Kizomba: Fundamentals (Charleston Area)

A core group of folks in the Charleston-Summerville area contacted Aroha Afro Latin Dance about teaching Kizomba. We are now, travelling from Florence two Sundays a month
to offer Kizomba focused classes. The classes are being taught at Magnolia Dance Academy in Summerville.

READ ON TO SEE:
* What is Kizomba
* Schedule and Pricing
* Buy One, Gift One
* Good to Know
* Who is Adalia?
* Plan Ahead, Schedule for 2026

WHAT IS KIZOMBA
It is a partner dance with origins in the African country Angola. It is rooted in another music and dance style called Semba. It is danced by families and friends at community gatherings. It is danced in a close embrace, like dancing while hugging someone. There are adaptations that have been made to Kizomba like Urban Kiz. Kizomba is the foundation. Urban Kiz the variation. We are teaching Kizomba.

Kizomba has become overly sexualized in some circles and that version is not what we are teaching. A good visual to help drive this idea home, if you see a dance someone calls “Kizomba” but you wouldn’t dance that way with your mom, father, daughter, son, grandmother, grandfather, aunt or uncle…it isn’t Kizomba.

SCHEDULE AND PRICING:
1:00 Kizomba FUNdamentals $25

*all new students start here*
2:15 FUNdamental Variations $25

*must complete fundamentals*
3:30 Kizomba practica (Group created sequence or mini social)
5:00 Head home

BUY ONE, GIFT ONE:
$30 ($15 giver, $15 receiver)
Our dance classes welcome everyone and sometimes finances makes it hard for everyone who wants to participate, to come. The Buy One, Gift One option will provide a discount to the giver and will create a pool of funds to cover the costs of those whose finances may otherwise prevent them from coming. Based on the amount of funds in the pool, the number of people it is available for will be announced before every class.

GOOD TO KNOW
In acknowledgement of the 4 hour round trip, time being committed, and dedication to providing a strong Kizomba program,
the following is an overview of good information…
–
Classes are held twice a month on Sundays from 1:00-5:00
– Payment must be received in advance of the class date

* Venmo, CashApp, or Debit/Credit Card. (No cash accepted)

* We are not encouraging drop ins at this time

* You may pay to take both classes on the same day

– Everyone starts at Fundamentals to establish a base line

* In order to advance, students will demonstrate specific skills
– Right now there are 2 levels, a 3rd will be added in the near
future

WHO IS ADALIA: <a href="https://www.arohaafrolatindance.com/

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The founder of Aroha Afro Latin Dance, Adalia Ellis-Aroha, is from South Carolina and has been dancing since she was a child. Naturally drawn to dance, as a teenager she participated in grassroots performing arts groups that focused on using dance to address issues of social importance such as racism, the equality of women and men, and substance abuse. ​With nearly 20 years of dance experience, in countries around the world and at home, Adalia has seen the power of dance as a tool to create communities rooted in friendship, mutual respect, and a deeper connection with one’s <a href="http://self.

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As a teenager, she found an additional outlet for her creativity as a writer of poetry and performing Spoken word pieces in coffee shops. While attending Coastal Carolina University she was first introduced to Latin Dance in the living room of her best friend and wrote and performed her first choreopoem, “My Dear Mother Africa”.

As a young adult, she traveled the world and it was during her travels that she honed her skills as a Latin Dancer and became a certified instructor under the tutelage of Son, Na-Ri of SalsaIn Academy in Seoul, South Korea. While in Seoul, she also partnered with MIZY, a UNESCO foundation, and facilitated and directed a program called “HipHopucation”. This program followed the roots of modern day Hip-Hop from Africa to present day. The collective artistic work of her students culminated in a performance for the <a href="http://public.

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Recently, while working as a professor of public speaking at Francis Marion University, she created and taught courses on the History of Afro Latin Dance and Music and Hip-Hop: An American Story. The semester-long courses concluded with a performance for the public which served as the final.

She continues to be dedicated to the skill and craft of dance instruction which is reflected in her own education and professional development.

DEGREES: Coastal Carolina University
* History BA with a Theater Minor
* Masters in Teaching
SALSA:
* Completed 60 training hours receiving certification in Black Belt Salsa with Edie “The Salsa Freak” and is a Black Belt System franchise owner.
BACHATA:
* Completed Alex and Desiree’s Instructor course and received certification in Beginner Instruction for Dominican Bachata.
* She has also received training in Bachata from Jose Parades of JP Dance.
KIZOMBA:
* Completed Beginner Kizomba with Kimberly Nicole of Kizomba RDU
* Completed Instructor training with Lucia Nogueira
* Completed Kizomba Phoenix’s,
Kizomba Training Academy with Tonino Cidade .

PLAN AHEAD, SCHEDULE FOR 2026
Sunday: 1:00-5:00

Jan 4 & 18
Feb 1 & 15
March 1 & 15 & 29
April 5 (my son’s birthday on the 19th)
May 3 & 17
June 7 (father’s day on 21)
July Break month
August 2, 16, 30
September 6 & 20
October : Come to Sankofa Weekender 9-11
November 1 & 15
December Break month