About Brazilian Zouk OC
In 2021, Brazilian Zouk OC was officially established with the intention of rebuilding the Orange County Brazilian Zouk community by providing affordable and high quality classes and events.
Since then, the Brazilian Zouk community in Orange County is THRIVING!
Our Mission
We strive to create an inclusive Brazilian Zouk community in Orange County to grow confidence in dancers of all levels by providing a positive environment and quality instruction.
Where it all started...
Back in 2014, Brazilian Zouk made its quiet debut in Orange County—and that’s where our founder, Christina, fell head over heels for the dance. The first parties were small, maybe 10–15 people in a room, but the energy? Electric. It was never about the numbers... it was about connection, movement, and the kind of joy you can’t fake.
That spark lit a fire. Christina dove deep, traveling across the U.S. and abroad to learn from early Zouk pioneers and emerging communities around the world. From some of North America's very first Zouk congresses to underground socials abroad, she chased the dance wherever it lived.
In 2015, she began hosting her own Zouk events locally, laying the foundation for what would become Zouk OC. What started as a passion project grew into a mission: to build a space where dancers of all backgrounds could learn, grow, and feel at home.
Today, that same energy lives on—but in rooms filled with even more smiles, more music, and a growing community that still feels like family. Our goal? To make sure every person who walks into a Zouk OC space feels what Christina felt at her first party: welcomed, inspired, and completely hooked.
Zouk OC Core Team
Christina Montoya
Founder of Zouk OC | International Instructor | Community Builder
“I wish everyone could understand the positive opportunities dance can bring. Dance gave me the ability to change my life and brought out the best in me. I invested in myself through dance because it felt good, and I am dedicated to bringing that same positive experience to others on their dance journey.”
Christina Montoya is an internationally recognized Brazilian Zouk instructor, performer, and community leader based in Orange County, California. Known for her detailed, honest, and engaging teaching style, Christina brings clarity and inspiration to dancers of all levels—sprinkling her classes with those unforgettable “ah-ha!” moments that unlock real growth. Her journey began in 2011 when she discovered partner dancing, eventually leading her to Brazilian Zouk—a dance that quickly became her life’s passion. Christina’s movement background spans Hip-Hop, Jazz, Competitive Cheerleading, Tahitian, Salsa, and Bachata, all of which influence her unique style and approach to Zouk. Since falling in love with Zouk, Christina has trained under top international artists and completed multiple teacher certification courses. She began competing early in her Zouk career, earning 1st Place in the Semi-Pro division at the US Zouk Open in 2015 and becoming the first North American to enter the BZDC Advanced division in 2018. Alongside her partner Alisson Sandi, she won 1st Place in the Mixed Latin Cabaret Couples Division at the World Salsa Solo in 2018, earning the highest scores across the entire competition. She has continued to compete and coach, most recently leading teams to top placements at the Brazilian Zouk World Championships in 2022, 2023, and 2024. In 2017, Christina founded Zouk Babes, a global franchise team program focused on follower technique, expression, and empowerment through training and choreography. Today, Zouk Babes has over 80 active members in 8 cities across North America. Christina continues to mentor team directors in technique, community building, and leadership development. In 2021, Christina launched Brazilian Zouk OC to help rebuild and reimagine the local dance community post-COVID. What started with small socials and classes has grown into a vibrant and inclusive space that feels like family. Through weekly classes, community events, and immersive training programs, Zouk OC provides dancers with structured growth, meaningful connection, and the magic of Brazilian Zouk right here in Orange County. Christina travels regularly to teach, perform, judge, and compete at top congresses and festivals across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Brazil, Australia, and Asia. Whether on stage or in the studio, her mission remains the same: to share the transformative power of Brazilian Zouk and help others discover the dancer inside themselves.
Sarah Miles
Zouk OC Instructor
Sarah began her Brazilian Zouk journey in 2022, learning under the guidance of Christina Montoya at Brazilian Zouk OC. Right away, she was drawn to the fluidity of the movements and the freedom of the head motion, excited to bring that same flow into her other dances.
What really stood out to Sarah early on was the instructors’ incredible attention to detail. She appreciated how that focus created such a passionate and supportive community—full of talented instructors and dancers who truly care about the dance. What made Sarah fall completely in love with Zouk was how it made her feel—like she could let go, surrender, and trust, whether dancing alone or with a partner. She also loved the variety in the music—ranging from slow and lyrical to bass-heavy and full of attitude—making every dance feel fresh and exciting. At socials, she noticed the joy in the room: big smiles, good vibes, and people genuinely enjoying themselves. Her first Zouk festival sealed the deal, with its high energy and the way everyone cheered each other on with so much love and support. Long before discovering Zouk, Sarah had already fallen in love with teaching dance. It’s been a huge part of her life, and she’s always loved sharing that joy through teaching. While she enjoyed teaching Bachata and Salsa, teaching Zouk brought things to a whole new level. For Sarah, teaching Zouk feels like getting to show off her favorite toy during show and tell—pure excitement and joy. Now, she hopes to keep spreading that same passion, helping others discover the beauty and magic of Zouk just like she did.
Brayden Schmidt
Zouk OC Instructor
Brayden had been dancing Salsa and Bachata for 7 years before he discovered Zouk. He followed Sarah to their first class taught by Christina Montoya, and that’s where he discovered his love for Zouk. While his experience with other dances helped him start, there was still so much for him to learn with Zouk.
What stood out to him compared to other dances was the natural fluidity and freedom that comes with the dance. This flow creates a feeling that is wholly unique to Zouk, and he appreciates the natural “conversations” that happen between leads and follows while on the dance floor. What made him fall in love with the dance is the natural “conversations” that happen between you and your partner while on the dance floor. He has always been a proponent of listening to your partner and dancing together during other dances, but Zouk is on another level to him. He loves how each dance is a conversation between the lead and the follow, where both people have input into what is happening with the dance, and where the follow can also give their own suggestions for what will happen next, such as with head movement. Before he started dancing Zouk, Brayden had been teaching Salsa and Bachata for years, building up his knowledge and expertise with partner dancing. He always loved being able to give back to the community and to help build up the next generation of dancers so that the scene could continue to grow and evolve. He hopes to bring the same to the Zouk community, helping to build up both the new dancers and the core members of the community so that the scene can grow to be the best it can possibly be.
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Amit Rampurkar
Events Coordinator
Amit discovered Zouk thanks to a friend who invited him to a social dance event. The moment he stepped onto the dance floor and let the rhythm guide his movements, he was hooked. It was his first time exploring social partner dancing, so it felt intimidating at first—but over time, he worked through that initial anxiety. The fluidity of Zouk's movements and its intimate connection between two human beings resonated deeply with him.
What Amit love most about Zouk is its ability to express emotions through movement. Each dance tells a unique story, blending passion and grace in a way that transcends language. He especially enjoys how Zouk allows for dramatic expression, adding a fun and playful element to the dance. Amit is not a social butterfly, and many times it is difficult for him to have one-on-one or deeper/longer conversations. This challenge is also a reason why he enjoys exploring his journey as an organizer, trying to provide his way of helping the Zouk community. He is passionate about nurturing a supportive and inclusive community where everyone feels valued and empowered. Through workshops, social events, and open conversations, he aims to share his love for Zouk and help others discover its transformative power. He hopes to contribute by promoting growth, respect, and a deeper understanding of both the dance and each other within our vibrant Zouk community.
Ly Lê
Community Events Host & Assistant Instructor
Ly discovered Brazilian Zouk in July 2022, after exploring various dance and movement practices over the years—including capoeira, forró, samba, and lots of solo dancing.
Though she had tried bachata, it never quite resonated. Everything changed one night at Legacy Tuesday, where she watched Christina teach alongside her mom, Alma. That moment, paired with one of DJ Viktor’s hypnotic sets, completely captivated her. It was her first real glimpse of Zouk—and she was hooked. Not long after, Ly began taking classes with Zouk OC and continued learning from a number of incredible local teachers: Clinton, Nathalia, Aneska, Adam & Stephanie, and Marissa. Each instructor brought a unique perspective, deepening her connection to the dance and the community. What drew Ly in most was Zouk’s invitation to be authentic. She found something rare in the connection, comfort, and deep respect that Zouk fosters. The music, the freedom to switch roles, and the strong presence of female leadership all made the culture feel especially inclusive and meaningful to her. Ly is passionate about contributing to a vibrant, welcoming local scene—one rooted in accessibility and inclusivity. She supports spaces where people feel safe to be their full, authentic selves. For Ly, Zouk is not just about dance—it's about balance, community care, and joy. And that’s exactly what she’s committed to helping grow.
Phillip Lee
Community Ambassador & Instructor
“What drew me to Zouk was the music and the endless room for creativity. It gave me a way to express myself through movement—and brought purpose and direction back into my dancing.”
Phillip’s dance journey began in Orlando, where joining a competitive hip hop team in college sparked his love for movement, growth, and performance. That same passion carried into salsa, where he eventually trained and performed for several years on a semi-pro team. After moving to New York City, Phillip took a pause from dancing—until he discovered Brazilian Zouk at a bachata social in 2018. A year later, his first Jack & Jill at NYC Zouk Festival reignited his love for competition and inspired him to begin training again. Now based in Orange County, Phillip helps guide Zouk OC’s training culture—fostering an environment of focused practice, intentional feedback, and shared growth. He currently competes in the Advanced division of Jack & Jill.
Adarsh Shetty
Community Cares Program Lead
Adarsh stumbled into Brazilian Zouk in late 2022 in Los Angeles—drawn in particularly by the challenge, the vibrant musical variety, and the chance to train with people.
He wasn’t looking for another hobby. He was looking for something that kicked his ego, stretched his body, and sharpened his presence. Zouk had all three—with body rolls! He did his first deep dive with the amazing Christina Montoya, who didn’t just teach steps, but sculpted awareness. Since then, it’s been a journey of grounding, growing, and grooving—with a few Sarradas and crafty Yo-Yos thrown in for good measure. What drew him in most was the friends—the kind who started their Zouk journeys alongside him, sweated through drills, missed counts, and somehow turned into a crew. Today, that crew is proud to be part of the Zouk OC team. To Adarsh, Zouk is moving meditation. It’s expressive but elegant. Powerful, yet playful. He dances not to impress, but to express. What he hopes people see in his dancing isn’t perfection—but presence. He invites others to dance in his way: bring your feet, bring your flow, bring your two left feet—and maybe a change of clothes. Zouk gets sweaty, but don’t lose hope. Whether you’re a rookie, rusty, or a pro—everyone’s welcome to vibe. Isn’t he a charm? He will be leading our Community Cares Program. 💛