If you thought Ballroom and Latin dance were reserved for ballrooms in Paris or New York, think again. In Harare’s vibrant streets, Katherine King, founder of Dance with Kat King, is proving that Zimbabwean rhythm has a place in the global dance conversation.

From the moment she saw her first Latin routine on ZTV to choreographing fusion styles across Zimbabwe and Zambia, Kat has embraced Afro-Latin dance not only as an art form but as a tool for empowerment, expression, and healing. In this inspiring interview, we explore her journey as a Ballroom and Latin dance instructor in Harare, her cultural influences, and her bold vision for African-led choreography.

🎥 How ZTV Sparked a Dance Dream in Harare

“Watching my first Ballroom and Latin lesson on ZTV, I just knew: ‘This is what I want to do.’ That spark became a flame the moment I stepped into my first class and felt the music move me.”

From Kizomba to Mambo, Kat’s commitment to dance began young and now burns brighter than ever across the continent.

🎶 Zimbabwean Dance Traditions Meet Latin Technique

“Zimbabwe’s traditional styles such as mbira rhythms, sungura, and spiritual movement, fuel my Latin choreography. Their energy and expression are deeply woven into my step patterns and storytelling.”

Kat’s Afro-Latin fusion choreography is grounded in heritage yet danced with global flair.

🕺 Harare Street Dancers Inspire Cha-Cha Choreography

“Local dancers in Harare blew me away. Their sungura groove became the heartbeat of a cha-cha routine I created from scratch, it reminded me that African steps can reshape global styles.”

Street style meets structured form in Kat’s creative process.

🌍 Cultural Exchange That Redefined Her Choreography

“Dancing with performers from Angola, West Africa, and the diaspora taught me new ways to move for example with Kizomba’s fluidity, South Central Africa’s grounded power. Those experiences changed everything.”

Kat’s African Ballroom choreography evolved through pan-African rhythm exchanges.

🚸 Teaching Ballroom Dance in Rural Zimbabwe

“In communities without studios or steady electricity, I teach through storytelling, rhythm, and connection. We make a dance floor from passion, not polished wood.”

Her work as a dance educator in Zimbabwe reaches students far beyond city limits.

🔥 Township Rhythms + Ballroom Technique = Magic

“One breakthrough moment was choreographing a waltz with township accents. The combo created a vibe I’d never felt before, structured yet completely alive.”

Kat’s fusion approach is shaping what Latin dance in Africa looks like.

💃 How Southern African and Angolan Styles Expanded Her Movement Vocabulary

“Kizomba and Central African dance pushed me, fluid hips, grounded feet, explosive energy. They changed how I understand my own body.”

Her Afro-Latin vocabulary now includes rhythm intelligence and physical intuition.

🧠 Rethinking Perfection in Dance Technique Across Africa

“Teaching in Zambia for example has shown me: perfection looks different everywhere. Individuality is part of technique.”

Kat encourages dancers to honor cultural identity in Ballroom technique.

👑 Feminine Power on the Dance Floor

“Dance lets women explore strength, grace, confidence. I teach girls to own their story, even when tradition says otherwise.”

As a female Ballroom instructor in Africa, Kat channels empowerment through dance.

✊ Zimbabwean Women Who Inspire Her

“Tsitsi Dangarembga is a firebrand. Her voice, vision, and courage inspire me every time I step into the studio or on stage.”

Her mentors aren’t always dancers, they’re cultural icons.

🔊 Rituals That Ground Her Before Every Performance

“I always connect with Zimbabwean music before stepping on stage. It reminds me where I come from and what stories I carry.”

Kat’s dance ritual reinforces her identity as a Zimbabwean artist.

🌈 Future of Afro-Latin Dance Is Fusion and Storytelling

“I see African-led Ballroom evolving into hybrid styles, telling our stories with every step, spin, and pause.”

Kat is shaping the future of Latin dance in Africa through bold choreography.

🌍 Her Vision for a Women of Africa Dance Exchange

“Imagine women from Lagos to Harare sharing homegrown steps. That’s my dream: dance as cultural dialogue and empowerment.”

Kat’s vision bridges borders with rhythm.

🪩 Can Anyone Learn to Dance with Kat King?

“Absolutely. Passion is all you need. I’ve taught people who once thought they had two left feet. Now they glide with much grace.”

🎯 Interested in Afro-Latin or Ballroom dance classes in Zimbabwe? 📱 Contact Kat via her website www.dancewithkatking.co.zw. WhatsApp: 0777969756 📸 Follow her on Instagram: @dancewithkatherineking

Ballroom and Latin Dance in Zimbabwe is no longer a borrowed art, it’s becoming a vibrant fusion rooted in African culture, thanks to trailblazers like Kat King. Whether you’re in Harare, Lusaka, or Blantyre, if you’ve ever tapped your foot to a beat, this is your sign: it’s time to dance.