We are a small group of passionate members that rely on hard work and a lot of help from our friends to deliver the best experience possible in your Brazilian Zouk journey.
Gustavo Martins
Artistic Director
Gustavo Martins is a Brazilian dance instructor with 18 years of experience. He started dancing at Jaime Aroxa’s Dance School, one of the most respected dance studios in Brazil. After completing his formation Gustavo taught there and in a few other well established dance studios in Rio de Janeiro for 16 years. He was an instructor at some major events like the First Forró in Rio congress, and taught workshops throughout Brazil, USA and Portugal. As a dancer, Gustavo was part of Jaime Aroxa Dance Company, Fabiano & Juliana Dance Company, and Lidio Freitas Dance Company, which included several theater performances, Carnival Parades, Salon Canning Milonga in Buenos Aires, and others. In 2014, he founded a Samba de Gafieira workshop event that happens every year in Rio de Janeiro called Nerds do Samba, and in 2019 he created Zoukville, the new brand that is helping Nashville and the world to fall in love with all Brazilian dances and in special with Zouk.
Email me: zoukville@gmail.com
Virginia Silva
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Virginia Silva has lived in the US for over 20 years. She is an Accounting graduate from Pennsylvania State University and has worked as an auditor, financial analyst and is currently a Finance Manager leading teams in the US and Costa Rica. Virginia has also graduated from the Technical School program for classical ballet dancers from Centro de Dança Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with studies in classical ballet, tap, jazz, modern, flamenco, body motion and expression, and anatomy related to dance. She studied West Coast Swing for several years when she arrived in the US and had several placements in competitions at the advance level. Virginia studied many other forms of dance at different levels, such as Argentine Tango, Ballroom, Brazilian dances, and other Latin dances.
Email me: zoukville@gmail.com
Zoukville 