Learn Tarraxo with a Tarraxo teacher who has taught in 50+ countries
Dawou Tarraxo is a Tarraxo teacher since 2018 and one of the pioneers of the style. Based in Dubai, he teaches private lessons in Dubai and online, masterclasses and festival workshops around the world, and trains other teachers with his TOCA Method.
What makes a good Tarraxo teacher
Tarraxo looks simple and takes years to master. Whoever you learn with, these five things make the difference:
Posture first
A good teacher fixes your grounded posture and your embrace before teaching any figure.
Lead through the weight
Tarraxo is led from the legs and the weight, not from the arms. The teacher should show you how, not just tell you.
Musicality
Slow, heavy music asks you to play between the beats and to hold the pauses. A good class always starts with the music.
Respect and consent
Tarraxo is danced very close. Comfort, consent and partner rotation should be part of every class.
A clear progression
You should know where you are, what comes next and why. Steps alone are not a method.
The teachers who shaped Tarraxo
Tarraxo is the work of a whole scene. Its roots are in Angolan Tarraxinha, its sound came from Lisbon producers in the early 2010s, and the dance took its current shape in Europe.
Kizzy and Gwany played a central role in structuring the dance and spreading it through workshops, dancer teams and festivals. Gwany, Kizzy and Liliana de Lima founded Global Tarraxo, the festival circuit that runs editions in Paris, Montreal, Dubai and Barcelona.
Dawou Tarraxo trained in Tarraxo with Gwany and Kizzy, started teaching Tarraxo in 2018, became an official Tarraxo dancer in 2020 and created the first Tarraxo dancer team. He taught at Tarraxo School in Paris, London and Dubai before taking the dance to more than 50 countries.
Read the full Tarraxo guide
How Dawou Tarraxo teaches: the TOCA Method
Before looking at steps, Dawou checks four things in every dancer. Feel first, then move.
Touch
Connection through contact, never through force.
Observation
Read the body, the energy, the timing and the music.
Control
Precision without tension.
Awareness
Be fully present with yourself, your partner and the track.
Where to take a Tarraxo class with Dawou Tarraxo
Private lessons in Dubai
One to one or as a couple, at your level, on posture, lead and musicality.
Private lessons online
From anywhere, by video call, with feedback on your own dancing.
Masterclasses and festivals
Workshops for schools and festivals worldwide. See the next dates below.
Teacher training
For Kizomba, Urbankiz and Tarraxo teachers who want a clear way to teach.
Online Academy
The full TOCA course online. Opening before the end of 2026, join the waiting list.
Where to dance with Dawou.
- 16 – 18 OctDachau · Munich · DEDDF 2026 · Deutschland Dance FestivalFestivalInfo ↗
- 30 Oct – 1 NovBangkok · THAfroKiz Bangkok 4FestivalUpcoming
- 5 – 10 NovMálaga · ESKizomba Queen FestivalFestivalUpcoming
- 17 – 21 SeptWarsaw · PLBadja Kiz Warsaw 2.0FestivalDone
- 24 – 27 JulParis · FRParis Kizomba Summer 9th Ed.MasterclassDone
You teach Tarraxo or Kizomba?
The TOCA teacher’s guide gives you a structure for every class: how to correct without crushing, how to read the room and how to build progress week after week. A new lesson for teachers is published every Friday.
Finding a Tarraxo teacher
Where can I find a Tarraxo teacher?
Tarraxo is taught at Kizomba and Urbankiz festivals, at dedicated Tarraxo events such as the Global Tarraxo circuit and in schools in many cities. Dawou Tarraxo teaches private lessons in Dubai and online, and masterclasses in festivals around the world.
Are there Tarraxo classes in Dubai?
Yes. Dawou Tarraxo is based in Dubai and gives private Tarraxo lessons there, alone or as a couple. There are currently no weekly group classes; masterclasses are announced on the website and on Instagram.
Can I learn Tarraxo online?
Yes. Private lessons work well by video call, and the free TOCA lessons are published every Tuesday and Friday. The Online Academy opens before the end of 2026.
Do I need a partner to learn Tarraxo?
No. Masterclasses rotate partners, and private lessons can be taken alone. A partner helps, but the basics of posture, weight and musicality start with your own body.
How long does it take to learn Tarraxo?
A few lessons are enough to dance a first song with a good posture and a clear weight transfer. Mastering the pauses, the lead and the musicality takes much longer, which is what makes it interesting.
Can I train to become a Tarraxo teacher?
Yes. Dawou Tarraxo offers teacher training based on the TOCA Method, and the teacher’s guide is available in English, French and Spanish.
Ready to learn Tarraxo?
Tell Dawou what you want: a private lesson, a masterclass for your school or festival, or teacher training.
Contact Dawou