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LOSE your shoes And DANCE!

CONFESSION! I was so nervous when I went to my first African dancing class in Melbourne I almost didn’t go! I thought I would stuff it up big-time but I couldn’t believe how open, friendly and community-minded the class and teacher was. That night almost 14 years ago, I discovered such an unyielding passion for the power of African dance moves, beats and rhythms that it has literally changed my life.

I am always welcoming new dancers to my Rhythm Culture African Dance classes on Tuesday nights at 6.30pm in Palmwoods and there will be a course starting on July 18th 9am on Saturday mornings for a weekend fix. So, if you’ve ever considered taking up dancing as a way to get fit, have fun and meet new people, here are a few of my personal reasons to encourage you to lose your shoes, come to the fire and DANCE!

The best things African dancing has taught me:

  • It has strengthened my pelvic floor muscles like you won’t believe. I kept dancing until about 2 weeks before I gave birth to my second son and started again when he was about 4 weeks old. I credit all the lunges we incorporate in the dances for keeping my pelvic floor toned and strong!
  • It taught me it doesn’t matter what you look like when African dancing. ANYONE can do African dancing! People of all ages and fitness levels come to our classes and honestly, we sweat and laugh and move too much to care about what people are looking like. It’s an open, friendly vibe and we all wear comfy clothes. It’s not how we look but how we feel that matters!
  • I love that dancers can take it at their own pace. The thing with African dancing is, although we have certain moves for particular rhythms, everyone is still encouraged to follow their instincts, and express it in their way! There is no judgement or expectation… just come to the fire and dance!
  • It’s a calorie-burner like no other. I also walk for fitness but there are few aerobic work-outs like African dancing. I love that there is special focus on stretching and warming up before and after every class. The aerobic intensity of moving, jumping and stomping is great to get the heart-rate up but keeping our bodies injury-free is a priority.
  • Every dance tells a story from Africa. We learn dances performed at weddings, for the men working the field, or to celebrate other big milestones like birthdays or dances to flirt! It makes every dance night so exciting and special.
  • LIVE DRUMMING! There’s nothing like dancing to the djembe drums and my dance class has its own djembe group drumming for it. My partner and drumming teacher Nathaniel and his students are there every Tuesday night and the rhythm they learn on the djembe is the dance we do on the floor – how awesome is that!
  • There is something incredibly powerful and liberating about dancing in a way that expresses not only your feminine side but your masculine side. African women are renowned not only for their inner strength but physical strength and endurance and it shows when they dance! I can definitely relate to that type of exhilaration and joy when the drummers start and the dancers line up! It’s the best feeling ever!

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