What is african dance?
African dance is not one style but hundreds, each tied to a community, rhythm and purpose. In American studios, "African dance" usually means West African dance classes with live djembe and dunun drummers — dances such as lamban, kuku and sunu — as well as Afrobeats and amapiano choreography.
History
African dance traditions shaped nearly every American vernacular form, from tap and jazz to hip-hop. Pioneers such as Asadata Dafora, Pearl Primus and Katherine Dunham brought African forms to American concert stages; companies like Chuck Davis's DanceAfrica festival (founded 1977) keep them central.
Basic technique
- Grounded, bent-knee posture
- Polyrhythmic body isolations
- Call and response with the drums
Music & tempo
Live drumming and contemporary Afrobeats/amapiano.
Songs for african dance
| Song | Artist | BPM | Key | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paxi Ni Ngongo | Bonga | 102 | A minor | 1972 |
BPM as measured by audio analysis; some tracks read at half or double the danced tempo.
All 1 african dance songs by BPM →
What to wear
Comfortable clothes; often barefoot.
How to get started
Look for classes with live drummers at community arts centers.
We list 7 studios that teach african dance, or browse all dance studios by state.
African Dance in historic images
An African dance celebrating the victory over the Musiri
fotografi, photograph
African Dance Company of Senegal
African Dance Company of Senegal . Optreden in Kurzaal
African Dance Company of Senegal . Optreden in Kurzaal
African Dance Company of Senegal . Optreden in Kurzaal
My Spiritual Journey
Openly licensed images via Europeana; rights statements on each item page.
Recent research
- Physical Activity and Incident Depression: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies. — The American journal of psychiatry, 2018
- Cardio-Dance Exercise to Improve Cognition and Mood in Older African Americans: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study. — Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society, 2022
- Here's To Our Community. — Medical problems of performing artists, 2020
- Evaluating Avoidable Transfers of Pediatric Forearm Fractures to the Emergency Department. — Cureus, 2025
- Examining the efficacy of a cardio-dance intervention on brain health and the moderating role of ABCA7 in older African Americans: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial. — Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 2023
Books about african dance
- Doople by Alphonse Tierou (1989)
- Baakisimba by Sylvia Antonia Nannyonga-Tamusuza (2014)
- Ban of the Bori by A. J. N. Tremearne (2013)
- West African Drumming and Dance in North American Universities by George Worlasi Kwasi Dor (2014)
- Seize the Dance by Michelle Kisliuk (1998)
- Hot Feet and Social Change by Kariamu Welsh, Esailama Diouf, Yvonne Daniel (2019)
Encyclopedia summary
African dance (also Afro dance, Afrodance and Afro-dance) refers to the various dance styles of sub-Saharan Africa. These dances are closely connected with the traditional rhythms and music traditions of the region. Music and dancing are an integral part of many traditional African societies. Songs and dances facilitate teaching and promoting social values, the celebration of special events and major life milestones, the performance of oral history and other recitations, and spiritual experiences. African dance uses the concepts of polyrhythm and total body articulation. African dances are often a collective activity performed in large groups, with significant interaction between dancers and onlookers.
Frequently asked questions
What is DanceAfrica?
A festival of African and African diaspora dance founded by Chuck Davis in 1977 and held annually at BAM in Brooklyn.
How many calories does african dance burn?
About 331 calories per hour for a 155-lb (70 kg) person, based on a MET value of 4.5 from the Compendium of Physical Activities. See calories burned african dance for every body weight.
Related styles
Modern Dance
United States and Germany, early 20th century
Street & Club DanceHip-Hop Dance
The Bronx, New York, and California funk styles
Ballet & Theatrical DanceTap Dance
United States — African rhythmic traditions meet Irish and Scottish step dancing
World & Cultural DanceFlamenco
Andalusia, Spain (Gitano/Roma culture)
World & Cultural DanceBelly Dance
Egypt and the Middle East (raqs sharqi); American Tribal Style in the US
World & Cultural DanceIrish Dance
Ireland
World & Cultural DanceHula
Hawaiʻi
World & Cultural DanceBhangra
Punjab (India and Pakistan)
Last reviewed October 2026 · Editorial policy