Frequently Ask Questions (FAQ) at ZoukDanceCamp

What is Poland's international travel policy for COVID-19?

Section updated: 28th March 2022

As of March 28th, 2022, Poland has lifted most of its Covid-19 travel restrictions, including the quarantine requirements for travellers arriving from EU/Schengen and non-EU/Schengen countries. In addition:

Proof of vaccination and negative test result is no longer required upon border crossing.
Completing the Passenger Locator Form is no longer required.
Masks are no longer required in indoor spaces, public transportation, airports, stores, office buildings, tourist attractions, etc.
However, masks are still required in health care facilities and pharmacies.

Our venue for ZoukDanceCamp has no special COVID-19 regulations.
Domi&Hoi Team will no longer request negative Covid-19 tests.
Face masks are not mandatory, but you can choose to wear one at any time if you wish.
We would still advise all participants to get adequate travel insurance that covers COVID-19 complications.
Our previous relaxed COVID-19 refund/spot transfer policy is no longer valid. Our normal refund/spot transfer policy is back in place with immediate effect (from 28th March 2022).

We understand planning international travel can be challenging, so hopefully, this information is useful for your planning and helps reduce some of your worries.

Please note: This section is focused on COVID-19 vaccine / non-vaccine / quarantine / PCR or Antigen test entry requirements only, and it does NOT cover information about general travel entry requirements such as visas. You will still need to do your own research and check what entry requirements apply to your passport or nationality. For general travel entry requirements to Poland, as a starting point, we would suggest checking your government website for this information.

What is ZoukDanceCamp?

ZoukDanceCamp is an international dance school for international dancers based in Poland. We work in partnerships with world-class dance teachers to engineer the highest-quality Brazilian Zouk dance learning programmes!

ZoukDanceCamp was founded in 2018 by Domi & Hoi with the goal of creating the world’s most optimised learning environment. We offer a range of Brazilian Zouk dance learning programmes suited for anyone who’s passionate about dance. Whether you are a professional dancer, non-professional dancer or beginner, we have the expertise to help you develop and grow!

Are ZoukDanceCamp intensive courses?

No-no-no! Our concept is NOT about being intensive and cramming as much information and details as possible into your mind & body! Far from this actually and why our new learning concept is truly unique! It’ll be fun, comfortable and we’ll be working at a steady pace within limits WITHOUT burning you out otherwise it’ll become very counter-productive!

One way to think of ZoukDanceCamp concept is like the Tortoise in the bedtime story “The Tortoise and the Hare”. Guess who reached their goal first?

We carefully select top international Teachers to work with by having spent years observing & assessing each teachers’ teaching methodologies and how receptive to students at different stages of their dance developments. As a result, we have a good understanding of a beneficial roadmap!

In our experience, some teacher’s teaching methods will accelerate your development, while some will slow you down or even stunt your growth when not learned at the right stages.

Nearly a decade of observation, we’ve noticed many students take away lots of information at other BootCamps/DanceCamps/Congresses/Festivals, but never spends an adequate amount of practice time in a controlled environment to seriously develop this knowledge & technique into their bodies as a natural movement. Hence why it takes much longer to progress than it really should!

WITH US, YOU WILL SPEND YOUR TIME TO LEARN & REFINE TECHNIQUES, HERE AND THEN!!!
NO MORE TAKE-AWAY NEW INFORMATION, INSTEAD, IT’LL BE TAKE-AWAY NEW WORKING TECHNIQUES!!!

You will find the pace of our classes are generally slower than other classes you’ve come across or experienced. The key focus for each topic we set out is to build on top of the pre-requisite movements, and the next big question is HOW?!

As you are all experienced dancers already, you understand finding that feeling where the technique feels right is so important and is the key to mastery. Once you have identified that feeling for the very first time, it’s only a matter of being able to replicate that feeling despite all the variables during any dance.

At ZoukDanceCamp, we fixed certain variables; same partners, no rotation during classes, size of the class, speed/pace of the class, similar dancers’ level/stage, all very passionate & similar mindset in learning, the best teachers we felt to teach these topics, and more!

This helps controls and OPTIMISE your learning environment in such a way that it highly increases the chance of finding that right technique feeling during your stay here with us, as we progress through each topic. You will spend plenty of time EXPLORING the dynamics for each new technique and understand how the subtle changes affect or impact each movement (positively or negatively) & your partner, while still trying to find or maintain that right technique feeling!

In summary, our ultimate goal while you here staying with us is to help students (you);

Find each new technique feeling first,
Become capable of replicating it with your selected partner,
Lastly, a kick-start to develop permanently into your body/mind/soul as a natural movement!

Now, this is a great 3-step starter because your future goal would be to take what you have developed with us and continue building further experience out in the Dance World. You do this by continuing to find ways to replicate that same feeling for each technique with any dancers you dance with! It’s a pretty neat learning system/environment we’ve engineered for you, isn’t it? 🙂

Why do we not teach spirituality in our dance camps?

In the shortest explanation, we don’t want to teach any form of spiritual practice because we want to offer a religion-neutral environment that welcomes everyone. We have clients (dancers) who’s faith are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc and we shall respect this.

There are many ways to teach and learn connection in social dance, and we will ensure the way it’s taught in our dance camp will not cause any conflicts with another person’s belief or religion.

Our Zouk dance camps will always focus on helping our students to become well-rounded social dancers. This includes learning & developing strong Zouk dance foundations, other social dance skills, growth mindsets, dance knowledge, body movements & mechanics, physical & mental & emotional connection, body awareness/consciousness & control and much more!

We want to help you unlock your full potential but it is a delicate balance of learning all these aspects so you can become a great social dancer and reach your dance goals.

Why is ZoukDanceCamp priced more compared to other Dance Festivals?

Firstly, it’s best to read the content on our Homepage if you haven’t because it covers how our ZoukDanceCamps are packaged. Our price covers major costs consisting of professional fees for top international artists/teachers, flights, hospitality, venue rental, equipment, staff, event insurance, marketing, and many other compounding costs.

One major price factor is the capped limit on available spots. There is a maximum of 32 spots (16 couples) – this number includes our team members who are there to run and support the ZoukDanceCamp, which means the costs are spread across a much smaller number of people. Our key focus is on learning quality.

ZoukDanceCamp is a controlled learning environment which means we plan the details of every aspect including your wellbeing during your stay with us. By removing any key elements would reduce the effectiveness of the whole ZoukDanceCamp experience.

ZoukDanceCamp versus other Dance Festivals are two completely different types of events and can not be compared because they offer different purposes & values. The price you pay for with us is exponential to what you get back in terms of dance education and it’s something we’re very proud to be able to offer.

We do understand our ZoukDanceCamps isn’t going to meet everyone’s budget or perceived value because everyone seeks different types of value.

For clarity, the value we offer is in building & engineering accelerated learning experiences for those who want to invest in greater learning and personal dance development.

To reach your dancing goals the quickest way are never shortcuts, but with the right guidance, we can help you navigate past all the obstacles and challenges. The last thing you want is wasting time and being counter-productive by having to unlearn bad habits and restarting again. This is one of the most common problems in today’s learning and ZoukDanceCamp was formed to tackle these problems.

We’re very proud of our quality and the attention to detail in all our ZoukDanceCamps and will never lower the costs which would compromise its fast-lane learning effectiveness. At ZDC, you are getting the world’s best optimised Zouk dance learning environment for a first-class learning experience.

What is included with ZoukDanceCamp prices?

We try to create the most comfortable learning environment for you and also make it as easy for you as possible. With us, you do not need to worry about accommodation, food & drinks. Just plan & book your travel and we’ll take care of the rest!

See below for what is typically included, the optional extras and what is excluded. Please note, on each event webpage, it will show you what to expect.

All-inclusive In Price:
✔️ X Hours of Class & Teacher Assisted Practice!
✔️ X Nights of Shared Accommodation at a quality hotel!
✔️ Breakfast, Dinner & Supper Meals!
✔️ Unlimited Water, Coffee & Tea!
✔️ Snacks & Fresh Fruits!
✔️ Great Dance Floor & Sound System!
✔️ Bean Bags & Blankets!
✔️ Spa & Wellbeing Facilities! (May vary depending on hotel)
✔️ First-class customers care from our ZDC team!

Optional Extras (Pay at Hotel, where applicable):
➕ Massages.
➕ Private Classes.

Excludes:
➖ Flights.
➖ Airport Transfers.
➖ Personal Travel Insurance.

What is a 'Dance Programme Series'?

There is so much to learn in dance and from each teacher’s couple! ZoukDanceCamp works with world-class teachers to share their entire dance knowledge-base into multiple chapters for chunk-size learning.

Our co-created series would take into account the time and practice not only over the course of each chapter but over the entire learning cycle of dance mastery.

Every chapter is structured & progressive allowing you to understand how they interlink and connect with other chapters.

How long does it take to complete a Dance Programme Series?

It takes between 2-4 years to complete any of our Zouk dance programme series and a lifetime to embody it’s training.

We would like every student to spend a minimum of 3-6 months practicing and using what they have learned in a specific chapter before moving onto the next chapter within the series.

Learning anything is like wet cement, you need to give it time to spread and settle within the walls you’ve poured it into. Then additional time for curing and solidifying. Only once it’s given enough time, then you can build on top of it. Don’t build on top of wet cement, you know exactly what will happen if you try!

Giving this 3-6 months time break between chapters as part of the programme would allow your body & mind to incorporate what you’ve learned and to start embodying it into your dance. As you know, to reach long term goals takes a lot of time and patience. The same applies to reaching your dance goals. There is no rush, enjoy the journey.

We DO NOT recommend taking consecutive chapters too close to each other. i.e. Chapter 0 then chapter 1 within less than 3 months apart. That’s insufficient time to let what you’ve learned to cure & solidify, and could cause negative impacts or regression to your dance growth.

I hope you now understand why we suggest this because we’re always looking out for the best interest for all our students.

Do you offer spots without accommodation?

I’m afraid not and there are no future plans for it either. Our dance camp will always be packaged together as all-inclusive with accommodation and meals.

Is taking lots of privates better than dance camps?

Private classes have their own advantages and disadvantages. Private classes offer very customised services from teachers and they can target the areas which you need in order to break through and level up. The disadvantage of private classes is the cost and to cover an entire spectrum of topics or a fully structured programme will be very very costly.

The advantages of our dance camps are it’s a hybrid approach, taking most of the advantages (not all) of private classes such as implementing teacher assisted practice hours, the cost savings of a group class, and a fully structured programme. Overall, our dance camps offer really amazing value. It’s also much more fun because it creates a family-like atmosphere and relationships with your fellow student group! There are also some classes and exercises that work better as a group!

We would advise that you should utilise both private classes and our dance camp to get the best edge and growth rate. Our teachers offer additional private classes during the dance camp, so please make sure you sign up for them because the limited slots can go very quickly. Details of private classes are posted on each event page. And most importantly, don’t forget lots of practice hours! 🙂

You can read more about comparing different types of classes and workshops which Hoi wrote in his blogs:

What languages are the dance classes taught in?

All classes will be taught in English. It’s the international language we expect our teacher(s) to be competent and comfortable with.

What is a typical day format at ZoukDanceCamp?

A typical day with us would be like:

07:00 – 10:00 Breakfast (3 hours)
10:00 – 11:00 Non-assisted Practice / Free-Time (1 hour)
11:00 – 12:30 Class (1 hour 30mins)
12:30 – 13:30 Teacher Assisted Practice (1 hour)
13:30 – 13:45 Quiet Contemplation Time for Memory Retention (15 mins)
13:45 – 16:00 Lunch (2 hours 15 mins)
15:00 – 16:00 Non-assisted Practice / Free-Time / Nap (1 hour)
16:00 – 17:30 Class (1 hour 30mins)
17:30 – 18:30 Teacher Assisted Practice (1 hour)
18:30 – 18:45 Quiet Contemplation Time for Memory Retention (15 mins)
18:45 – 21:00 Dinner (2 hours 15 mins)
21:00 – 00:00 Social Party (3 hours)

[Times Coordinated with Teachers] Additional Private Classes (Optional Extra)

* Each day may vary slightly, but this is our typical daily schedule. We may have a special day which is a completely different format.

What is Teacher Assisted Practice?

Teacher Assisted Practice is the additional time allocated for our teachers to spend time with each student and work on the topic that is being taught. This is part of our unique concept and a hybrid approach that we created based on our vast international learning experience. We are the very first in the World to create and implement this into a fully structured programme. Other dance camps and boot camps are now following suit and adopting our unique concept because of it’s learning effectiveness.

After every class where the teachers spend their time working on exercises, explanations, and passing their knowledge to you, we will then go into a teacher-assisted practice session. This is where the teachers would go around the class giving 1:1 individual attention and feedback to every student. They may choose to dance/practice with them or further explanation so they can feel where you need corrections or tips or clarification to improve the skills being learned in the current class topic.

This helps students focus and also cater to each student’s individual needs. We suggest using class time to ask questions, which then allow assisted-practice time to help work out how it should feel right for you and your partner. That’s our pro-tip for making the best out of our programme structure.

The teacher-assisted practice is as essential and beneficial as classes. It doesn’t matter how many classes you take if you don’t consider the practice. Practise time is just as important as classes and should be used wisely to figure out how the technique and flow should feel with your partner, and all of it’s dynamic!

Why do our social parties finish so early?

The focus of our ZoukDanceCamps is learning & self-development. Yes, there will be at least 4-hours of a social party every night and you may feel this is not enough! As mentioned in the FAQ question above, we consider your wellbeing as a priority to maximize your learning & development. We want you to rest and be fresh for the classes and practices because resting is also part of your training!

To give you some context of how sleep works:

Different yet equally important restorative work happens during deep sleep (stage 3) and REM sleep (stage 4).
Deep sleep is crucial for physical renewal, hormonal regulation, and growth…
In REM sleep — stage 4 in the sleep cycle — the brain processes and synthesizes memories and emotions, activity that is crucial for learning and higher-level thought. A lack of REM sleep results in slower cognitive and social processing, problems with memory, and difficulty concentrating. The same 2008 sleep poll found that people who sleep less than 6 hours per night during the workweek are twice as likely as their better-rested colleagues to report difficulty in concentrating.

There will be longer lunch breaks so you can relax and take a power nap if you must!

“Power naps are real and help you feel refreshed”, says Dr. O’Brien.

Source: Harvard Business Review – https://hbr.org/2009/01/why-sleep-is-so-important.html

This is also one of the main reasons why we select comfortable hotels with better beds & mattresses because there is a difference. With the right mattresses you can get optimal rest, while with the wrong mattresses, it may cause interrupted REM cycles from discomfort and making you feel restless and lack of focus during the day.

Why do we highly recommend registering as a couple (Fixed Partner) and have no rotations during classes?

We wanted you to be in control and be happy to select your own partner to work with together.

This gives you the chance to know your partner because it’s all part of building trust & teamwork by supporting each other’s growth & development during your stay with us!

Our rationale is also based on our answers in the previous FAQ question “Are ZoukDanceCamp intensive courses?”, so we’ve fixed this variable to help control the learning environment for maximal benefit.

Based on past experience and our previous ZoukDanceCamps, those who signed up with partners showed incredible results of the biggest improvements. This is because they are able to practice with a body they are already familiar with and are comfortable giving each other sincere feedback. Another advantage is your fixed partner is someone who you are likely able to practice with after the ZoukDanceCamps for further development.

Please note;

By default, ALL ZoukDanceCamps require a Fixed Partner (couple). The only exceptions to this are Foundation programmes (i.e. Chapter ∞ Infinity) whereby we accept both individual and couple (Fixed Partner) registrations.
We give priority to applications with partners so it is always best to register as a couple.

What if I can't find a partner to sign up with?

Unfortunately, you would not be able to join many of our ZoukDanceCamps programmes with the exception of Chapter ∞ Infinity where you are not required to have a fixed partner.

By default, ALL ZoukDanceCamps require a Fixed Partner (couple). The only exceptions to this are Foundation programmes (Chapter ∞ Infinity) whereby we accept individual or couple (Fixed Partner) registrations.

We’ve set up this Facebook group to help you Find & Seek Partner for Brazilian Zouk Events. Please join and post if you are finding or seeking a partner. Good luck!

Looking for a Partner? Post here:

Are you struggling to find a fixed dance partner?

Please see our 7 ideas to find a partner for ZoukDanceCamp!

How does rotation work for single participants? (if applicable)

If you are a single participant, you can not suddenly decide to permanently partner up with one of the other single participants during the ZoukDanceCamp. You can, however, partner up before the ZoukDanceCamp starts by notifying us of the change.

All single participants are expected to rotate every 10-20mins during classes. The teachers will call out when to rotate. Single participants will be expected to rotate fairly to all the single participants and are not allowed to skip anyone. Some of ZDC team members will be part of the rotation to assist.

This strict policy is to ensure fairness for all single participants. As a single participant, you may find someone you want to partner up with for future ZoukDanceCamps, so this is a good way to help find and match synergy.

Please note, by default all ZoukDanceCamps can only be signed up with a fixed partner unless specified that it accepts single sign-ups. The exception is Chapter ∞ Infinity which does not require signing up with a fixed partner.

If we signed up with fixed partners, no rotations during the class. Can we still switch partners with our friends or with other partners if we want to?

Yes, you can switch partners with their consent, but only before or after a class. It is so it doesn’t interfere with the ongoing class, create distractions for yourself or others. Each class is 1.0 or 1.5 hours long and needs your full attention & focus!

This flexible option is useful if you decide to sign up with a group of friends who are all working together to level up (or newly made friends while you’re here!).

Can we rotate during teacher assisted & non-assisted practice time?

Yes, if you want to! During teacher assisted & non-assisted practice time, we do ENCOURAGE you to switch partners! There is no obligation to switch, however, many participants after successfully working it through with their own partners like training with other partners.

Is there extra practice time outside of the dance classes?

Yes! After every 1.0 or 1.5-hour class, there is always a 1.0 or 1.5-hour teacher assisted practice time working on the covered topic.

We highly encourage using the non-assisted practice time and it’s for you to decide how much. Before and after classes & teacher assisted practice time you will have use of the dance floors, so please feel free to use this space for practice! This is a great time to coordinate practice with other students and also chat with everyone. We would love to hear you sharing ideas, thoughts, and feedback with each other, with the teachers and with us!

What are 15 minutes of ‘Quiet Contemplation Time for Memory Retention’ in the daily schedule?

There has been scientific research that having 15 minutes of a quiet moment to digest information can help increase 10-30% in students learning and memory retention!

We have incorporated this effortless 15 minutes concept after each Teacher-Assisted Practise session. Memory consolidation, let’s go!

Read more about it here: An Effortless Way to Improve Your Memory

To help soothe the mind and body, we’ll be playing some very quiet classical music in the background (non-vocal).

What if I don't meet all the pre-requisites but still want to join?

Spots will always be offered first to those that meet all the pre-requisites. We may offer remaining spots to those who meet at least 80% of pre-requisites (sorry, no less than this). If this is the case, then we don’t expect you to understand all the topics and you can work at your own pace with your registered partner. For pre-requisites you do not know or lacking, we do ask you to be extra mindful not to slow the class down with questions which requires prior-knowledge.

Do we have to partner up as female and male couples when signing up?

No, you can sign up as male / female, female / female, male / male. As long as you are partnered as a lead and a follow. We know many dancers who love dancing in both roles!

Most of the best dancers had learned to lead and follow, which is what makes them outstanding because they understand from both points of view! Maybe you should give it a go and learn the other role? 😉

Will privates dance classes be available?

Yes, we’ll coordinate a spreadsheet between students and the teachers for those interested.

We encourage taking advantage of privates with the dance teachers, especially if there are pre-requisites that you know are weakest at or didn’t fully meet to help bridge this gap. Please bear in mind that other students may also be using the dance floor during your privates.

How do room sharing works?

All our guests will be in two people per room for a comfortable stay and experience. During registration, we will ask whether you would like your beds to be Twin (2 single beds) or Double (1 large bed). Three or more people sharing a room will be special requests, please detail the request in the application form additional comment field.

When registering to any of our ZoukDanceCamps, we will ask for your room sharing preference:

I would like to share with my dance partner.
I don’t mind mix gender sharing (female-male)
I prefer same gender sharing (female-female or male-male)
Other (If you have a roommate you like to share that isn’t your dance partner with please write their name in ‘Other’.)

We are very flexible to make this work for you and will not force you into any uncomfortable situations.

Is there an option for a single room (non-sharing)?

Yes, there is an additional cost and you can select this option when filling out the application form. Each hotel has a limited number of rooms available or allocated for our ZoukDanceCamp guests, therefore, single rooms will be subject to availability.

When should I start making travel plans?

Only start making travel plans once you have received a spot offer and payment is made.

By applying, it does not mean an automatic spot offer! We will ask for your patience as we have to review applications and any additional videos we may request to ensure applicants meet the minimal pre-requisites laid out in any of our ZDC programmes. For clarity, we kindly ask you NOT to make any travel plans until your spot is confirmed and payment is made.

Do I pay when I fill out the application form?

No, not yet, as per our Rules & Regulation page, section Payments, Refunds & Ticket Transfer Policy:

“No payment is taken when filling out any ZoukDanceCamp application form, we only ask for payment after a spot offer. Once you have made a payment, it means you have accepted our payment, refund & ticket transfer policy and including all the policies laid out herein.

If you receive a spot offer, please ensure payments are made within 14 days otherwise the spot will be canceled and offered to someone else. You will lose the best price and have to apply again if you wish to join (subject to availability).”

How does the application review work and when will I know if I get a spot or not?

We will email you when we start the reviewing process. Once we start, it could take 1-4 weeks depending on a number of different considerations;

If you were a previous attendee aka Loyal Student (This makes it easier because we already know your dance experience),
If you are a couples applicant,
If you are a singles applicant,
If you danced with any of our team members and they could vouch for your dance experience,
How long it takes for you to send us a video clip of what we ask and then for us to review it,
If there is a large number of applicants to review,
The overall dance level of all applicants because we want to group the participants level as similar as possible,
The number of spots remaining,
Your application queue number (the earlier you apply, the higher up the queue you are).

Once we have finished taking all of the above into consideration, and we are happy with it, then we will email you a spot offer. If we can not offer you a spot, we will also email you (please read the next FAQ question).

What happens if I don't get offered a spot?

There may be times when we may feel that our programme isn’t quite ready for you yet, which we will frankly tell you in the email. But don’t be disheartened, we want you to keep working on your fundamentals until you meet the pre-requisites! Hoi will reach out to you to discuss and put together a plan of action on how to get you where you want to be. Prepared and ready for the next one!

If we have filled out all 32 spots, for most of you it will be a tough decision for us even if you have met all the pre-requisites, however, it’s not over yet! We will place you on a waiting list. If someone drops out of their spots, then we will contact the next person on the waiting list and offer them the spot.

If you are on the waiting list, go find friends who would be interested and ask them to complete our application form! Why? Because if there are enough applicants on the waiting list then we may decide to create another dance camp programme based on the demands and give all those on this waiting list the spot offer. Deal?

Does it include a shuttle or airport transfer to and from the hotel venue?

No, because all participants are traveling from different countries, transportation, and time of day which makes it’s extremely difficult to coordinate pick-up locations that are cost-effective. Therefore we ask all participants to plan their own journey to the hotel venue. Once you’re here, we’ll take care of the rest!

To assist you with traveling, we do create Travel/Transport Guides to and from the nearest airports. Each event page will have a link to the Travel/Transport Guide for its selected hotel venue.

What is the refund policy if I have to cancel?

As per our Rules & Regulation page, section Payments, Refunds & Ticket Transfer Policy:

“We offer refunds on and before 8 weeks prior to an event’s start date with a standard charge of €25 + 5% total price per person which will be deducted from the amount to cover for bank fees and administration costs. Please note for non-Euro refunds, the amount you receive back may vary slightly due to exchange rates that are out of our control.

8 weeks up to an event, ticket passes become non-refundable, however, only with our written consent then passes will be transferable to another person’s name. This is to ensure pre-requisites are met.”

What if I have a problem during the ZoukDanceCamp?

Fear not! We make ourselves visible throughout the ZoukDanceCamp. Should you need any assistance, please speak with one of the Domi&Hoi Team members:

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