• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

International Salsa Magazine

  • Home
  • Previous editions
    • 2025
      • ISM / May2025
      • ISM / April 2025
      • ISM / March 2025
      • ISM / February 2025
      • ISM / January 2025
    • 2024
      • ISM / December 2024
      • ISM / November 2024
      • ISM / October 2024
      • ISM / September 2024
      • ISM / August 2024
      • ISM / July 2024
      • ISM / June 2024
      • ISM / May 2024
      • ISM / April 2024
      • ISM / March 2024
      • ISM / February 2024
      • ISM / January 2024
    • 2023
      • ISM / December 2023
      • ISM / November 2023
      • ISM / October 2023
      • ISM – September 2023
      • ISM – August 2023
      • ISM July 2023
      • ISM Edition June 2023
      • ISM – May 2023
      • ISM April 2023
      • ISM March 2023
      • ISM February 2023
      • ISM January 2023
    • 2022
      • ISM December 2022
      • ISM November 2022
      • ISM October 2022
      • ISM September 2022
      • ISM August 2022
      • ISM July 2022
      • ISM June 2022
      • ISM May 2022
      • ISM February 2022
      • ISM January 2022
    • 2021
      • ISM December 2021
      • ISM November 2021
      • ISM October – 2021
      • ISM September 2021
      • ISM August 2021
      • ISM July 2021
      • ISM May 2021
      • ISM April 2021
      • ISM June 2021
      • ISM March 2021
      • ISM February 2021
      • ISM January 2021
    • 2020
      • ISM December 2020
      • ISM November 2020
      • ISM October 2020
      • ISM September 2020
      • ISM August 2020
      • ISM July 2020
      • ISM June 2020
      • ISM May 2020
      • ISM April 2020
      • ISM March 2020
      • ISM February 2020
      • ISM January 2020
    • 2019
      • ISM December 2019
      • ISM November 2019
      • ISM October 2019
      • ISM Septembre 2019
      • ISM August 2019
      • ISM July 2019
      • ISM June 2019
      • ISM May 2019
      • ISM April 2019
      • ISM March 2019
      • ISM February 2019
      • ISM January 2019
    • 2018
      • ISM December 2018
      • ISM November 2018
      • ISM October 2018
      • ISM September 2018
      • ISM August 2018
      • ISM July 2018
      • ISM June 2018
      • ISM May 2018
      • ISM April 2018
      • ISM March 2018
      • ISM February 2018
      • ISM January 2018
    • 2017
      • ISM December 2017
      • ISM November 2017
      • ISM October 2017
      • ISM September 2017
  • Download Salsa App
    • Android
    • Apple
  • Spanish

What urbankiz is and how it is danced

Europe

Urbankiz and its relation with kizomba

In recent years, kizomba has become one of the most popular rhythms in many parts of the world. While ir is true that this genre has gained great ground lately, there are many who think that it is too soft and gentle, so some choose faster and more cheerful musical styles. One of those options is the so-called urbankiz. 

If you consider that kizomba is too slow for you, you have the possibility to learn to dance urbankiz, which is considered a variant of kizomba that is already present at many events worldwide. 

Urbankiz and its relation with kizomba
This is a group of people dancing urbankiz

How could we define urbankiz? 

The urbankiz can be defined as a version of kizomba that stands out for mixing the African essence with other slightly more modern musical styles. It is thought that the name was first heard in Paris, France, which then caused quite a stir between lovers of this fabulous dance style. 

One of the key differences between urbankiz and kizomba as it was known is a group of technical details of one dance relative to the other. In the case of the kizomba, you are meeting with linear movement, a greater distance between the dancers and a greater emphasis on the arm movements. And as regards urbankiz, one of its greatest attractions is its lively rhythm. 

This dance is a fusion of the most electronic versions of kizomba (zouk and terraxa) with well-known urban styles such as rap and hip-hop.

This mix of rhythms is what makes the dance happier and more lively from what one commonly imagines. In the same way, people have been introducing a few changes to the dance styles employed in classical kizomba. 

How to dance urbankiz? 

Urbankiz in Europe
This is a couple dancing urbankiz

One of the most impressive aspects of urbankiz is the separation of the couple during the dance. Many think that this detail does not make any sense, since one of the most enduring characteristics of kizomba is the sensuality wasted by two people who dance very close together. Why is this change taking place? What happens is that urbankiz is much more focused on other aspects such as the strength and the explosiveness appropriate for urban rhythms. 

Additional to that, this variant of kizomba includes various pauses, acrobatics, and very abrupt choreography switchs. This makes this style and the traditional one be quite different from each other, so faint that they do not seem to be linked in any way. 

Conclusions 

From the above, it can be concluded that urbankiz is a variant much more intended for those who want to try a more lively, cheerful, and picturesque style. It is only a matter of trying different rhythms until they find the most exciting and appropriate option for everyone. This is the reason why many artists and singers are always trying to create more new rhythms to choose from, which is very useful for those who are looking for new options.

The more mixes of genres are created, the more likely people are to find what they are looking for when dancing. 

Home

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Karina Garcia
Karina Garcia
North America Coordinator at International Salsa Magazine LLC
[email protected]

P.O. Box 50631
Palo Alto, CA 94303
+1 408 287-9500
Karina Garcia
Latest posts by Karina Garcia (see all)
  • Javi Jiménez from Barrio Manouche talks about his career in Spain and then in San Francisco - June 17, 2025
  • The best of Cuban music in Tampa with Cuband Son Band - June 17, 2025
  • Young promise of music Sofia Grace Doellefeld tells us about her dreams - May 30, 2025

International Salsa Magazine (ISM) is a monthly publication about Salsa activities around the world, that has been publishing since 2007. It is a world network of volunteers coordinated by ISM Magazine. We are working to strengthen all the events by working together.