Kadu Pires and Larissa Thayane are internationally recognized Latin dance professionals and two of the most influential figures in the global Brazilian Zouk community. Their partnership began in 2005 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and together they have played a key role in spreading Brazilian Zouk to all corners of the world.
In 2007, Kadu and Larissa relocated to Australia, where they taught at Rio Rhythmics Latin Dance School for five years before founding their own school, K&L Dance, in 2012. During their decade in Australia, they also created Casa do Zouk, a premier zouk congress that has welcomed dancers from across the globe.
Kadu, originally from São Paulo, began his Latin dance journey at a young age and moved to Rio de Janeiro at 18, where he danced and taught with renowned companies including Jimmy de Oliveira and Alex de Carvalho.
Larissa, born in Campo Mourão, Paraná, trained professionally in ballet and contemporary dance, graduating from Escola de Danças Clássicas Teatro Guaíra and attending the University of Dance (Faculdade de Artes do Paraná). She later joined the Youth Company of the Rio de Janeiro Theatre and toured extensively across Brazil. One of her career highlights was performing with the National Symphonic Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Together, Kadu and Larissa have dedicated their lives to teaching, performing, choreographing, and judging at the most prestigious dance events in the world—often traveling up to 46 weekends per year. Their influence has been instrumental in elevating the international recognition of both Brazilian Zouk and Samba de Gafieira, including appearances on television and choreography work for So You Think You Can Dance Australia and judging at the World Latin Dance Cup.
In 2014, Larissa founded the Brazilian Zouk Dance Council (BZDC), which has been central to standardizing and promoting Brazilian Zouk competitions globally. That same year, the first official BZDC Jack & Jill took place at Casa do Zouk.
In 2022, after over a decade of global experience and mentorship in the zouk scene, Kadu and Larissa founded the Brazilian Zouk World Championships. The vision was to create a prestigious and inclusive platform that celebrates both the artistic and technical excellence of dancers worldwide, while honoring the dance’s Brazilian roots. This event brings together professionals, students, and dance lovers in a unique environment of education, competition, and celebration — showcasing the best of what the global zouk community has to offer.
Now based in Los Angeles, Kadu and Larissa continue their mission of growing the dance through projects like the K&L Teacher Training Certificate (K<T) and their own competitive journey in West Coast Swing, where they have successfully competed in the Showcase division at the US Open Swing Dance Championships for the past three years.
Their legacy is one of passion, excellence, and deep dedication to the global growth of Brazilian Zouk.