Class descriptions
The dance styles we represent at World Dance Academy are more than just dance – they embody cultures, histories, and lifestyles.
Many of these styles were born under challenging social conditions and carry deep meaning and resilience within their movements.
We encourage all dancers, members, instructors, and organizers to go beyond the steps – to actively seek knowledge through classes, workshops, travel, books, and cultural exchange. Understanding the roots and history of each dance style is essential to honoring the people, stories, and contexts they come from.
The following descriptions are intended only as brief introductions to each style.
World Dance Academy offers classes in Dancehall, Afrobeat, Afro Fusion, Afrohouse, Azonto, Amapiano, Ndombolo, Brazil Mix, West African Sabar, and Guinean traditional dance.
Afro
afro Fusion
Teachers: Atif, Colosal Titan, Datif The Great, Owayoua & Sandra Sebit
Afro Fusion is not a single dance style, but a blend of styles from across the African continent. It draws from a wide range of genres such as Coupé Décalé (Ivory Coast), Naija Style (Nigeria), Ndombolo (DR Congo), Afrohouse (Angola), Kuduro (Angola), Amapiano (South Africa), Azonto (Ghana), and many more. Sometimes, Afro Fusion classes also include elements from other genres such as Dancehall or Hip Hop.
Each Afro Fusion class can vary greatly depending on the instructor’s background and interpretation. Some focus on one style over a period of time, while others mix several African styles in each session.
afrohouse
Teacher: Colosal Titan
Afrohouse is a dance and music style that originated in Angola in the early 2000s as an evolution of Kuduro, an energetic street dance from the 1980s. Afrohouse combines traditional African rhythms and movements with electronic house beats and draws inspiration from Ndombolo (DR Congo), Coupé Décalé (Ivory Coast), and South African street dances.
The dance is characterized by fast, detailed footwork, fluid body isolations, and grounded, rhythmic movements.
Azonto
Teacher: Francis Switch Brako
Azonto is a music and dance style from Accra, the capital of Ghana. It has roots in the traditional Apaa dance of the Ga people and gained international attention in the early 2010s.
Azonto is known for its playful, rhythmic movements and creative expression – it’s more than a dance; it’s a form of communication, storytelling, and cultural pride. Dancers use quick footwork, shoulder movements, and expressive gestures to “illustrate” everyday actions like brushing teeth, talking on the phone, or driving – all performed with humor, rhythm, and confidence.
Amapiano
Teacher: Datif The Great
Amapiano dance is a fusion of various South African street dances such as Pantsula (1950s–60s), Sbhujwa (2000s), Bacardi (early 2000s), Bhenga (late 2000s–2010s), and Survivor Dance (2000s).
The word Amapiano means “pianos” in Zulu and reflects the music’s signature use of jazzy piano melodies, deep house beats, log drum basslines, and relaxed grooves.
Amapiano dance emerged in the late 2010s and has quickly gained popularity in South Africa and around the world. The style is known for its gliding footwork, isolations, body control, musicality, and personal expression.
Ndombolo
Teacher: Colosal Titan
Ndombolo originates from Central Africa, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo, and emerged in the late 1990s. It is closely connected to Soukous and Congolese Rumba music and is characterized by fast hip and waist movements, often performed with bent knees and grounded footwork.
Ndombolo music draws from the region’s rich cultural heritage, combining traditional rhythms with modern sounds. Beyond entertainment, Ndombolo plays an important role in preserving cultural identity and strengthening community bonds among diverse ethnic groups.
Brazilian
Brazil mix
Teacher: Michelle Nóbrega Pitt
Brazil Mix is a class that celebrates Brazil’s rich cultural diversity through a fusion of styles such as Samba no Pé, Axé, Funk Carioca, Frevo, and more.
These styles are deeply rooted in Brazil’s complex cultural history and reflect strong influences from African, Indigenous, and European traditions – each with its own rhythm, story, and social significance. Some dances originate from Rio de Janeiro’s streets and carnival culture, others from Afro-Brazilian communities and vibrant favelas. Together, they express Brazil’s spirit and cultural richness through movement, music, and celebration.
dancehall
Dancehall is a central part of Jamaican street culture encompassing music, dance, fashion, language, and lifestyle. It emerged in Kingston’s streets in the late 1970s and 1980s and remains a powerful form of expression within Jamaican society.
The movement patterns in Dancehall can be traced back to the dances brought to Jamaica by enslaved Africans during colonial times. Over the years, they have evolved and absorbed influences from many global cultures.
Dancehall is often divided into three eras – Old School (late 1970s–early 1990s), Mid School (mid-1990s–mid-2000s), and New School (late 2000s–present) – each with its distinct style and expression.
A unique aspect of Dancehall is the creation of named steps. Dancers invent new moves, name them, and perform them at parties, where artists may draw inspiration and write songs based on these steps. This interplay between dance and music fosters a strong social and community-based identity.
During our 2025/26 season look out for pop-up Dancehall workshops featuring various Jamaican instructors, including Zidan Xqlusiv, Evon Extreme Pushaz, Gage Rifical, and more.
Female dancehall
Teachers: Emma Minela, Veronica Magnani & Natasha Jacoby
There is a significant difference between how men and women dance in Dancehall. The body posture differs; for example, women often emphasize their curves with a deep back arch and rotating hips – this is the main female groove in Dancehall, known as the “whine.”
The specifically feminine Dancehall expression revolves around sensuality and sexuality but can take many forms: it may be soft and European-inspired, where sensuality is subtle, or raw and explosive, where hip techniques, acrobatic tricks, and flexibility come together.
Note that women also often dance “male” Dancehall styles, but in Female Dancehall, we focus exclusively on the feminine expression.
New school dancehall
Teacher: Cece
New School Dancehall builds on the foundation of classic Dancehall but brings the style into the present with faster tempos, sharper movements, and plenty of modern attitude.
West African dance – accompanied by live drumming
Sabar
Teacher: Mbaye Art
Sabar is a traditional West African dance and drumming style originating from the Wolof people of Senegal. It is both a musical genre and a dance form, deeply rooted in Senegalese culture and society. Sabar is performed at celebrations, weddings, naming ceremonies, and social gatherings, and it remains an essential part of Senegalese identity.
The dance is expressive, filled with humor, attitude, and storytelling. It is known for its explosive energy, high knee lifts, quick footwork, and powerful full-body movements. The dancer responds directly to the rhythms of live sabar drums. This dialogue between drummer and dancer is central – it is improvised, rhythmic, and demands musicality and quick reaction.
This class is accompanied by live drumming.
West african dance, Guinea
Teacher: Alky Plus
West African dance from Guinea is a powerful and deeply cultural tradition closely tied to the rhythms of the djembe drum. The style is lively, energetic, and expressive, rooted in Guinean communities where dance and drumming are inseparable.
Traditionally, these dances are used to tell stories, celebrate life events, and strengthen communal bonds. The movement is grounded, dynamic, and deeply connected to the music and the earth.
This class is accompanied by live drumming.