This Get Healthy Harlem website besides health information also wants the visitor to know where he can find free fitness activities in Harlem. In the last blog we suggested you visit www.africandanceschedule.com to see all the free African dance classes going on in Harlem.

There's more to it than "where", "when", "what to wear" though. Let's move into the "how". This can make or break your whole first experience. We like to be adventurous but why go through dance floor drama if you don't have to. We gonna break it down like this...

1. Be on Time:

Arrive to the class in enough time for you to change into your dance wear in the dressing room. If you go to an African dance class where payment is collected, arrive early to do so (sometimes payment is collected afterwards). Make every attempt to be on the dance floor when the class starts. You don't want to miss anything. In general be polite and courteous. 

2. Familiarize yourself with your surroundings:

If this is your very first African dance class it may be a good idea to be in the middle where you can see the teacher demonstrate. You will also have someone in front, on the side that may know why he's doing. And once you start touching those toes you will have someone in the back to look at or place yourself where you feel most comfortable. Your focus should generally be on the teacher unless told otherwise. The teacher may ask a student to demonstrate. Your focus should then go to the student of course. Students will know the warm up and even the African dance vocabulary (movements) that follow the warm up. Do what you can. Don't over exert yourself. Have a great time!

3. Structure of Class (don't get it twisted):

A few notes about the structure of the class. A) Warm up takes place center floor (30 min). Be sure to participate in the warm up or you may be twisted upon waking up in the morning or during the class. Make sure your muscles are stretched and your body warmed up. B) A combination of choreography (dance moves) will follow for the students to learn (30 min). Once the choreography is learned by the majority of students the teacher will request live drumming accompaniment from the more than fantastic drummers. The students will dance the choreography given. Sometimes the teacher will divide the class in half so the students can dance full out and so the teacher can make corrections. This is a class, not a performance so you don't have to be perfect although it a wonderful thing to strive towards the instructors choreographed moves.

4. Spacing (warm-up and combination center floor): 

Always allow at least 3 feet between you and the next person if space permits. Be conscious of students around you. Try to stay in one particular space while dancing rather than moving into someone's personal space.

5. Lines Across the Floor: 

The warm-up and combination has been given. Yaay, you've made it! Now it's time to dance across the floor. Yes, just when you thought the class was over. It's all fun though. The line across the floor represents students dancing choreography given by the teacher. The teacher usually does a "walk-through" of the lines so once it's time to go across the floor there will a flow and ease of the students dancing side by side in the pre-designated lines. The line that you or the teacher places you in during the "walk-through" is the space you will keep throughout the class so be sure to look to your right and left to familiarize yourself with whom you are going across the floor with. It's respectful and courteous to stay in your line. The teacher may request if he wants the beginners, intermediate or advance in a particular order. 

The structure of African dance classes are not the same, but quite similiar. Please let us know if this information is helpful. Preparation is a beautiful thing.

African Dance Class Etiquette will be continued with information on drum breaks and soloing. Let us know if you take, teach or visited an African dance class in Harlem. Peace!

visit www.africandanceschedule.com to see where you can take a free African dance class in Harlem