Meet The Team
Adam & Gabrielle
Intermediate
Adam has led the Zouk community in Wellington since 2012, when he began teaching for Salsa Therapy – taking over with his dance partner Leona for previous teachers Robert and Robyn. In late 2021 he began teaching with long-time student Gabrielle, and in 2024 with Marcelly.
Adam began dancing Salsa and Bachata in 2007, and discovered Brazilian Zouk in 2010. Since then, he has learnt from the world's top Zouk teachers, both in New Zealand and abroad. He has been teaching regular classes in Salsa, Bachata and Brasilian Zouk with Salsa Therapy since 2012, and more recently under the WeZouk brand. He has extensive experience in dancing, teaching, choreographing, and performing these styles, as well as familiarity with Merengue, Bolero, Forro, Samba de Gafieira, Tango, Flamenco, and even Polish folk dancing. His diverse experience gives Adam an excellent understanding of the fundamentals of partner dance and the techniques specific to each style.
With an extensive background in Ballet (18 years) and Jazz (5 years), Gabrielle discovered Zouk in 2018 after a 6-year break from dance. She attended regular classes with WeZouk and soon began travelling regularly to domestic and trans-Tasman festivals to further her development and training. Gabrielle joined the WeZouk teaching team in 2020 as a supporting teacher – assisting with fundamentals classes and teaching intermittent workshops – and is passionate about further fostering the kind and inclusive WeZouk community in Wellington. Gabrielle is also a talented pole dancer, competing regularly and teaching a variety of classes at Wellington’s Body Electric pole studio.
Callum & Nicola
Improvers
Callum and Nicola have been teaching together since 2018 when Callum joined the WeZouk team. From 2018, Callum and Yohan co-taught with Nicola until mid-2020 when a third level of classes was established. Callum and Nicola now run the Improvers level, as well as training regularly together to develop their own skills. They have also taught several workshops at our WeZouk Weekender and the Mount Zoukfest festival in Mt Maunganui.
Callum started Brazilian Zouk in late 2016. He had been dancing Modern Jive for 6 months, through which he met a couple of Zouk dancers who encouraged him to give it a try. Callum found Zouk a little intimidating at first due to its closeness and sensuality. However, Callum now values Zouk for its connectivity and potential for creativity, which makes every dance unique and exciting. He also appreciates the community throughout New Zealand and Australia that he has become a part of through Zouk. As well as teaching, Callum heads up the running of our fortnightly socials with the help of several of our more advanced students.
Nicola has danced her whole life - beginning at age 5 with Ballet, followed quickly by Jazz, Tap, and Square and Round dancing. At university, she discovered Latin partner dance – learning Salsa, Bachata, Merengue – as well as Modern Jive. She first encountered Brazilian Zouk in 2010 and instantly fell in love with its flowing style and the way it allowed her to explore connection, creativity, and self-expression. She began classes in Christchurch, and has since attended a variety of Latin dance festivals both nationally and internationally. She moved to the UK in 2014, where she continued learning Zouk, as well as Samba de Gafiera. She settled in Wellington in 2016 and has since played a pivotal role in growing the profile of Zouk in Wellington. She loves seeing people discover a love for dance, grow their confidence, and build genuine and lasting connections.
Hannah & Yohan
Fundamentals 1 & 2
Hannah and Yohan began teaching the WeZouk Fundamental course in mid-2020. They teamed up after they travelled together to several international festivals earlier that year. In response to the growth of the Wellington Zouk scene, they were invited in mid-2020 to teach Fundamentals so that a new Improvers stream could grow. They now train regularly together to develop their dance ability and teaching skills and have taught several ‘special topic’ workshops alongside their regular classes.
Yohan began his dance journey back in 2015 with Modern Jive, through which he discovered a love for moving to music. Seeking new horizons, he decided to try Brazillian Zouk and was instantly hooked. Under the tutelage of Adam and Leona he grew as a dancer and was invited to teach the fundamentals course with Nicola in 2017 in response to the growing demand for Zouk in Wellington. He continued to grow and learn Zouk from local and international teachers and is now an accomplished Zouk dancer who brings his enthusiasm and love of dance to every class he teaches or attends.
Hannah discovered reggaeton-style Zumba classes while an undergrad at Victoria University and fell in love with the joy and freedom of Latin dance. She began classes in Sensual Bachata and Cuban Salsa with Salsa Therapy at the end of 2018. Through this, she discovered Brazilian Zouk and became an instant addict, attending regular classes, practicas, and socials, as well as travelling to a variety of Zouk events. Hannah has thrown herself wholeheartedly into Zouk, doing everything she can to develop and hone her skills, and brings a bright and enthusiastic energy to the WeZouk community. Outside of Zouk, she is a psychologist and yoga fanatic, which makes her passionate about the emotional and physical benefits of dance and movement and fostering these in others.
Suzi
Samba No Pé
From the ages of 5 to 15 Suzi did Jazz, Ballet and Gymnastics. She started dancing Salsa when she was 16, moving a few years later to Palmerston North to study at Massey University. Suzi continued dancing Salsa until she was 29, then took a break to look after her family, focus on her business, and to train in Samba No Pé.
Suzi has performed and competed many times throughout her dancing career in Salsa, Brazilian Zouk and Bachata. She was part of the first place Bachata team in the 2016 NZ Latin cup.
Suzi completed her training in Samba No Pé in 2022. Shelooks forward to being able to share her love of this style of dance as it has quickly become her favourite dance form.