Move · Videos · Dance · 9 min

African Dance Lesson: Dancing on the Clock

African Dance Lesson: Dancing on the Clock — video by Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning Play · 8:52

Video by Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Two teachers from Zimbabwe use a clock face to teach African dance footwork: stepping out and back to 12, 3, 6 and 9, a classic right-left step with arm swings, a pivot circle, shoulder shakes, a short jumping round and a hip finale, speeding up to double time. Playful and quick.

  • 9 min
  • Beginner
  • High impact (jumping)
  • No equipment

Good forDancing for fun

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Step by step 9

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. Right foot on the clock: step out to 12 and back, then to 3, then to 6. 0:58
  2. Switch to the left foot and add a bounce: step out and back to 12, 9 and 6. 1:34
  3. Alternate feet: right to 12 and left to 6, then step out to 3 and 9. 2:09
  4. Add the arms: swing them out and in, like flying, as you step to 3 and 9. 3:42
  5. Classic step: right to 6 then left to 6, arms going up and down, then double time. 3:58
  6. Pivot circle: mark each number with the right foot to turn from 12 all the way round. 5:01
  7. Go round the clock again, adding a shoulder shake. 6:23
  8. Jumps: bounce forward and back to 12, then to 3, 9 and 6. 6:51
  9. Hips: drop the pelvis, hands on hips, and push the hips to 3 and 9, speeding up to double time. 7:51

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Step out and back to each clock number to learn direction and counting
  • Keep a bounce in the knees and let the arms swing out and in
  • For the hip section drop the pelvis and put your hands on your hips

What it works Whole body

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses 2 takes load

  • Knees takes loadbounce, jumps to the clock numbers, fast footwork
  • Ankles & feet takes loadjumps, double-time stepping, pivot circle
  • Shoulders movesarm swings out and in, shoulder shakes
  • Lower back moveship movement in the finale
  • Hips movesdropped-pelvis hip finale, step-and-swing
  • Jumping or hopping. Impact goes through the ankles, knees and hips.

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

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Video by Kennedy Center Education Digital Learning; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety