Discover the Best African dance Classes in NYC
African dance covers a wide range of dance rituals from across the African continent. A central part of tribal and cultural practices, African dance is as diverse as the many countries and regions that it came from. Blurring the lines between dance, music, and theater, African dance features complex polyrhythmic beats that are heavily reliant on drums.
Dancers and drummers engage with each other to tell a story or share history, prepare for battle, encourage a good harvest, or honor the dead. Some dances are even used to celebrate a community member’s coming of age, honor the feminine, or show off masculine strength. Divided into two main categories, African dance can be either utilitarian and local, as it was before colonialism, or it can be artistic and expressive like the culturally-diffused dance that developed during and after colonialism.
The influence of African cultures on all modern art, music, and dance is indisputable. Taking an African dance class can be a way to celebrate that influence and honor the places and people from which it originated. Commonly used to enforce social structures and express one’s role within the community, African dance offers you the opportunity to explore new cultures and broaden your horizons for a more interconnected perspective.
Why You Should Learn African Dance in NYC
There are over 2 million people of African descent in New York City, including those from the Caribbean and West Indies, those that are Afro-Latino, and immigrants from the continent of Africa. These ethnic groups add to the vibrant multicultural environment of NYC by honoring their own traditions and practices, like the art of dancing. Learning African dance can be a great way to explore the diversity of where you live and connect with your neighbors that are from these fascinating cultures. African dance offers so many benefits, whether you’re just looking to have some fun or want to learn more about the histories and social structures of various African communities.
Dancing has long been considered an interpretive form of emotional expression, allowing an alternative way to communicate your feelings when spoken language fails you. It can also be a great workout as dancing releases endorphins, also known as the happy hormones. Dancing is an ideal combination of both physical and emotional release, so you can burn calories and alleviate your stress, all at once!
Taking an African dance class can be a great way to form a community and make friends. Playful and joyous, African dancing is a social activity that requires collaboration between the dancers, musicians, and the audience. Moving your body with others lets you form connections rooted in deeply meaningful cultural practices. Dance, much like joy, is contagious, so you’ll soon find others wanting to take part in this hobby with you.
Originating from various countries and tribes throughout the continent, learning African dance can be a way to connect to your roots or develop a deeper understanding of cultures outside your own. You can explore the Shona tribe in Zimbabwe through the ritual dance called Mbira or learn more about the Zulu tribe’s tradition of ceremonial wedding dancing called Indlamu. Some dances, like Zaouli from Ivory Coast, incorporate art as well, with dancers wearing handmade masks that honor and celebrate the feminine.
You can also develop a greater understanding of modern music, dance, and art by studying the influence of African dance. Being able to acknowledge these influences creates a greater sense of respect for these cultures, encouraging a more connected and humanistic perspective of the world.
In-Person African Dance Classes & Schools in NYC
New York City is considered a major cultural hub of the United States, so it’s no surprise that there are a multitude of African dance classes available. With a large range of experience levels, dance styles, and multicultural fusions, there’s bound to be an in-person class near you in NYC.
African Dance Open Level is put on by the Piel Canela Dance Studio. This is a full cycle of classes, led by an expert instructor, that aims to build the skills and techniques of African dance over the course of the entire series. Considered intermediate, it’s recommended you have a basic understanding of dance prior to attending.
If you’re looking for a modern twist on these traditional dances, Piel Canela Dance Studio also offers African House Open Level, an intermediate class that fuses iconic African movements with House music. Structured similarly to their standard African dance class, this is a cycle course with skills that build off of each other over the course of the series.
Located in Midtown, this Afrodance workshop is hosted by WorldAfroDance. Led by their official dance instructor, AJ, this workshop will teach the techniques, history, and new moves of Afrodance. WorldAfroDance is made up of professional choreographers, creative directors, dancers, and dance groups that share their joy and knowledge of Afrodance through classes, battles, dance championships, and workshops.
Combining cultural sources from Africa, the Americas, and Europe, Haitian Dance is offered by Fit4Dance in Flatbush and led by the highly-skilled Peniel Guerrier. You’ll learn original dance combinations that are influenced heavily by Haitian folkloric dance and set to different traditional Haitian rhythms. It’s ideal for all levels and open to anyone over 15 years of age.
Fit4Dance combines fitness and African dance in their class called KUKUWA® African Dance. Students will move their arms, legs, waists, and hips to a blend of African rhythms. This course is an entry-level exploration of African music and culture with the added benefit of having you burn up to 1,000 calories in one 60-minute class. Fit4Dance is conveniently located in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn.
You can also try your hand at Family Capoeira at Fit4Dance. Capoeira is a popular fusion of Afro-Brazilian martial arts, music, dance, rhythm, and acrobatics. Suitable for anyone over the age of 15, this class focuses on having fun, practicing cooperation, and encouraging community harmony.
Afrocardi Party is another class that combines fitness and African dance styles. This high-impact class incorporates strength training and features four sessions, each with its own fitness focus. This class series is designed to make you sweat, so you may want to bring a towel and a water bottle. Students are invited to grab drinks next door at Spritzenhaus after class each week.
If you’re located on the Upper East Side, the 92nd Street Y offers an African dance class. Designed for those who wish to teach African dance, this course explores the transformational movements and dynamic cultural contexts of African Dance forms. You’ll learn to inspire creativity in your students, as well as effective teaching practices that respect cross-cultural communication.
Virtual African Dance Classes & Schools
If you prefer virtual learning, you can take an online African dance class. Online classes can be attended from anywhere, allowing you to work from the comfort of your home (or any place you choose). There’s no need to sit in traffic or deal with parking and, often, there are more class options available virtually.
While there currently aren’t any online African dance classes available, there are a few other courses that can help you explore the rich cultural traditions of Africa. Take a class on Yoruba traditions for an in-depth study of the spiritual practices of the Yoruba people. You’ll learn the ways those traditions have remained and transformed as Yoruba descendants have moved throughout the Americas. Students will be taught through lectures, readings, films, sacred dances, and interactions.
You can also explore the strong ties between modern hip-hop and African dance in a virtual beginner hip-hop dance class. Ideal for anyone new to the scene, this course teaches the fundamentals of street and commercial dance forms to boost your confidence and enhance your technical skills. Hip-hop is a crucial part of the modern African diaspora with deep roots in traditional African dance forms and cultural practices so this class can serve as a gateway to learning more about African culture and dance.
Private Group African Dance Classes in NYC
Are you looking for a fun, intimate event for your work or organization team? Coursehorse offers African dance classes for private groups that can be tailored to fit your exact needs. There currently aren’t any African dance classes available, but you can reach out to Coursehorse through the contact form on the site to learn about more options.
Booking (or creating) your private group class is simple and stress-free. You’ll receive confirmation of your booking within 24 hours and there’s no need to worry about upfront costs as there are absolutely no booking fees. You can even change the size of your group after booking – typically until a week before your event – if you have attendees cancel or want to add more people to your class. And last-minute changes or accommodations to your event details (like what specific African dance you’ll be learning) can be made if given at least a 72-hour notice, in most cases.
You can also request that a venue space be provided or that the event comes directly to your office or home. These requests do typically come at an additional cost but you can create your ideal private class, just the way you want it. If you’d prefer your private group class to be virtual, Coursehorse also utilizes Zoom and multiple other supported platforms, for your convenience.
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