LET’S GET DANCING
Celebrate Heritage month with local dances that build core strength, firm muscles and lose centimetres VIWE NDONGENI-NTLEBI
THE mere thought of having to run on a treadmill or spinning can make an experienced fitness enthusiast quiver. As a result of boredom with traditional exercise, many fitness fanatics are now switching to dancing to get themselves into shape. Not only is it a stress reliever and therapeutic, but it’s also a great exercise, due to its aerobic and anaerobic movements. For most of us, getting into an exercise routine is the hardest part of keeping fit. And if we’re honest, running on a treadmill isn’t the most exciting exercise either. Dancing helps to build core strength, firm muscles without bulking up, improving balance and co-ordination, while helping you
lose centimetres and kilos. Sifiso Kweyama is a professional dancer and dance teacher from Jazzart Dance Theatre. He says: “Dance targets all your muscles, every dance move done right can help reach your fitness goals without you feeling like you are putting too much effort as with the traditional gym.” To help you celebrate your heritage month, here are two types of dance fitness routines that you can do to shed kilos and have fun: Gumboot dancing You don’t get more South African than Mpho Kunene‘s gumboot-dancing classes. It starts off easy enough: Clap. Clapclap. Stomp-stomp. But by the end, you’re clapping, stomping, stepping and twirling in an intricate rhythmical sequence. Either way, it’s enormous fun and
full of feel-good South Africa pride, as Mpho tells the dance’s origin story. Pantsula Pantsula took its early influences from tap dance, with traces of jive, gumboot, tribal African dance and everyday gestures like dice-rolling. Its trademark is intricate, on-thespot rhythmic footwork, where feet twist, shuffle and stamp. Pantsula is more than a style of dance or a mode of dress. For the men and women of South Africa’s townships, it’s a whole way of life. But over the years it has also been used as a form of dance fitness. It works the whole body, while keeping you entertained. If you choose to take up one of these, try not to focus on perfecting the skill but rather enjoy the moment and get one step closer to your health goal.
