Festivals require their own prep to be ready for. Neokizomba as a brand has set up the Ultimate Dance Event Survival Kit to make it easy for everyone to review and see what items would be useful going into Neokiz 2023.

Here's the breakdown:

Learning

• YouTube account - Have you ever wished you had a place to store all the videos you capture on your phone at dance events? YouTube has no storage limitations, allowing you to upload all the videos you have and keep them in one place
• Dancer’s Training Journal - Charles created a training journal that gives dancers a way to track all their training (solo or partnered practice sessions, classes, workshops, privates, and socials!)
• There's also a wonderful resource with online kiz lessons at Learntokiz.com! Here's a deal that lasts a lifetime. Take advantage of our 30% off deal on our annual membership, a discount that will stay with you for life!"

Tech

• Portable digital scale - allows you to keep your luggage under weight restrictions for flying
• Portable Bluetooth speaker - easy access to tunes for dance wherever you are
• Travel cable organizer - keeps all your charging cables in one spot and untangled
• Velcro ties - easy organization for smaller items
• Portable battery - keeps your phone/earbuds/etc. charged if wall outlets aren’t around
• Power strip w/ USB ports - ensures you can charge everything you need to
• Fuse reel - stores the longer power cord for laptops while keeping it contained

Clothing

• Travel packing cubes - stores and streamlines packing clothing
• Tide pens - easy and portable stain remover
• Travel laundry bag - easy place to hold used clothes
• Travel sewing kit - useful for any fabric rips or minor defects
• Portable clothes steamer - easy to travel with and freshen outfits

Food/Nutrition

• Huel meal supplements - easy to travel with and packed with nutrients
• Portable blender - useful for prepping protein or meal supplement shakes
• Granola bars - easy to travel with and eat on the go
• Water bottle - helps to stay hydrated with water always nearby
• Travel cutlery set - helps to make sure you can eat what you order (even if Uber Eats doesn't bring cutlery)

Body Care

• Folding yoga mat - makes stretching and recuperation more accessible
• Resistance bands - portable exercise options
• First aid kit - good to have supplies for any scrapes or mild injuries
• Massage balls - easy muscle aids that pack easily
• PSO-RITE deep tissue massage tool - very useful for tight muscles
• Immune support supplements / Emergen-C - boost immune system during the event
• Eye mask - helps to avoid sleep disruption
• Hollow foam roller - targets muscle groups and can be packed around more easily
• Arnica / pain relief gel - helps ease sore or tight muscles
• Massage gun - useful for targeting muscles with more power

For the Dance Floor

• Cooling towel / sweat rag - keep up with sweating while dancing
• Baby powder - avoiding sticking points on the dance floor
• Ear plugs - preserve your hearing, many options that filter harmful decibel levels while allowing sound to still be heard
• Moleskin shoe protection - keeps feet from rubbing harshly in shoes

Hygiene

• Listerine strips / mints - keep breath fresh while interacting on the dance floor
• Foldable squatty potty - facilitates bathroom use regardless of how high or low a toilet rests
• Poo-pourri toilet spray - keep the bathroom fresh (especially with roommates)
• Flushable wipes - easy to use in the bathroom

Learning

• YouTube account - Have you ever wished you had a place to store all the videos you capture on your phone at dance events? YouTube has no storage limitations, allowing you to upload all the videos you have and keep them in one place

Hygiene plays a big role in the dances you can have during an event. Some tips to keep in mind:

• Washing up regularly combats the sweat that occurs throughout workshops, pool parties, and night socials
• Brushing teeth keeps the mouth fresh, essential in a close embrace dance like kiz
• Easy access to deodorant and mints/mouthwash will help to combat odor as the hours go by
• Sweat towels are very helpful to keep the perspiration at bay
• If you notice that you sweat quite a bit, extra shirts are always a good option

If you are interesting in setting up a private with any of the instructors at Neokiz 2023, reach out to them directly.

We have a space where privates can take place at the hotel, the room (located behind the seating at the Onion Creek Grill restaurant in the hotel).

Be mindful that Uber pickup at AUSTIN airport is not directly outside. You have to go to the garage. Take the elevator to the second floor. Then walk to the pickup Uber location located in the second floor.

Please see this diagram for instructions.

Attendees can check into the hotel as early as 3:00 p.m. Upon arriving, go to the service desk to the left of the entryway, and present ID so that staff can look up your reservation and check in your reservation.

For anyone driving in for Neokiz 2023, standard parking is free at the Austin Southpark Hotel!

For anyone driving in for Neokiz 2023, standard parking is free at the Austin Southpark Hotel!

Registration is a hub for information! Attendees should access registration for:

• Neokiz 2023 check in
• Event schedule for reference
• Directions to the various workshop/practice/social room locations
• Jack & Jill check in
• Useful extra - mints and hand sanitizer will be available to everyone

Registration will also have the following:

Attendees can turn in any lost items or check for items to Registration for safe keeping. Items will also be posted to the event page to help find their owners.

Minor cuts and bumps are always a possibility, the first aid kid at Registration will contain bandages and other first aid items and is available to all attendees.

Periods are a fact of life for many dancers, and we would like to ensure that no attendee has to panic should they need anything during the festival. This care basket is at Registration and includes:

• Feminine hygiene products
• Tylenol & Advil
• Single-use heating patches
• Nail files
• Chapstick
• Tide pens
• Bobby pins & hair ties

The Neo Kizomba Festival is committed to create and maintain a safe, welcoming, and respectful space for our community members. At all our events, we are dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for every participant, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, physical appearance, body size, age, race, or dance ability. We do not tolerate harassment of event participants in any form. Anyone engaging in harassing or violent behavior may be expelled from the event, without a refund, and any decisions towards these kinds of behaviors are at the discretion of the Neo Kizomba Festival organizers.

We also have a Code of Conduct and Desired Community Norms that we encourage everyone to read so that this safe space is the intention for all attendees.

To report a violation of this policy during the event and for immediate assistance, please go to registration and request assistance with safe space. To report a complaint outside of event space, please use the Safer Space Contact Form.

We want everyone to participate that is interested!

Jack & Jill registration is open until 1:00 a.m. on Saturday 7/22, and you can use this link to purchase a pass to compete - Urbankiz Jack & Jill for Neokiz 2023

For anyone who is competing, show up to Registration by 11:00 a.m. on Saturday 7/22 to check in and receive your bib for the competition

The Austin Southpark Hotel has options for food on site that attendees can take advantage of:

• Onion Creek Grille is open daily 6:30 AM to 2:00 PM
• Lobby Lounge is open daily serving food 4 PM to 10 PM
• Coffee Shop is open 24/7, food is served daily 2 PM to 4 PM and orders will be packaged to go
• Room Service is open daily 4 PM to 10 PM

All of the delivery options (GrubHub, Uber Eats, DoorDash) will deliver to the hotel, and there are plentiful restaurants in the vicinity.

Instacart is another delivery option that is more geared towards groceries, and can be useful for bulk fruit/snacks/beverages to have available.

Below is a brief list of some of the closest restaurants with addresses and hours of operation:

• Hideaway Kitchen & Bar (Southern comfort food) - Hours: every day 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. - 4323 N I-35 Frontage Rd, Austin, TX 78744

• Asia Chinese Restaurant (Pan-Asian food) - Hours: Monday - Friday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. / Saturday & Sunday 12 p.m. - 9 p.m. - 1931 E Ben White Blvd Ste 300, Austin, TX 78741

• Don Juan (Mexican food) - Hours: every day 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. - 2506 E Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX 78741

• Catfish Parlour South (Seafood) - Hours: Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. / Friday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. (closed Sundays) - 4705 E Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX 78744

• G BOBS Mediterranean Grill (Mediterranean food) - Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. (closed Sundays) - 4749 E Ben White Blvd, Austin, TX 78744

• Distant Relatives (Barbecue) - Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. (closed Mondays and Tuesdays) - 3901 Promontory Point Dr, Austin, TX 78744

• Tribal Burger (Burgers) - Hours: every day 11 a.m. - midnight - 3400 Comsouth Dr, Austin, TX 78744

• La Placita (Mexican food) - Hours: every day 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. - 5310 S Pleasant Valley Rd, Austin, TX 78744

We will have 19 taxi dancers at the festival to help improve the social dancing experience of everyone. A taxi dancer will be on duty when you see them wearing a flashing bracelet. We are desiring an energy of gratitude and appreciation and not ownership or obligation.

Please see our post on the role of taxi dancers at #NEOKIZFEST2023.

1. Two Taxi Dancers who are off duty can dance with each other.
2. If one Taxi Dancer is on duty, they should not dance with another Taxi Dancer.
3. A Taxi Dancer who is off duty can dance with an Artist.
4. A Taxi Dancer on duty should not dance with an Artist.

More info coming soon!

We will be dancing with new and old friends that we've made in the dance community at the festival and there are many factors to consider navigating the social dance floor at a larger event!

Charles recently created an Instagram carousel and wrote a blog about "18 Reasons For Declining A Dance That Aren't About You". Highly recommended to check it out to navigate the social dance floor better.

Laura Riva has also written many beautiful blogs over the years across many different topics in the dance scene, and here we want to highlight her body of work around etiquette on the dance floor.

We will have decibel monitors in place to ensure the music level is at a decent level that won't damage our hearing and prevent ringing in our ears.

Please check out this blog for more insight on safe sound levels.

The Austin Southpark Hotel allows checkout as late as noon. Plan ahead so you’re not caught off guard and rushing to pack and check out in time.

TSA is chronically understaffed at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. This has caused serious delays in getting through security. 

The advised time frame for arriving at the airport is 2-3 hours before your flight take-off time. There are several restaurants and seating areas within the airport that should ease any wait time you have before departing.

Keep this in mind when you are scheduling an Uber or taxi service to get you to your flight timely.

We'd love to hear about your experience at this year's festival through our survey! We are raffling off 8 FULL PASSES to #NEOKIZFEST2024!