How kizomba connects people from around the world through dance

As seen in new short doc, Elvis Amisi is building community in Ottawa after fleeing violence in Congo

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On a Tuesday evening inside a downtown Ottawa community centre, dozens of dancers pair up, place one hand on their partner's back and begin moving together in slow, deliberate steps to the music, with no distractions in sight.

For dance instructor and competitor Elvis Amisi, that's exactly the point of a kizomba class.

"It's one of those rare spaces where you can forget your phone on the side," said Amisi.

"Just listen to the music and listen to your partner."

After fleeing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Amisi discovered this unique form of African dance in Ottawa and has spent the past decade helping to grow the local kizomba community.

His story is featured in a new short documentary from CBC Ottawa's Creator Network, put together by filmmaker and former dance student Christian Kalambay.

Kalambay said he wanted to tell Amisi's story because of their shared Congolese heritage and after seeing the impact he was having on this unique dance community.

“[Amisi's] story is very compelling to me. I love his journey from where he came from, dealing with the trauma that he lives with, all the way to creating a community where he is the king of kizomba here in Ottawa," said Kalambay.

"And to see his effect, to people who come every week — it's just incredible.… It's been an amazing story to tell.”