Afrobeats Dance

Afrobeats dance is the high-energy style that goes with Afrobeats, the pop sound that grew out of West Africa, especially Nigeria and Ghana. Think bouncy footwork, loose shoulders, rolling hips and a whole lot of swagger. Many of its moves began as dance crazes that spread from parties to social media and back again. It's joyful, sociable and made for the dancefloor.

That little s matters. Afrobeat is an older style of funk and jazz from Nigeria, with long songs and big horn sections. Afrobeats is the newer, poppier sound that blends West African rhythms with hip hop, dancehall and R&B. Both are built for dancing, but it's Afrobeats that has taken over playlists and parties around the world.

Azonto, from Ghana, is playful and expressive, with hand and body movements that mime everyday actions. Yes, you can dance about doing the washing.

Shaku Shaku, from Nigeria, has crossed, swinging arms and a relaxed, shuffling bounce. It looks effortless. It takes a few goes.

Zanku, also called legwork, is all about quick, springy footwork and kicks.

Add shoulder rolls, chest pops and grooves where your whole body rides the beat, and you've got the building blocks of most routines.

You'll warm up first, then your Activity Leader breaks down a handful of key steps nice and slowly, counting you through each one. Once they click, you string them together into a short routine and dance it to the music, speeding up as you go. Nobody's marking your technique. The point is to feel the rhythm, add your own flavour, let your shoulders loosen up and leave grinning from ear to ear.

Perfect. The steps are simple to pick up, and the music does most of the heavy lifting. If you've ever nodded along to a catchy tune, you're already halfway there. It's a sociable one too, so expect to swap moves, laugh at your own mistakes and cheer each other on. Wear something comfy you can move in and bring water, because you will sweat.

You might also like Bollywood Dance, Swing Dance and Capoeira.

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