Sarah wraps one leg around Akram’s hip, sinking flush against his chest right as Neok Musik’s remix drops a warm bassline under Michael Jackson’s vocals. The video title tags Kizomba. The festival banner in Toulouse says it too. Yet the movement filling the floor is unmistakable Haitian Kompa.
Dancing Kompa to “Smooth Criminal” sounds strange on paper. Pop remixes often butcher social dance timing by cranking up the tempo until the swing vanishes. Here, producer Neok Musik slows Michael’s iconic vocals into a relaxed pocket, layering syncopated Caribbean guitars over a heavy, rolling pulse. Akram Bouchiba and Sarah settle into that rhythm without rushing a single transfer of weight.
Everything stays grounded and unhurried. When the groove opens up, they skip the acrobatic tricks and flashy showmanship that often clutter festival demos. Akram leads Sarah through effortless turns, using light fingertip contact and clear chest cues. She lets her arms sweep overhead, framing each turn cleanly before sliding back into his frame.
Then comes the gouyad.
As the instrumentation strips back to bare percussion, the two close the distance completely. Foreheads rest together. Sarah softens her spine, allowing her pelvis to match the circular roll generated from Akram’s core. Later in the track, she hooks a leg high around his thigh while they continue that slow rotation, keeping the connection centered without losing balance on her heels.
Right before the music fades, Akram steps out into a wide side lunge, lowering Sarah into an arching dip that suspends her inches off the floor. The crowd of dancers encircling them erupts into cheers. Hit play on the clip above and send this to anyone who thinks Kompa only works with traditional Haitian records.
