5 traditional dance styles for full-body fitness
What's the story
African dance styles are not only a celebration of culture but also an amazing way to keep fit.
With their energetic movements and rhythmic beats, these dances can provide you a full-body workout that improves your flexibility, strength, and endurance.
Doing these dance forms can be both enjoyable and good for your body.
Here are five vibrant African dance styles you can add to your fitness regime to reap their dynamic benefits.
Azonto
Get moving with Azonto
Coming from Ghana, Azonto is famous for its expressive movements and fast-paced beat.
The dance form involves fast footwork along with hand movements that imitate daily life activities.
The fast pace of Azonto makes it an excellent cardio workout, improving heart health and burning calories.
Regularly practicing Azonto can also help improve your coordination and balance.
Kizomba
Feel the rhythm of Kizomba
Kizomba originates from Angola and it is known for its smooth, flowing movement to slow music.
Unlike other high-energy dance forms, Kizomba emphasizes on connection with your partner through closeness and matching steps.
This style improves your posture, core strength, and flexibility, while giving you a low-impact workout that works for all fitness levels.
Pantsula
Experience the energy of pantsula
Pantsula is an upbeat street dance from South Africa's townships during the apartheid period.
Characterized by fast footwork and acrobatic moves in time with house beats or traditional kwaito or mbaqanga songs, this high-energy dance form serves as an intense cardio workout.
It builds your stamina while making you agile with jumping jacks or squats integrated into routines.
Soukous
Embrace the spirit of soukous
Soukous comes from Congo-Brazzaville (Republic) and Democratic Republic (DRC) with its fast-paced, hip-shaking moves set to guitar-driven melodies called rumba.
This vibrant form makes a great aerobic exercise, working out lower body muscles such as thighs and calves, thanks to the constant leg movement throughout the performance.
It builds endurance levels over time when practiced regularly with other workouts such as running or jogging sessions too!
Afrobeat
Discover the joys of Afrobeat dance
Afrobeat blends highlife, jazz, funk, soul, and reggae of West Africa to create soundscapes for the global dance lover.
It requires rhythmicality and perfect timing to nail out difficult moves.
Mastering it will make you fit by working out your entire body rigorously while practicing, ensuring you reap the most out of every performance.