as ballet, Sarah also studied and performed contemporary and Jazz styles.
For the last nine years Sarah has been an instructor and choreographer for ballet and jazz to students as young as 3 to the senior dancers.
With a strong interest in the academic study of health and movement, Sarah completed her Bachelor of Clinic Exercise Physiology at QUT, becoming an Accredited Exercise Physiologist with Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA).
During her studies she completed units focusing on areas such as Functional Anatomy, Exercise Psychology, Exercise Physiology, Exercise and Sports Nutrition’s, Motor Control, Biomechanics, Resistance Training and Sports Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation. She now runs strength and flexibility classes for ballet dancers.
After 17 years of ballet, Sarah discovered a new love in the world of dance! She was introduced to a starter Latin dance class at Rio Rythmics, in the wonderful West End area of Brisbane. Discovering the range of Latin Dance styles and distinctive music captivated Sarah, who immersed herself in learning a variety of styles including Brazilian Zouk, Salsa, Bachata, Samba de Gafieira, Samba no Pe, Bolero, Tango, Forró and Merengue.
In 2017 Sarah & Bruno founded the latin dance school Bossa Latina,in Brisbane & started their dance partnership together. Since starting their partners, they have performed and instructed at Zouk Sensation – Singapore, Casa do Zouk, Sydney Latin Dance Festival, Sydney Spring Zouk Festival,the Sunshine Coast Latin Festival, Brisbane Zouk Festival, Brisbane Latin Festival, Brazouky, Australian Dance Cup, Doudoule, New Zealand Salsa Congress, and regular local functions and events around Australia.

Bruno Ferreira

Bruno is a professional choreographer, stage performer and dance instructor, with over 29 years of experience in dance and performing arts.
Born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and immersed in the colourful, rhythmic culture, Bruno grew up with a keen interest in dance. At the age of 14 he joined Mimulus Dance School. Having a natural talent for dance, Bruno very quickly fell in love with it and knew that he wanted to pursue it professionally.
Mimulus Dance Company is one of the most renowned Latin Dance companies in Brazil. Within, a year of being a student with Mimulus, Bruno was performing in the Mimulus Dance Company amateur group and by the age of 18 was teaching a wide variety of dance styles. A few years later Bruno received his professional registration and began teaching, performing, choreographing, and directing in a professional capacity.
Over the 20 years dancing for Mimulus Dance Company, Bruno acquired distinguished talent in all popular Brazilian and Latin dance styles including: Samba no pe, Samba de Gafieira, Bolero, Soltinho, Tango, Cuban Salsa, Forro, Brazilian Zouk, Milonga, Lindy Hop, Waltz, Tango Waltz, Bachata and Merengue. He also had the opportunity to travel the world and perform with the company in numerous theatres, festivals, congresses and workshops across South America, The United States, Canada, and Europe. During this time, Bruno was awarded best male dancer of 2004 and 2010 by SESC-SATED/MG (The Syndicate of Artists and Technicians in Minas Gerais), best male dancer of 2004 by USIMINAS- SINPARC/MG (Syndicate of Producers of Performing Arts in Minas Gerais), and Nominated as one of the ‘Top 3 most influential dancers of the decade’ by SESC-SATED/MG in 2007.
During this time, Bruno also completed a Bachelor of Physical Education and a Masters(POS GRADUATION) in Dance Pedagogy. This enabled him to further develop his knowledge of anatomy, physiology and biomechanics. This in-depth understanding of how the body works differentiates Bruno from other dance teachers who may have only danced socially but may have little understanding of movement. Rather than just teaching a sequence of moves, it allows Bruno to have a deep understanding of co-ordination, transference of weight, and connection with the floor and your partner- all essential for learning correct technique. Most importantly it helps Bruno to teach in the safest way possible, helping his students look after their body’s individual needs and limitations.
In addition, Bruno has complimented his latin dance training and education with extended classes in circus skills, acting, acrobats, classical ballet, contemporary dance, contact and improvisation. All of which give him a better understanding of balance, coordination, flexibility, strength and connection .This extensive and eclectic mix of studies assisted Bruno in forming his own unique funky style.
He has completed his Latin Dance Judges Seminar and Certification with Billy Fajardo in 2018.
In 2017 Sarah & Bruno founded the latin dance school Bossa Latina,in Brisbane & started their dance partnership together. Since starting their partners, they have performed and instructed at Zouk Sensation – Singapore, Casa do Zouk, Sydney Latin Dance Festival, Sydney Spring Zouk Festival,the Sunshine Coast Latin Festival, Brisbane Zouk Festival, Brisbane Latin Festival, Brazouky, Australian Dance Cup, Doudoule, New Zealand Salsa Congress, and regular local functions and events around Australia.