Stillness in motion
NeiZouk brings the development principles of Chinese internal martial arts into the experience of Brazilian Zouk. A quality uniquely developed from standing meditation eventually grows into movement, partnership, and dance.
The practice
Imagine moving through water, gently opening against elastic resistance, or being quietly supported from all sides.
The NeiZouk quality points to a smooth, continuous sense of pressure
and support throughout and around your body that fills it and can
circulate within it. The magnetic quality feels as though the air
pushes against you, guided by your intent. This is more than
imagination. This sensation is the result of weeks or months of
standing meditation.
First, we invite this quality in standing. Then, see whether it can remain
through a tiny movement, a step, contact, rhythm, and improvisation. This
entire process is an enormous task for the nervous system and can take years
to be able to maintain fast movement like dance - but most can start to
see real results within the first few weeks.
NeiZouk is not a technique one learns in a weekend workshop, but rather
a quality that is cultivated slowly through committed time and energy.
The purpose of standing practice is to teach the body to release tension while maintaining a traditionally tense posture. Afterwards, the body 'fills with Qi'. The sensation of holding yourself up slowly disappears. The body begins to feel incredibly light and open.
As the meridians open, energy begins to flow. This manifests in many ways, most of which are quite pleasurable!
This is what we will explore with NeiZouk. Our NeiZouk pioneers are on the forefront of this next evolution of the creativity of humanity.
NeiZouk forms
Our forms bring the NeiZouk quality from standing practice into continuous movement.
Forms are simple sequences for exploring weight transfer, styling,
and intention. They take inspiration from the way Chinese internal
martial arts like Taijiquan, Baguazhang, Xingyiquan, and Yiquan work
with meridians - but dance-flavoured rather than martial-flavoured.
At the start, they refine awareness, allowing you to develop balance
and deepen proprioception. However, when the NeiZouk quality is
developed, they become something much cooler.
Official NeiZouk forms are currently in development.
Depth in Simplicity
Stand in a simple, supported shape. Let your breathing stay natural. With less happening on the outside, you can begin to notice what is happening inside.
Over the course of weeks or months, the nervous system begins to awaken the NeiZouk quality. At this point, introduce a very small intention to open, close, rise, sink, push, or pull. Feel the interaction with the quality. There may be almost no visible movement.
Allow the intention to evolve into slow, visible movement. Open and close, float and settle, reach and return. At this point, moving too fast will break the connection. The question is simple: can the same connected feeling remain as your shape changes?
Bring the same awareness into weight shifts, lifting a foot, placing it, and travelling. Standing is still inside the movement; the base simply changes underneath you.
Introduce a partner through simple, agreed contact and small shared movements. The quality should persist in connection. Experience a new dimension of feeling the quality in yourself and in partners.
Bring music into familiar, simple Zouk movements. Explore the foundations, isolations, and head movements while keeping the same connected quality underneath. Discover the inner quality that emanate into familiar zouk movements, ultimately redefining zouk as an internal dance.
Coming soon
NeiZouk sessions, forms and workshops are in development. Join the Bath Zouk community to hear about the first opportunities to practise.
Join the WhatsApp group