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Have You Danced Zouk in Medellín? Welcome to Zouk al Parque

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Every Sunday afternoon, in the heart of Medellín, Zouk al Parque is a space where you can dance Brazilian Zouk in the open air. In the vibrant and green surroundings of Parques del Río, this weekly event has been crucial for the development and consolidation of the Zouk community in the city.

Although I wasn’t directly involved in its beginnings, I’m fortunate to occasionally teach in this space and witness the growth it has experienced. Seeing how it has flourished and become a reference for Zouk in Medellín is, without a doubt, a source of pride for all of us who are part of this community. Zouk al Parque is a place where connection and learning thrive in an outdoor environment, perfectly reflecting the energy of Medellín.

This event has a history that dates back to the pandemic when a social called KizOut of Here was held in the same park. At that time, people danced kizomba, zouk, bachata, and salsa. Camila Betancur, the pioneer of Brazilian Zouk in Medellín, was part of this initiative. However, the pandemic halted its growth. Afterward, two of Camila’s students at that time, Courtney Woodward and Sara Isaza, decided to bring back the idea in 2021 by organizing informal Zouk practices with a speaker and Spotify music.

Another boost came with the involvement of Felipe Franco, another Zouk lover who joined the project. Together with Courtney and Sara, they set a fixed schedule and gave the event a name, beginning to invite more people through flyers and social media posts.

Over time, local instructors began to see the potential of the space and took the opportunity to share their knowledge. Camila B and Camilo Molina were among the first to offer classes, solidifying Zouk al Parque’s presence as a reference event for those who want to learn and experience Zouk. After some time, more local instructors started giving classes, and when international figures visited the city, they also took part in the event. Artists like Samuel and Nina, Luana Weinmann, Caroline, and Gab have taught classes, giving the event visibility beyond the local scene.

Today, Zouk al Parque has become a meeting point where dance and the city intertwine. Each class, each social, is an opportunity to dance outdoors, surrounded by the vitality of Medellín. Being part of this event means becoming part of a growing, learning community that supports one another in an environment that encourages freedom and fluid movement.

For me as a Zouk dancer, seeing how this event has impacted and continues to strengthen our community fills me with satisfaction. Medellín, with its pleasant climate and warm people, has found in Zouk al Parque a unique way to combine culture and the art of dance in open and accessible spaces. It is a place where the essence of Zouk and the vibrant energy of the city come together.

If you ever visit Medellín and have a passion for Zouk, make sure to check out Zouk al Parque. Here, surrounded by the city, the sound of music and the movement merge into an experience that is not found in many places around the world.

feria de flores

Dancing among flowers, the beautiful tradition in Medellín

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Today, I want to share a special piece of Medellín’s culture that, if you haven’t heard of it yet, you’ll love to discover: the Feria de Flores. This celebration is one of Colombia’s most vibrant and colorful treasures, a festival that fills the city streets with life, tradition, and flowers!🌹


The Feria de Flores dates back to 1957 and is a celebration that honors the silleteros, flowers farmers from the region who, for generations, have carried colorful arrangements, called silletas, on their backs through the mountains of Antioquia. These silletas, originally used to transport goods and people, have become the festival’s symbol, where the silleteros proudly display their floral creations in an impressive parade every August through Medellín.

I’ve had the honor of participating three times in the silleteros parade as a dancer 😍 experiences that make me feel very proud and connected with my city!

During this month, all the socials and parties are adorned with owers. Every event is infused with this festive spirit, with oral themes that celebrate the life and culture of Antioquia. It’s an experience you can’t miss, making Medellín an even more irresistible destination.

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Medellín, the Social Dance Capital of Colombia

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Although dance has always been a fundamental part of Colombian culture, it is only recently that spaces have emerged for social SBKZ dancing as it is done internationally, where people gather to practice and enjoy dance resulting from classes in a more structured, aesthetic, and artistic manner.

In Medellín, dance as a cultural element was present everywhere—at family parties, neighborhood celebrations, all kinds of festivities, in Fondas and nightclubs—but dance was only an element of these gatherings, not the main purpose. On the other hand, the pure artists who loved dancing only had the dance studio, practice sessions with their dance partners, and the competition groups as their dance space. There were some social parties, but from my perspective, they were limited to certain academies, schools, and specific teachers’ communities so they were not very open.

Everything started to change when the tourism boom hit Medellín. Many curious foreigners, backpackers, and digital nomads arrived in the city around 2010, when few locals spoke English. Therefore, other forms of connection became necessary.

In 2012, DANCEFREE (Instagram) was one of the pioneers in bridging the gap between amateurs and professionals, between locals and foreigners, by offering free dance classes and practice spaces. Almost immediately after, other places like Social Club Academia (Instagram) and Skybar joined, all located in the Poblado, Aguacatala, and Manila sectors. In these spaces, we had the opportunity to connect; all these small subgroups got to know each other, became friends, and saw the real potential of dance as a profession, a lifestyle, and a tool to connect in everyday life.

The spaces grew, expanded, and diversified, and with their ups and downs, this entire environment forged the relationships and foundations of our current strength as a community. However, everything changed when the pandemic hit.

COVID-19 was relentless with the dance community; nothing could have been more damaging since it punished physical contact. The spaces closed, many of them forever. However, artists are resilient, and although we had to stop for a long time, we returned even stronger.

We began to strengthen outdoor dance spaces. Our classic Majao Social (Instagram) started in Estadio, and in parallel, the dance space at the Madera metro station Social Dance Group (Instagram) was strengthened, and from there, we gained momentum as a community.

The pandemic also affected bars and restaurants, so some saw potential in these dance gatherings to explore and grow again. That’s how Barbarán with Majao Social gained a foothold, followed by Barcelona. More and more community leaders and academies joined in, and young people began to dance more socially, thanks also to the lovely community of Talenttus (Instagram) in the northern part of the city.

Many spaces became too small, so naturally, the community expanded, and now we are the only city in Colombia, where you can dance every day of the week. Our favorite socials are Casa Ritmo Latino (Instagram), Majao Social (Instagram), and Zouk at Parques del Río (Instagram).

In the social dance community of Medellín, our favorite social networks are Instagram and WhatsApp. If you want to know more details about these events and many more that are happening constantly, follow the events’ networks and join the WhatsApp groups MEDELLÍN DANCE and Zouk in Medallo to stay updated during your stay.

Medellín, the city of eternal spring and the social dance capital of Colombia awaits you with open arms!