Meet Our Instructors
Angelica CM
Classes: Angelica teaches Monday nights with AmoZouk
Bio: Angélica started dance at Perpich Arts High School where she took her first modern and ballet class. She continued dancing at Zenón Dance School in Minneapolis for one year after hs graduation then went to university for two years for dance education where she trained in a variety of dance styles. In 2018 she found Brazilian Zouk. Angélica enjoys the surrender and flow that this dance can create and how dynamic it is. She loves teaching people how to find their creativity and power within their dance. She loves seeing her students have the “lightbulb” moments of discovery. Angélica has spent time studying with Brenda & Anderson, Xandy, Gui Prada, Gabriel de Carvalho, Lui & Larissa, William & Paloma, Alex de Carvalho.
Lulu Bea
Classes: Lulu teaches Thusrday nights with Zouk Algorhythm - more info
Dani Enos
Classes: Dani teaches Tuesday nights with AmoZouk
Bio: Dani has been dancing zouk, salsa, and bachata for more than 10 years. Dani originally learned salsa and bachata as an undergrad at the University of Vermont and served on the board of the school’s Salsa and Swing Society. After moving to Boston Dani became a zouk convert in 2014 and has been obsessing over zouk ever since.
Dani taught with Nate for ZOTD in Boston, and has continued to teach with Nate since they moved to Minnesota.
As a professional contortionist and flexibility coach (how’s that for a cool fun fact?! Check out her website, Dani Winks Flexibility) Dani’s approach to teaching is focused on understanding our anatomy and breaking down the biomechanics of what each component of our body is supposed to be doing during a movement.
Mike Lerum
Classes: Mike teaches Monday and Tuesday nights with AmoZouk
Bio: As a longtime salsa dancer (and instructor), Mike has been training zouk for 7+ years. It’s no surprise Mike worked in sales consulting, because his enthusiasm helps him connect with his students quickly and make them feel comfortable in any dance environment. Mike prides himself on helping his students set (and achieve!) their dance goals. Most of all, he believes in inspiring students through positive reinforcement and living what he teaches.
Raj Mukherjee
Classes: Raj teaches Thusrday nights with Zouk Algorhythm - more info
Gabriel de Carvalho
Classes: Wednesday nights (May only) - more info
Bio: Traveling in from Iowa City, Gabriel is a highly skilled and experienced dancer with a diverse background in various movement styles. He began his journey 15 years ago with Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and quickly fell in love with tango, studying at one of the best schools in Rio de Janeiro. However, it was Brazilian Zouk that truly captured Gabriel's heart, and he had the opportunity to learn from Renata Pecanha, one of the founders of this beautiful art form, at her school in Rio.
For the past 5 years, Gabriel has been professionally teaching and sharing his love of dance with others. He currently resides and teaches in Iowa City, but travels throughout the Midwest to teach weekly classes in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Des Moines.
Aside from his love of dance, Gabriel is deeply committed to sharing his culture and heritage with his students. He is passionate about sharing the beauty and depth of Brazilian Zouk with others, and loves being able to bring a piece of his culture to his classes.
Nate Enos
Classes: Nate teaches Tuesday nights with AmoZouk
Bio: Nate began dancing zouk in 2016 in Boston and has been training consistently for more than six years. Nate began teaching beginner zouk lessons for pop up Zouk on the Docks events in Boston in 2017 and has been teaching ever since.
An engineer by education, Nate enjoys breaking down the biomechanics of zouk to focus on the fundamentals of being a clear and comfortable dancer. While he appreciates being an “ooey gooey” or “hug-y” lead, Nate appreciates learning from a variety of instructors to learn the “best” of each of their techniques to mix in his own dancing to become a more well-rounded dancer (think the Ramalhos’ magical hips, Gui’s comfortable hug, Jerry Lai’s elastic responsiveness).
Nate enjoys breaking down the techniques behind these fundamental movements for his own dance, and helping others do the same!
Topher Dunlap
Classes: Topher is not currently teaching any local classes
Bio: Topher began his zouk journey in 2017 when friends convinced him to attend a class taught by Marc Brewer in Minneapolis. Though it took some time to click he eventually discovered a deep passion and love for the connection, music, movement and community Zouk had to offer. Since then Topher has found incredible enjoyment in training the various modalities of the dance, studying with many instructors including, Brenda & Anderson, Xandy Liberato, William & Paloma, Alex de Carvalho, Lui and Larissa, Kuna Hamad, Gui Prada and Gabriel de Carvalho. With a focus on connection and body mechanics topher aims to teach students how to better connect with themselves, their own bodies and their partner to improve efficiency, understanding and enjoyment of movement within zouk
Katie Harris
Classes: Katie teaches Thusrday nights with Zouk Algorhythm - more info
Bio: In Katie’s more than two decades of experience as a professional educator, she has taught music, writing, and dance. Katie sees social dancing as a practice of connection and community, and she has been dedicated to this artform for fifteen years. Since she began studying Brazilian zouk in 2017, Katie has trained regularly with the top international artists, and she continues to grow her skill as a dancer and instructor. At Zouk Algorhythm, she infuses her classes with playfulness and curiosity. She enjoys guiding people as they attune more fully to their bodies, to each other, and to their confidence. Katie supports students as they pursue their goals in Brazilian zouk, whether those are having fun, fostering creativity, being social, developing better technique, or trying something new.
Niko Salgado
Classes: Niko is not currently teaching any local classes