These 3 dance moves are an instant confidence builder

You don’t have to run, cycle, or swim to score “credit” for cardio. Dance can get your heart rate up, burn calories, and boost your endurance, too, says Hurricane, founder of Afrobeat Burnout. The classes, which just launched on NEOU, involve dance and aerobic movements performed to energetic African music. “It feels like a dance party rather than a workout,” says Hurricane. He infuses his routines with three types of Ghanaian dance: Azonto, Akayida, and Kupe. Learn more about them and get inspired to try each of them here: 

Mimic what you do IRL.

“Azonto dance involves a set of hand movements that mimic everyday activities or moves intended to amuse an audience,” says Hurricane. “The dance has effectively evolved from a few basic moves to miming actions such as ironing clothes, washing, driving, boxing, praying, swimming, and others.”

Move to your own beat.

“Akayida involves footwork and the swaying of the body along with hand and shoulder movements in a certain pattern,” says Hurricane. But, at its core, Akayida is intensely relaxed and free-form, Hurricane notes. 

Give the peace sign. 

“Kupe dance was started by a dancer from Ghana called Incredible Zigi,” says Hurricane. The dance begins with a one-handed peace sign and then progresses to rigorous shoulder and hip movements.